Oh what a night.

Don't know how I'm going to get through work today (didn't leave Rock City till nearly 1 a.m., slept on my pal Spencer's floor - five hours' sleep was not enough).

Extraordinary gig. Colin has a setlist, so I'll leave him to post what was played. From where I was standing (and dancing) the sound was amazing. Everybody came out sounding really clear. After the gig Angelo thanked the sound engineer and the guy said something like "Well, I came here to work with Skindred, I never realised you'd be here...it was an honour to work with you."

There was a lot of that. A lot of people starving for some Fishbone sounds got fed.

The other bands in a nuttshell:

Big Sister - didn't see them (turned up at 6:15 and the doors opened at 5:30)

Dai Lo - played with a lot of heart. Hardcore with rhythmic angles. Kept saying how honoured they were to share a bill with Fishbone. Lead singer kept running round on the dancefloor

Adequate 7 - Really good. Pretty tight. Ska-core, funk, punk stuff. Bass slapping and some really nice horns, particularly the trombone. Most of 'em didn't look young enough to get in. And this was a 14 and up show ;-)
Bought a cd, but haven't listened to it yet because I haven't been home!

Skindred - Most of Dub War with a new ragga-punk (and nu-metal, if the truth be told) sound. A good set. Songs didn't seem as catchy as the Dub War ones used to be, but they played the pants off them.

Downset - I think a big chunk of the audience were there for these LA rap-metallers. Seems they've got one famous song, "Anger!" 'cos that's what the crowd was shouting for. Pretty by-the-numbers to me. They were the only band that our gang didn't appreciate. As Spen said "I've got the Rage Against the Machine album, thanks."

Fishbone's set, like the London one, was a real mix of old and new material. A lot of ska (Alcoholic, Ugly, Party at Ground Zero). Shakey Ground was dedicated to Eddie Hazel (my word, Spacey can play!). Virtuoso performances from the whole band. Couple of tunes I didn't expect - Swim and Servitude (which was the encore).

Spoke to Angelo during his DJ set. Kinda weird, having talked about someone for six or seven years on an email list, and finally getting to meet them. You feel like you should know them, but all the while you have to remember that they don't know you from Adam.

I offered to take a look at Angelo's computer, because he's been having trouble getting online since he's been in the UK.

Anyway, after the gig me, Colin, Spencer and a gang of guys who wanted to shake Walt's hand went backstage with Angelo, and we got to meet all of the band except Spacey. Sarah and Ase were there too (this was their first gig of the tour because Sarah got stuck in London the night before) and we had a long chat. Like I said, it was really strange to meet so many people I've talked about and to electronically for so many years. Familiar and yet unfamiliar, a weird mix - like drinking orange juice when you've just brushed your teeth. Everyone was really friendly, but I'm a person who really worries about outstaying my welcome (I mean, I'm okay in small doses but...), and I recognise that after playing a gig like that, the last thing you'd need would be a bunch of fan-boys getting in your face. Didn't want to cut into the Fishers' family time either, but I hope we earned our keep with our extensive knowlege of the British rail travel ;-) After that, Colin had to get home but me and Spence waited for Angelo to get his ducks in line, and we took a look at his iBook. Unfortunately Angelo's computer problem was beyond both me and the guy who was with him, so we decided to split. I'll post the problem to the list later, to see if any of you Mac bods have any ideas.

After not seeing Fishbone for soooo many years I got to go backstage and hang out with them and the wonderful Sarah. I think it'll be a while before my head stops spinning. :-)

Simon

My first Fishbone concert in 10yrs, three months & 24days - not that I was counting!

Short version - superb, brilliant, loved it. But then you didn't expect anything else really!

The set list was (and I got Spacey's copy)
Party
Karma
Premadawnutt
Bonin
Shakey Ground
Alcoholic
Ugly
Ma & Pa
Heet
Chim Chim
Sunless
Swim
--------
Red Hot
Servitude

Which is what they did but they didn't do Red Hot.. Spacey T did a Eddie Hazel tribute as the intro to Shakey Ground. Angelo wore a suit and Norword was sartorially elegant in white trainers, dark socks and a towel wrapped around him! He also had a twin horned Viking helmet on turned through 90degrees with the front horn removed so his hair spike could stick out.

if I had to list my four fave FB songs they would be Bonin, Party, Sunless and Everyday Sunshine so I was well pleased to see on the set list three of those.

Long Version - I met up with Simon from the list and had a couple of drinks before a friend of his turned up and we then went to the venue. First up was supposed to be Big Sister but either they didn't turn up or we missed then, 2nd band was Dai Low who were a Nu-metal sort of thing but were quite good. Next were Adequate 7 who were a proto-Fishbone band, two guitars, trombone (played by a mad bloke who looking like Shaggy - as in Scooby Doo not the reggae bloke!), trumpet, bass, drums and vocals - they were excellent and I almost bought their CD. Then it was Skindred who I would describe as RATM with a rasta singer, not too keen on them and the final support band was Downsett who had a Suicidal Tendencies sound.

During Dai Low I was looking around the place and John Steward was right behind me, but I wasn't sure and didn't want to turn round again to stare to be certain! Angelo was playing some of his CD's in-between the bands and Simon plucked up the courage to speak to him. After the next band he went up to Angelo again for a chat and I followed and also had a chat - I felt like a kid meeting a childhood hero - But I was an adult meeting an adult hero!

I went to the front for FB and also met the lovely Sarah and the little un. Most of the dancing was good natured but towards the end the security guards came out to keep people away from the stage (which was only about 20ft wide!) and a couple of people decided to bait them by pushing into them which as I was level with the guards was seriously pissing them off - they also weren't two pleased when Angelo dived into the audience - they didn't expect that! Angelo also fell of the stage when the monitor he was stood on tipped over but the crowd was so packed we managed to save him - he was very wet and slippy though!

Afterwards Simon was going to look at Angelo's computer as it had a problem so we went backstage and met everyone ( I tried to look cool while jumping with joy inside) including Sarah again but I left after a while as I had a long drive home - which turned out to be in very heavy fog nearly the whole way.

My ears are ringing and I'm short of sleep but I'm off work today and off to see them in Birmingham tonight!

Colin