Moved to Harrisburg

With the simultaneous addition of keyboardist Erik Avakian, the first proper iteration of the band was formed. That same year, the band moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania , where they performed at local Pennsylvania bars & nightclubs under the name Reel Too Real, playing cover songs. The band made a choice to perform under a different name when showcasing its own original material. That name, for the time being, would be Small the Joy , which produced one self-released EP , a self-titled cassette tape , in 1994. The band then once again decided to change its name, this time settling on the name Fuel , before self-releasing their second EP, Porcelain , in 1996 as well as repackaging their first EP, Small the Joy , with the “Fuel” name on it. Porcelain sold well locally, spawning a small local radio hit with ” Shimmer ” even before being signed to a major label. The popularity of the EP brought them to the attention of Sony ‘s 550 imprint, which released their third EP, Hazleton , the following year in 1998.