Apr 12 2000 @ The Usual San Jose, CA

Wasn't sure what to expect from the new lineup, but they didn't dissapoint. Slightly Stoopid and Workhorse Movement opened.

Slightly played slightly too damn long and the fakin' Jamaican dancehall styley was a bit overdone. Liked their music, didn't dig the attitude too much. Their drummer was trippin' me out the whole show and I shortly found out why. He puked all over the stage right before their last song. Bad Chinese food. 'Bone didn't hit the stage until 11:30 (and this was a Wednesday!). Maybe I'm just gettin' old.

Packed house. Holds about 350-400 tops. Angelo took a bit to get going, but by the 3rd song he was on it. Surfin, dancin, getting people up on stage. Walt was pretty mellow but on it with vocals and horn. New members had it goin on, but couln't help looking at them as some sort of hired musicians. Didn't seem like Fishbone unless you just looked at Angelo, Norwood or Walt. Can't say they couldn't play, just seemed a little weird. Spacey is a great guitar player and didn't miss a thing. I thought Steward was tight as well and better than what I'd been reading. He nailed some of the more difficult Fish chops. McKnight was great. Zero stage presence (Chris always had great stage presence), but his trombone playing was soo damn good! The horns overall were insanely tight. When all was said and done they had played for 2 hours! Great mix of old and new. Highlights: Wish I Had A Date (hadn't seen it live in years), Cholly (as always), One Planet People (slower, but rock steady), Behavior Control (just a kick ass song), Weed Plant (just angelo and spacey - very cool). Big surprise was how good Aids & Arm sounded. It was very tight. Here's the list: - Party - Question - All Kept Startin' - Cholly - Suffering - Problems - Bonin' - Beergut - Just Allow - Ugly - Ma and Pa - Pants - Wish I had a date - One Planet - Unyielding - Aids & Arm - Freddy's Dead - Sunless - Behavior Control - Subliminal ----- - Weed Plant - Karma - Housework ----- - Shakey Ground

All in all another great show! Hung with Walt a bit. Asked about the Chili tour. Said they were into it, but didn't know much about it, like where they were playing and when.

- Z

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