Fishbone played last Sunday at a tiny club in Cleveland called the Grog Shop. I doubt this place holds more than 300 people so for Fishbone fans it was like a dream come true. The club is also less than a block away from my pad, so you know i was pumped... Before the show I was able to stop down and witnessed Angelo, Norwood, and Dirty Walt hanging on the sidewalk chattin. The fans that were around had that "pinch me" look in their eyes, and I managed to get an early request for "The Goose" to Walt. He smiled that trademark grin and put back up his shades. 

Come showtime the place was obviously packed. We made our way to the front and Angelo walked out to read some poetry. Unlike other shows, this time Angelo was workin from memory, and workin he was. Several tongue-twisting poems later Norwood and Fish made their way up to the tiny stage. The keyboardist (Dallas Austin?) and guitarist (?? looked nothing like John Bigham) also took their places and they jumped right into Party At Ground Zero. Yep - i aint shittin! 

A quick note about the setlist - it was as if all the Fishbone fans in the world got together and picked it. Not too much new, not too much obvious, not too much old, not too much obscure. Near Perfect. Highlights include: Lemon Meringue (great intro by Dirty Walt about the good old days when eatin...uhum...pie.. tasted so good!), Ma and Pa, Housework, Everyday Sunshine, Junkie's Prayer, Cholly, Lyin Ass Bitch, The Goose, Alcoholic, etc. They had so much to pick from and they hit almost everything. 

The sound was average, but i didn't expect much at this venue. Angelo played his sax a lot, toying with the Theramin occasionally. The keyboardist also filled a lot of the horn parts and Walt rarely put his trumpet down. Norwood looked as bored as usual (old time Fishbone fans - did he always look like he was thinkin about something else?). And Fish had his back to us. He seemed to be havin some problems later in the show with his kick pedal and my bro said he saw the setlist and they dropped a few songs from it. 

No matter - they played over 2 hours (until 2:20am on a Sunday!) and no one went home dissapointed. The pit was pretty good for such a small place and everyone was cool. Even a few ladies got up on the crowd (or knocked on the floor), but again everyone was well behaved. We were all too busy enjoying the moment and singing along with songs we thought we'd never hear to cause any trouble. 

Final grade? A+. Like a dream come true, and everything went just right. I even got pointed out in the crowd as Walt was introing The Goose: "You all like some P-Funk? I know you like the P-Funk. Youz a funky muthafucka!!" And to any funkateers that may not be that familiar with Fishbone - lemme relate this little fact that might get you investigating more: a few years back Billy Bass and Eddie Hazel gave Fish one of Tiki Fullwoods bass drums cuz they said Fishbone was carrying the torch for the OG Funk and Tiki wouldn't have it any other way. 

---- ...jodin@myself.com man of many talents

I'd just like to add that I broke my leg at this show. The boys were so on fire, I just could not help myself jump into the pit when rockstar started up. And I never go into the pit. So when my leg got stuck and broke, I had to finish up in the back, but it didn't dampen my excitement. A few beers kept the pain in check.

Also of note was the opener was Nashville Pussy. Angelo and I were right up front for these guys/gals, and the bass player spit fire and water at the two of us. The rest of the crowd was not there for this punk band, so everyone stayed back about 10 feet in the half-moon formation Cleveland fans love to do.