OK...It was almost a tough call between hitting the Fishbone show late and catching the Toronto Maple Leafs/Ottawa Senators game last night. Judging by last night's result, I made the right decision to get there on time. Pathetic! My friend Ernest (Fishbone show vet) and I show up at the Recher Theater in Towson Maryland around 8:30, yet hoping to find a rare stroke of luck and avoid the opening local bands. I really miss the days of Fishbone's opening acts being pros, not locals with cleaned up demos. That aside, it was a great show. Norwood was alive and pumped from the get, and Walt and Spacey brought a nice stage presence. Angelo had his right eye painted blue, sorta in the Clockwork Orange style, but broader. John Steward seemed excited to see us again, and shook my hand, but wanted me to squeeze his hand even tighter. Something about how it would help his drumming, or grip, or whatever but I wanted no part of that. Those that know me know that it would not have been a problem to give him what he asked for, but I didn't want to go down as the "guy who fucked up the tour" so I half-assed a stronger handshake.
It will never cease to amaze me how the Fishbone fanbase just keeps getting younger and younger. There are people at Fishbone shows now that were in diapers at best when "In Your Face" came out....and I love it! I talked to Norwood and requested "D'Man in Here", and they actually played it during the second encore. Little did I know that it would be the only new song they'd play that night, besides X-Squeeze Me Dr. Maddvibe. Several of the classics were re-worked, but they've scaled back the new songs big time! Norwood said the reason a lot of the new material won't be released on the Temple Bar CD is because they're saving the rest for a studio release. I met Joe Keyes from Grilled, formerly Clones of Funk, and he said that they are in the final stages of being signed to the Nuttsactor 5 label. I ran into Keisha at the merchandise booth right away. No hoodies, no Dirty Walt CD's....hopefully they will stock up better for the next tour, or at least start out here first. ;-)
The band is getting tighter and tighter. It was a pleasure to finally hear Fishbone on a decent sound system in the State of Maryland or District of Columbia. They were loud yet clear. The highlight of the night for me was getting to hear Spacey play a medley of Eddie Hazel riffs...it was eerie to say the least. I was almost like Eddie himself was there...fitting tribute. It was also the first time I got to see "Fishbone is red Hot" live. The crowd was small, maybe 150 by my guess. I'd say the crowd was 50% soldiers and 50% novice, but they all grooved the same, with your normal assortment of mystified onlookers who were amazed by seeing Fishbone for the first time. No set list from me, but I'm sure it will surface.
The only list members I ran into were Keisha, Nerre, Rob Summers, and very late and too briefly was Barb a.k.a SistaSunshine, who rather appropriately came up during "Everything Sunshine". Like Bernie Casey said in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"..."'every hero has to have his (her) own theme music". We already knew you were smart to begin with girl, but cute to boot? I think VA Beach definitely lost and Texas without a doubt won in that transaction. I had a really long day, and was lagging near the end, so I owe you a real conversation at the Reunion, part deux. Don't forget to email me Keisha, I'm working on Project X ;-)
Alright, time to go back to making the donuts. Enjoy the shows y'all!

Peace and Love,

High C