Just came home from a few days Paris, so now it's time to write down my thoughts on the show.. I'll do it telegraph style, just some short observations:

-the Johns were on a terrace outside before the show with Curtiss. He's been learning fast and wrote out the trumpet parts himself. Unfortunately, the bus (with his trumpet in it) couldn't stay near the hotel and was gone for a few days, so he couldn't practice. I didn't notice though. His solo on Servitude was in key this time, but, in spite of the concert, not with the same intensity and shaking this time.

-even though the show had the same setlist as in Amsterdam, the energy was a lot higher. Wether it was the venue that was smaller, keeping the people closer together, or the band that had more energy after 2 days off (which I doubt) or the parisians giving more energy (quite a few flying fish, apart from Angelo), I don't know. The end result was that the show was even better than Amsterdam, which is saying something.

-brought a Fishbone Virgin. During the show she already threatened me should I ever neglect to inform her of Fishbone coming round again. She kind of took to it...

-It's not NASWAM, it's Fishbone. I kind of wondered for a while, but it is still a collective, making decisions with one man, one vote. From what I get from the bandmembers, it's not a 2 man dictatorship. Listening to the music they make, continue to make, it's still this mix of whatever comes along and what they like. I don't care (well, I do, but..) that some of the founding members have gone.. the replacements keep the Fishbone vibe, I don't feel it's a Fishbone cover band. (actually, it feels more like Fishbone to me now than the Spacy/Walt version that preceded it, but I digress)

-dre is getting more into it, it seems. At one point he walked into the audience, danced a bit and climbed back on stage, jumping behind his keys and playing on.

-this one was for the fanboy in me: Norwood gave me a shout-out. When the band came back on stage for the encore, Norwood said "Arno's in the house!" It was weird.. I don't recall him doing that very often. Quite cool though, I'm proud!

-I gave one of the crew a sip of my water, the tour-manager (I forget her name) wasn't too pleased with that. I can imagine. Regardless, they are running a tight ship.

-Michael "Clip" Payne, from P-Funk and Drugs (his own band) was there. He'd hung out with the band during their time off in Paris, where he hangs out regularly.

-got to talk for quite a while with John McKnight, mostly about life the universe and everything. Great guy, with an amazing musical resume.

that about covers it, I think.. a shame they won't come anywhere near me this tour anymore. Regardless, I've seen 2 very different shows, although they both had the same
setlist, and both were great!

It's high time I get this review done before
my memories be split in Oblivion

While arriving at the Nouveau Casino,
I had met Arno already on the way down.

The two Johns were indeed relaxing at a terrace so It felt weird shaking their hands and saluting both of them by the same "Hi, John!"( myself being another third "John")

I think one of the Johns was later provided
after the show with some John..
But this is none of our business, right?

So let's carry on....

Curtiss Storey was there.
In fact, most of Fishbone members were there outside
enjoying the Parisian sunny evening since the huge Tour bus
was parked close by the Nouveau Casino all ready to go.

2 Hours and 20 minutes of Fishbone !

Long set starting with a Doctor Mad Vibe Speech and
not the Fishbone soldier Call-out like in February.

I appreciated a lot those Dr Mad Vibe Speeches Angelo
did in the middle of the set (or whas it after the encore ?)

Angelo had all the audience attention on him
while performing his speech about show Time
and entertaining... It all ended with a little Minstrels' choregraphy, Dre playin on keyboards some sort of
Scott'Joplin's "Entertainer"'s Tune comping.

It looked like a perfect Dr Madd Vibe cartoon !!!

Great story-telling, Monsieur Moore !

I think that the Doctor Mad Vibe interludes can bring good transitions between two very different songs with different/opposite musical backgrouds like let's say "Premadawnutt" and "Everyday sunshine".

Therefore these Interludes keep the show in good energy and rythm and if used properly, they could be brilliant counterpoints full of irony for the entire show devellopment .

Professor Mc Knight played really tight with Curtiss Storey. They seem to be good complices.
Mc Knight made some real good Trombone solos (as usual)
and also a very surprising guitar solo on Servitude. That guitar solo sounded straight outta some Californian Surf Music Rock band.. Really nice and in deep contrast with the metal sound of the tune.
Curtiss made a solo on servitude which was
quite interesting too.You could tell he was good improvisor, tryin to build his own trumpet sound in the fishbone repertoire.

Curtiss played with Hat and growlin' on "Ma and Pa" and Angelo seemed happy and smiling about it (Maybe he was discovering it like us)

I loved the show a lot and I think that Rocky George is very good for the band.
He remains very humble and doesn't interfere with other musicians ideas. I feel he has lots of respect to all others members.
He played really nice. I concentrated listening on his style and, really, he does a good job on every song now.
His solos showed him to be very creative and what he played sounded really Heartfelt. His solo on servitude was THE Shit !
I didn't want him to stop from soloing anymore. HE was makin his guitar Weepin' amlmost screamin'. There he WAS, Master Rocky !
Great Concert Rocky ! Real great !

"Hide behind my glasses","Subliminal Fascism", "Freddie's dead" and "Sunless Saturday" sounded as great with same intensity
than the original line-up ones. I could close my eyes and feel just like when I saw Fishbone live 13 years ago, for the very first time.

Norwood's quote from Paris show :

"We all have started making love behind Bushes, you know.."

...handing his beer to the audience....

"But IT'S also exactly WHERE we love to take a Pee.."

.....Drinking his beer cup......

P.S: Thanks Arno for helping my Fish diving during "Alcoholic"
.... I hadn't swim for 7 years actually...

Soldiers, Until the sea be Warm...

It's time you Go for a dive

NOW

Incredible show, it was my first fishbone show, and as a newbie, I must say I will definitely see them again!

Only one deception : they didn't play "Bonin in the Boneyard" which is for me the best fishbone song ever (i was ready to see norwood slapping on this masterpiece)

Thank you fishbone, will buy your albums in order to help you getting millionaires!