Rumor has it that John "McNutt" Mc Knight will rejoin the Fishbone crew for the French 2005 tour and will add to the fullness of the horns section. John McKnight initially joined Fishbone in late March 1997 and left right after the Hen House sessions, early June 2001. Since then, McNutt has been spotted at least twice with Fishbone in Santa Monica (July 1st 2004) and in San Diego (December 30th 2004).
"In 2001, the legendary, influential and voraciously eclectic band Fishbone arrived to record their newest material at the Hen House, a free community recording studio - fully wired for digital sound and video. The only rule: leave your shoes at the door."
2001 was the year that was supposed to mark the return of Fishbone. Armed with a rejuvenated lineup and fresh and creative catalog of new material, Fishbone, which was comprised of Angelo Moore, Norwood Fisher, Dirty Walter Kibby, Spacey T, John McKnight, and John Steward, were poised to take on the world again with a message of hope, revolution and the One. Sadly, disgruntled members leaving, the death of a road crew member, and a verbal agreement with Hen House that turned sour made 2001 all but revolutionary, and the two years that followed saw the band go through a series of small successes and misfortunes until only three members were left to wave the Fishbone flag.
Critical Times: Fishbone's Hen House Sessions showcases an in-depth view of a band that is in the process of a rebirth within the ranks. As comes with a regeneration of sorts, growing pains are more than present throughout the entire documentary, revealing constant bickering between Angelo and Walt as well as the unorthodox style of song writing that Fishbone utilizes. Steward even goes so far as to say that he's regularly afraid of what will come out in the recording process because of the disorganized state of ideas beforehand. The roles of the band members are also clearly defined. Angelo may be the leader on stage, but he is certainly the low man on the totem pole during the sessions at the Hen House. Constantly receiving criticism for his Theremin parts, Angelo quietly reverts behind the other members while Norwood lays down the law. Plagued by constant confusion, it's a wonder that Fishbone is able to harness their raw power and meld it into musical ordered chaos.
The Documentary begins with Fishbone settling into the studio and beginning the recording of "Frey'd Fuckin' Nerve Endings", which is one of the most aggressive songs that Fishbone has given birth to, dealing with teetering on the edge of anger and insanity. The segment shows the many creative sides of the band such as Spacey and McKnight creating different guitar hooks for the song. The next recording, "Last Dayz, Critical Times," is a warning to all about the impending end of the world. The song begins with a blast from the horn section, while Angelo points out that the horns need to sound like an Earthquake is happening within the studio. Other songs recorded include "Premadawnutt"; an ode to all egomaniacs, "Demon in Here"; a tale about a maniacal preacher from the south who is actually Angelo's relative, "In the Heat of Angrrr"; a Motown styled anger piece, and "Skank N' Go Nuttz"; a song simply about skankin' with reckless abandon.
Interviews take place in between the songs, and they mainly focus on Angelo, Norwood, and Steward. Steward explains such topics as his high enthusiasm for the band and an extremely accurate interpretation of Norwood's bass playing, which he compares to Jimmy Paige's guitar style. Norwood talks about broad topics such as Fishbone's origins to his "Sacred Antenna", which is Norwood's uni-dread, and how it helps him keep himself on the One, a term referring to the hypnotic like trance while jamming. Angelo gives a tour of his house, where the walls, ceiling, and even the refrigerator have been painted by Angelo himself. He also explains why singing is his passion in life, and talks about Rev. Oomshakalak, the subject of the song "Demon in Here".
Fishbone is still alive and kicking today with a revamped lineup, but Critical Times is a bittersweet look into the past and a reminder of what could've been. A rift is now between Fishbone and Hen House Studios, because of a verbal agreement that was broken where Hen House made no mention of making the documentary. Fishbone has now ordered a boycott of the documentary, and it seems like there is no resolution in sight. Regardless, only the future know what lies ahead for Fishbone. Hold on tight...
Fishbone will be online this Thursday, December 30th to chat with the familyhood. Post your questions, concerns, love on fishbone.net's forum or send them to bbking@skunk.com.
Fishbone's new year resolutions : tour, record, tour, record, tour ...
What can we expect from Fishbone in 2005, year of the 20th anniversary of the EP ? Visibly, more touring. The Fishbone gang (Angelo, Wood, Wet Daddy, Rocky, Tory and the Dr?'s) will be pretty much on tour in North America and the Old Europe for most of the first half of 2005. The snowboard tour in January with New Blood Revival will cover as usual most of the NW ski resorts, a comprehensive french tour in February and March to support the european release of Live at the Temple Bar and More, more US touring with Slightly Stoopid in April, May and June. Stay tuned ! In the meantime, Fishbone will continue to record material for the next record, expected late 2005, early 2006, which is said to be "a musical statement of enormous magnitude." (I -unfortunately- haven't heard anything to back up this affirmation).
Ter ? Terre records and Fishbone announce the largest french tour Fishbone ever booked. Back in September-October 1993, Fishbone played 17 dates across France with support act from Tool. In February and March 2005, 20 shows are scheduled all across France with some leftovers for the belgians and the swiss. A ne manquer sous aucun prétexte !
Not three months after the announcement of the release by MVP, late November, of the Critical Times, Fishbone's Hen House Sessions documentary, Sony announces the DVD release of the 1992 music video Fishbone Past to Present, The Reality of my Surroundings (available November 16). Hightimes Record is also said to be finally releasing the DVD of November 2002 Cannibus Cup concert in January 2005.
When I heard that ska/punk legends Fishbone would be playing a party at the Soapbox [in Wilmington, NC] for the cast and crew of My Life In Idlewild, I eagerly agreed to sacrifice a Sunday of football-watching to tend bar for Soapbox manager-owner Brent Watkins.
Now, I?ve seen Fishbone maybe a half-dozen times, and their live show is always on point, but I had no idea that before the party ended, I would also get to see Broadway legend Ben Vereen, pop singer Macy Gray ? and have a chance to serve Liza Minnelli a drink or two.
The party, a celebration for everyone who worked on the HBO film, which stars OutKast and has been shooting around the region, started slowly about 4 p.m. Cast and crew trickled in and eventually Fishbone took the stage.
With Idlewild director Bryan Barber proclaiming, ?This is going to be an all-out jam!? the band launched in to a funky groove punctuated by an ongoing refrain of At the Soapbox! Lead singer and saxophonist Angelo Moore offered the microphone to anyone wanting to get up and get involved, and Soapbox co-owner and Changing Channels comic Sandy Summers was first on stage, freestyling and profiling with some remarkably good lyrics off the top of her head.
The jam continued as Ms. Gray, who will make her big-screen debut in Idlewild, took the mic for a bit of soulful scatting. Then Mr. Vereen, who also stars in the film, jumped on stage, and took over. Blending easily with Fishbone?s funky flavor, Mr. Vereen turned into manic-preacher-man, exhorting the crowd to move and sway, saying, ?We?ve discovered a new way to express hip-hop!? a reference to Idlewild stars Big Boi and Andre 3000.
That was when soundman Jimmy Phillips turned to me and asked me for a shot of bourbon for ?Miss Liza Minnelli.?
OK. I?ve met a lot of famous people in my day, but right in front of me, in the Soapbox, was Liza-freakin?-Minnelli. After a couple of shots of courage, Miss Minnelli took the stage and began to tell the crowd how proud she was of their work on the film. The band lowered the volume, but that wasn?t enough for the diva. She made them stop playing altogether and began singing an old standard a capella.
Everyone listened respectfully, but this was not Miss Minnelli?s finest moment. Incoherent and rambling, Miss Minnelli was saved by Fishbone?s abrupt resumption of the jam, and the party got back on track.
A few of the other Idlewild actors from took the stage for some improvisational rapping, and before long, Big Boi and crew shuffled into the club. Performing the OutKast hit I Like the Way You Move, the group had cast and crew on their feet dancing like the rapture was nigh. That, however, was the only OutKast performance of the night, as a conspicuously absent Andre 3000 never showed. Word was he was at an out-of-town recording session.
Things wrapped up around midnight, and the gracious film crew stumbled out, looking at a 6 a.m. wake-up call. I made some good dough, got to enjoy a set by one of my favorite bands and saw Ben Vereen and Liza Minnelli in action. Let?s hope that My Life In Idlewild hits it big, and talented performers like these bring some more business back to our town. Next time, maybe, Bernadette Peters?
The release of Critical Times, Fishbone's first DVD showing the band in the studio at the Hen House has been pushed back to Nov 30th. More info on this DVD at http://criticaltimesthemovie.com/.
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