May 30 2003 @ Mean Fiddler London, UK

Tonight your intrepid NOISE! reviewer has those kind of mixed feelings that you get when a band you've admired return after a lengthy absence. Naturally, as a long term 'boner (okay, less of the guffaws), I am looking forward to seeing them again. Memories of twelve years ago when the Los Angeles based band rocked Kentish Town's Forum and your lucky writer got to meet the guys afterwards come floo...

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12hrs ago I was in London rocking away to Fishbone!

(First the boring bit!)

Anyway the gig for me started over a hundred miles from London at 1.30pm when I left home - somehow I got lost on the way to Oxford which was particularly clever of me as I've driven there loads of times and it's just one road all the way! God knows how I got on the wrong road! Anyway as they now charge for the privilege of driving in the centre of London I parked on the outskirts and got the tube in. This was my first time on the tube so I was a bit concerned - especially as I had already got lost once today, but all was OK and I met up with fellow lister Jon De Souza.

We then headed for the gig with Jon's girlfriend - a very recent convert to the familyhood and a friend who had never seen Fishbone before. Just caught the end of the second support band who didn't really impress and then I moved to the front for the main attraction. I positioned myself behind a girl right at the front as I assumed she would bail when it got wild - and then as the band came on realised that Steve Foreman off the list was in front of me and they were together - so I quickly said Hi to Steve and gave up the idea of her moving - which she didn't.

Anyway they started with a bit of Dr M then went into;- (as written on the set list) Party Skankin Pressure Zilla Problems Cholly Alcoholic Karma (with a bit of a Dr M intro) Give it up Bonin (this was added on when the lists were being put on the monitors - not sure if they just forgot or added it late, can't imagine a FB gig without Bonin!) Premadawnutt Freddy Swim ------ Ma & Pa Sunless

Someone said the sound at the Astoria wasn't good and I would have to say I agree but it was a great gig. Walt seemed a bit more lively than last year, Angelo was pouring with sweat from the start and went for a few swims over the crowd, Wet Daddy was solid as always, Spacey seemed more animated than I remember from last year but didn't do any Eddie Hazel tributes and Norwood...well he was in some religious poncho, doo dah thingy, and shoes & socks - didn't leave much covered.

All in all a good night.

Anyone going to the Bristol gig - I feel the need for another road trip.

Colin

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