May 16 1999 @ Lodo Music Hall Denver, CO

Ok, finally after a week of putting it off I have time to post a review of the show last week in Denver, and one that did not happen in Durango, during the road trip from hell, I managed to get myself from Albuquerque, NM to Denver, CO with 7 other people to witness the frenzy (and enjoy the mountains! goddam.) We went to Durango last Saturday, the 15th. Fishbone was supposed to headline some festival. They got there late for a variety of reasons, the promoters pulled the plug and told them they couldn't play. It was one of the wackest scenes I'd ever seen at a show. The band is there (the band that we paid 20 frickin' bones to see!) and they can't play. It sucked. We were more than a bit pissed. Had to toss my beer at the fool who had to make the announcement, I did. I had chatted briefly with Angelo and he said he really dug the on-line thing. Asked me how it sounded and if we were getting those messages right as he sent them. Cool. I told him how me we appreciated that. So after one inebriated evening on the town in little ole Durango, CO we decide to say "what the hell" and split for Denver's show the next day. Week-end wouldn't be complete without at least one Bonin' session. heh. Blake and Samm, where were you!!! I made it. :) Flying through the hills of central CO we finally get into Denver at about 9:30 and then I promptly lose my guide, and we have no clue where the show is. A frantic half hour search for our hosts somehow ends with us racing to their doorstep and actually remembering where their house was amidst the pre-shoe pandemonium. Not remembering where the show was and seeing *ZERO* advertisement in the local media (any wonder noone's coming to their shows?) We pull a quick internet trip and find it - Lodo Theater, downtown Denver. We fly across interstate 70 and pull up exactly 20 minutes before they hit the stage. Perfect timing once more. The sign of a bad-ass road trip.

I sometimes wish I hadn't of seen Fishbone 12 times already. Then I wouldn't have to compare the best in the world to anythign else. A miserably meager crowd, a horrible sounding theater (Samm, you were right!) and the loudest most distorted Fishbone I'd ever heard later I was happy to have seen the latest but again, a bit bummed. Imho, despite one of the craziest performances by Angelo I'd ever seen - bro went nutts that nite! - I couldn't get over the lack of energy by everyone else. Still the same problem, y'all -- no Fish, drum cues, missed grooves, etc. Ya can't hide that shit from a drummer!!!! I just can't place this show anywhere near the insanity I witnessed before. It was cool, a few times I really stopped to go "damn, they hittin' it'!" but with like maybe 50 people there, the response and the energy was just sagging. Nothing bums me out more than feelin' so little energy at a 'bone show. My friends dug it and were all happy to have made such a frickin' crazy road trip to see them. It was cool, but..... damn. Fishbone absolutely must get a drummer and set on him and rehearse the *fuck* outta the songs. None of this on again off again shit. They are not tight, man! That is crazy for the rep they have. I really think they should not be on the road with a show that has that many loose ends. You don't see that looseness at a lot of bars; you can't settle for it for one of the best bands in the history of the world. Set list was cool, no new stuff. I got down hardcore for the first 6-7 tunes, then the sloppiness of the drums and the cues and a fucked up sax came in and I gotta got bummed. I figure when you can sit back and go "what's going on with the groove?!?!" at a 'Bone show it just ain't right. I dunno, I had one helluva week-end, but our boys should get a *set* line-up and get it tight as ever before they tour for the next album. For real. Keyboardist told me that they had just recorded with Primus for the album and said a few others might come in (Gwen Stefani?), but it was hard with their schedule, always splitting for one week at a time, etc.

I think as tough as it is for some of the old schoolers to go there, we need to realize that this is a very different band. I try hard not to compare, but shiiiiiittttt.... when you've seen the best, anything less is, well.... less. It ain't fair to the new crew, but goddam. I have been carted off to some distant plane at shows before, floating around for like 2 hours and then plopping back down in a frenzy of fishyness, no pain. It was cool to see Angelo retaining the energy, but this ain't a one man show! See what happens to us spoiled Boneheads as we get old!!

I dunno. Any other feedback on recent shows?

What a great damn week-end anyway!

-jeff

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