If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the photographers that cover the Fever 333 shows have written more words than a thousand Wikipedias.
In the 22 months since the three men of Fever 333 came together, they have carved a reputation for shows that can be described with every synonym for energetic, lyrics that cut to point of the matter, and the attempt to re-write the live musical exception of modern rock music.
The group, consisting of former Letlive frontman Jason Aalon Butler, former Chariot guitarist Stephen Harrison, and Night Verses drummer Aric Importa, began their concept of doing “demonstrations” rather than “concerts” in a pop up show in a rented U-Uhal truck in July 2017. They have since moved onto actual venues, but subtracting the idea of opening acts, leading to a Fever only bill with lower ticket prices to compensate. The lack of an opener to distract from the message the demonstration wishes to convey.
The tenets of typical Fever is that there is no typical Fever show. While the set list stays similar night to night, the movements and energy displayed are unique to the room that they occupy at the time. Butler rages around the stage, screaming and telling stories while drenching himself and the congregation with water and sweat. While most roadies concentrate on tuning guitars, the men and women behind the Fever rush around the stage after Butler, wiping up puddles of moisture left on the stage to prevent accidents.
The politically charged lyrics that have followed the lead singer from his previous band to this new almost punk/rap/metal supergroup endeavorer, is just one of the reason the packed Gramercy Theater filled up on a typical Wednesday night in May. Sharing heartfelt stories about his son, and conveying a sincere appreciation to the audience for sharing in the musical expedition that they are on together for this one hour, Butler ringmasters the show in-between climbing up trellises and lighting fixtures. Jumps off high places were seemingly a competition between the three members of 333.
Butler spoke momentarily, in-between sprints of the band’s raucous exhibition, to speak of their manager, who joined them with the promise to bail them out of jail if necessary, for the cause. And that is a sample of the combining philosophy the brings people into the tent of the rock revival show Butler and his band mates put on.
With sweat, screams, and songs of injustice and political action, and with shades of Rage Against the Machine blended with expertise punk musicianship, the Fever 333 continues to carve out a place in the modern conversation encouraging coming at subjects with love, compassion, and an intent to make the world a better place.
The conversation, and the show goes on. The Fever 333 reminds us timidity needs not to be a prerequisite for that discussion.
