Jan 27 2004 @ Bluebird Theater Denver, CO

I got to the Bluebird Theatre a little after the 1st opening band was supposed to go on (Bargain Music). Talked to Angelo briefly, he seemed in fine spirits and was getting ready to set up some merch. I asked him what the horn lineup was, but we got interrupted so all I caught was that the trombone player is the girlfriend of Dre (the keyboard player). I didn't catch the name of the trumpet player. Yes, a puppet show would have been more entertaining than the two opening acts (OPM was the other one) - actually, OPM was fairly amusing, but they were no 2 Skinny J's. I actually think that they should have a local act open if they are gonna do two openers ( I saw a friend of a friend's band at the same theatre last week and it was packed full of people who knew the band). Now, in Colorado this was dubbed the Yellow Snow Tour because of some ski/snowboard sponsoring. After OPM finished their set, the movie screen in the club was lowered and we got to watch a 40 minute movie on skiing and snowboarding. A pretty interesting little flick, but definitely a mood killer. I wonder if the people in Aspen the night before had to sit through this movie as well (the night Fishbone played in Aspen was the final night of the Winter X Games)? So, fishbone goes on at midnight to a less than half packed theatre (I estimated the audience at 150-200). Angelo started with a poem about snowboarding - then into the set below (but they only played one encore, and that was only Sunless). The sound system is pretty shitty at the Bluebird, but during Angelo's poem I went down to right in front of the stage, where the sound was perfect (mostly getting monitor feed). The arrangements for the three horn parts on most of the songs were really good - and breathed some fresh life into some of the tunes. I was impressed with both Rocky and Torri - impressed enough that I didn't miss spacey one bit (of course, I guess it wasn't a secret that I'm far from Spacey's biggest fan). They each had a couple of tasty solos. With two guitars I hoped for some of the harder stuff, but ah well... (though Sunless in the encore completely smoked). The show was much better than the show I saw in May (not as tight as that lineup, but more energy and fresh arrangements). I was particularly pleased with the Suffering into solos for most of the band into They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes (or Abandon Ho's as it appeared on the set list... ha haha...). I hadn't heard Another Generation played live in a long time. I was definitely pleased overall and more impressed with John than ever. I'm not gonna lie and say that I didn't miss Walt. I absolutely did, but it was still a really good show - and enough of a departure from the "best of tours" of the last couple years (because of the different arrangements). I imagine that the crowd and sound will be better tonight in Boulder, but I can't go...

Blake Nicholoff

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The set list (as it appeared, in front of Rocky):

Unyielding Another Generation Are U Wit it Alcoholic Ma and Pa Lyin Ass Bitch Suffering / Abandon Ho's Everyday Sunshine Ugly All Kept Startin' Party _____ Freddy Sunless _____ X-Cuze Me Dr. Madd Vibe House Call Pull-Eaze Red Hot