Feb 04 2005 @ Pipeline Cafe Honolulu, HI

When I arrived at Pipeline Friday night, the first thing I did was buy tickets for the next evening's show. After a couple of opening bands, Angelo got up on stage a little after 9 and did some of his Madd Vibing. Soon after, the rest of Fishbone followed and opened with Party at Ground Zero. Angelo screamed, "This is a party, y'all!"

Then they belted out Alcoholic, a new son...

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Feb. 04, 2005. Pipeline café, Oahu. Anticipation. Excitement. From Maui to Oahu to see Fishbone for the (?) time. I wanted to see what this new lineup could contribute to the mighty Fishbone legacy. And by night's end I had to write this one off as an off night. A way off night.

Granted, from my understanding, once again the band got fucked by incompetent management and asshole club owners/promoters. The sound at the club was horrible and the mix incoherent.

Perhaps these things alone were the cause of what was, until the next night, the saddest spectacle a Fishbone fanatic might endure. We've all been tamed by this world.

The Pipeline café shuts down at around 10 pm to become a shitty dance club for the mindless masses. By the time Fishbone took the stage it was almost 9:30. The band then proceeded to play thru a poorly mixed, distorted and UNINSPIRED set to a mostly empty club. After a total of seven songs (that's right, 7) the band left the stage, and left me bewildered.

Now I have been a soldier since I was introduced to the righteous sounds of Truth & Soul and have experienced the bands every incarnation. And no other music has meant as much to me as that of Fishbone?s. In my humble opinion, I believe the collective known as Fishbone are misunderestimated pure fucking genius. From the e.p. thru Temple. Lyrically and musically. Taking it to the stage or throwing down in the studio.

And I have so much respect for Norwood, Angelo and John Steward for continuing to fight for the nuttmeg. And that is why it is with such great pain, trepidation and humility that I have had to write these words.

So just what did I witness on this night? The beginning of the end? The fall of the once mighty fishbone? Or was this just an off night. What will go down at tomorrow night?s show?

TO BE CONTIUED?

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I probably travelled the furthest to this gig, all the way from Australia! I was damn excited to see that Fishbone was playing twice during my vacation! I hadn't seen the 'bone since my band opened for them on their Australian tour in 1996, so i was pumped! Yes the set was short, but the new line up was rockin ! Seems the boys got screwed around by an incompetant promotor, we turned up the second ...

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