ok...
...fishbone played my frickin grad night waaaaaay back in the serious day. uh huh. i will only say here that to give y'all a clue as to how long ago that actually was, mister maddvibe hisself is just a bit older than i...
(like fine wine, we are better with age!)
there were definite advantages to living i so.cal.
fishbone in close proximity was a big one.

flash to s.f. on 2/22/08. i live here now. it had been some time since i had been (fish)boned. i was in serious need.
i had hopes, but shit, i worked a long ass week my own self, and lord knows they work harder than most. so i went with a happy heart-if nothing else to see my old boys from around the way...
well stick a hush in my puppy, they were fantabulous!!
i mean, there was so much energy when they got up on that little stage, and it just kept comin! the smile did not leave my face! i was hopping and wiggling and moving around so much, i like to have needed a new pair of pants!!
that's how good that show was!
and they sang and they danced and they blew and they laughed-all without even missing a beat or needing a breath!!
they are the best band in the universe, the cosmos, the whole enchilada!
go see them!
go see them now!
they will restore your faith in humanity. i promise!

This was my second Fishbone show, my first being November 30, 2007 at Shattuck Down Low. Since I only had the Shattuck show and the albums to compare to, I don't have a lot of reference, but I do know that the sound was TERRIBLE. Not sure who dropped the ball, but Fishbone's sound SUCKED, especially compared to the reggae band who opened for them. It didn't phase them much, which speaks worlds to their consummate skills as musicians and performers.

Auditory Complaints: Rocky was near complete burial (several of his solos were NOT audible) and De Andre's keys were absent in the mix during some crucial tunes. Wood's bass was muddy muddy muddy and was stomping on everyone but the horns and the vocals (the only things that would cut through it). I was wearing 25db pro plugs for the time I was there, and I kept taking them out for a few seconds at a time to make sure it wasn't an plug attenuation issue: it wasn't. I was at the show with a friend of mine who's worked as a professional recording engineer for 12 years and while he enjoyed the show (Fishbone always puts on a good show!), his complaints were similar to mine (though more specific, obviously). The sound was a stark contrast to the clean well mixed sound of the reggae band that played just before fishbone (I've forgotten their name).

Funniest Moment: Angelo running off the stage to take a crap in the middle of the set. Dre had to cover and it was funny to see him squirm... but he was a good sport. I guess Angelo ate at Popeye's Chicken across the street from the venue, and the food did NOT agree with his stomach. He had some choice comments for the people who don't lift the lid and pee on the seat? funny!

Unfortunately I had to get up early the next day so I had to leave before the show was over. I also neglected to write down the set list (DOH!)

I enjoyed the show (hey, it's Fishbone, right?) but the sound really bummed be out.