Feb 26 1997 @ Fox Theater Boulder, CO

Fellow Bonees,

I've seen approximately 16 Fishbone shows. With the exception of the ill-fated Warped Tour performance at CS Dominguez Hills last summer and the lackluster De La/FB show on campus last year, I consistently think the most recent Fishbone concert I've attended has been exceptional. My favorite show ever was at UC Irvine in 1992, the last of the Reality tour.

Well, tonight's show at the Fox Theatre here in Boulder was really, really, really good. I continue to attest that they are at the height of their performing and composing career.

First off, let me confess: I am a lucky, lucky boy. Not only did I grow up in Los Angeles, where it's possible to see Fishbone 3-4 times a year (for all y'all in Europe, you know where you need to move to if you want more of that Bone), but I currently work for the Fox. This meant I got to: --sit in on sound check, --talk with Norwood and Angelo a little, --request "Hide Behind My Glasses" (which got played. Was it due to me?), --find out the answer to a question left unanswered in a tiny interview published in a local paper (Norwood apparently told the interviewer a story that couldn't be published. I asked Norwood what that was all about. "Sexcapades," he said. "Aw, y'know, I had sex with 4 women all at once last time I was here." Seems perectly print-worthy to me.) --break the stage after the show, where I carried their equipment (hey, it was special to me) I also had the possibility to smoke out with Norwood. It's a dream of mine. But I didn't do it. Didn't want to jepardize my job. Stupid, I know.

I usually stand right in front of Norwood during shows, but he had his cabinet up loud. Real loud. I couldn't hear anything else there. So I moved to the other side, in front of John. It was a very different experience to hear him so well. I absolutely couldn't believe his intro to Valley of the Freeze Dried... (V.T.F.D...). Phenomenal.

Okay. Another plus to being onstage after the gig was being able to grab the set list. This was the most varied set I've ever heard from them.

Nuttmegalomanic * When Problems Arise * Housework * Question of Life * Ma & Pa * Ugly * Beergut * Subliminal Fascism * Rockstar * Valley of the... * Psychologically Overcast * Behavior Control Tech. * They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes * Hide Behind My Glasses * Lemon Meringue * Fishy Swa Ska * Unyielding Conditioning * Love/Hate * Party at Ground Zero * Skankin' to the Beat * If I... * Deep Inside * Monkey Dick * Riot * ENCORE: Freddie's Dead * Swim *

They were so tight, so on fire. An oddity was that Angelo kept his shirt on and only entered the crowd during the last song. Last time they played the Fox (April of last year), he was everywhere. But I don't think he's getting old or anything. I mean, can you imagine him old and out of it? My imagination can't be stretched that far.

Okay. Some comments regarding past issues. --John's set list did not have any of those numerical references discussed here recently. --Fish faced away from the crowd (and just for the record, he faced northwest). --the Theremin was back and in new, high-tech glory. Angelo added an effects processor, and had a list of codes taped to the side. He named them in typically bizarre fashion. I think one was fuzzy, one was whacked. Something like that.

Oh. And I overheard Norwood on the phone with a reporter. He used "nutt" twice in thirty seconds. Once was to say, "We're up for nuttever." Indeed.

Ryan Vincent

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Ryan did a great review and I'll just be quick and concur. The bone was red hot and my faith was renewed after the lackluster CU gig in 96. Now I'm not one to partake of mental enhancers too much, but on this particular night I ate a ton of shrooms, the only time in my life I've ever done that. Well, I was on cloud 9 fo sho. But this gig was awesome regardless! Almost to the standard of the P...

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