Endurance
The Continuing Legacy of Fishbone By Rev. Shakes Spear
With his non-stop, over-the-top energy, Angelo Moore is the embodiment of Fishbone. As lead singer and co-founder of the ska-punk-metal band, he has carved himself a niche in the music world: a full-frontal front man assault on your mind, your eyes, your ears, your feet and your soul.
A man taking every opportunity to get his message through at any cost - which obviously includes less-than-luxurious accommodations: traveling in a small RV (parked on the side of the road), loading and unloading his own gear onto the busy city sidewalk, working without key band members, and hoping to find the luxury of a few minutes to get something to eat before showtime - he’s got no time for slowing or stopping.
People passing by would have little idea that this man would soon lead one of the most under-appreciated bands through a blistering, uncompromisingly unique, intense live acts rarely seen this side of Armageddon.
When Angelo finally got a few minutes to eat and find a place to iron his clothes, he was gracious enough to answer a few questions about his band, his vision and his future – over a hearty deli sandwich on a paper plate.
Crave: When you started Fishbone, did you expect it to last this long? Was this something you meant to be eternal?
Angelo: (takes a bite and ponders), ‘Was this something I meant to be eternal?
Crave: ‘Yeah, was that your vision?
Angelo: (swallows a bite and continues) “Well, I…you know…I didn’t think it was gonna last this long,’ he takes another long pause and looks off. ‘You know, after Walter Spacey quit the band, I felt like that was it. I wasn’t gonna do this no more – or at least take a real, nice long break and try to get into some acting or really expand on my spoken word. That…you know…I told myself that the only way I was gonna do this again is if we have a full horn section, keyboards, everybody happy to be here. That’s the most important part. Gotta be happy to be here or else, fuck it. What’s the use? You know we ain’t making a shitload of money or nothing, you know. We just trying to be happy while we doing it. Hopefully the financial shit, the financials will come along later, in the meanwhile we gotta be happy while we doing this, and so we are.
Sometimes you got certain band members that come and go like Tori. Tori Ruffen he couldn’t make it on this tour, cause the tour van we riding in is just too small to fit everyone in. Sometimes Dre had to leave a couple times. Pastor Dre…cause he has a family at home and he’s gotta make sure he doesn’t let that fall apart while he’s out here.
But, it’s like the Phoenix is rising thru the ashes. I get to see the second half of whatever the hell it is. But I done reached past the re-incarnation period. It’s been a trip, man. It’s been alright. I’m thankful. Gotta love it. That’s what I can say in the end, ‘I’m thankful!’.
Crave: What’s more important – moving someone’s feet or changing their heads?
Angelo: Changing their heads. Because you can always move your feet – you can always dance, man. You gotta inform people about what’s going on in the world...you know, if you want politics, it ain’t really too detailed. I’m not really a political person. You know, talking & debating about politics really isn’t my hobby. But I know when I see it overall. When I see it on the news, and stuff like that, you know. It gives me an uncomfortable feeling, man.
I seen “Fahrenheit 911” and “Bowling for Columbine” and I seen all this, man and I said, ‘this is bullshit, man’. Seems like the votes – who got elected – don’t really have anything to do with the people. I understand what happened with the last vote.
I even voted, actually. That’s why when I got my voting ballot, I filled in ‘Kerry’, and then I crumpled it up and threw it down on the parking lot and stepped on it and went ‘aaaagghhhhh’ (makes a crushing motion with his foot), I picked it up again, looked at it again, threw it back out there and it hit the ground and it got a little damp, so I straightened it out, let it dry out, put a stamp on it and then I put it in the mailbox. I put my return address and everything. I just wanted to let them know how I felt.
Crave: With all your touring around the world. where’s the best place to get weed? Can you narrow it down?
Angelo: Japan…I like France, too.
Crave: Your music is so busy and energetic overall. What do you listen to wind down and relax?
Angelo: Well, that’s been kind of a hard one lately, because my cd collection got left somewhere back there on the road. I had like a hundred cd’s, man. I just been kinda putting it outta my head. I like Shirley Ceasar…I been listening to a lot of Maytalls lately.
I been working on this solo project …it’s called Dr. Madd Vibes Medicine Cabinet!
Crave: When’s that coming out?
Angelo: Well, I finished it so, just gotta finish the art, I’m gonna start sending them out so people can see and they can hear…you know, these people at the record companies, distribution companies whatever...and I got this here: (Angelo gets up and digs around his bag and produces a full-sized, fully illustrated comic book that has his eccentric energy blaring from the bright, bold characters raging on the cover). Check this out: This is Nat the Procrastinator, that’s my new comic book. It’s got a CD to go with it.
That’s about procrastination - Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
CD, story, soundtrack. I wrote the story and did the soundtrack and I put together all the sound effects. I’m happy about that shit. Misae Mizuama did the art.”
The opening lines of Nat the Procrastinator read as follows:
“Here in your hands you hold is the very dynamic audibly fosfluorescent ultra-leftist, uniquely experimental, new age marriage of an interactive interpretation of a comic book and soundtrack.”
Angelo: “That’s right! Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!!! That’s the intro page, right there!”
His sandwich is almost gone, and it’s time to wrap up my precious few minutes with Angelo.
Crave: : Tell me, what can save the world?
Angelo: “Endurance and love for your fellow man and woman. Respect everyone like you want to be respected.”
Indeed.
I thank Angelo as he readies himself for yet another task towards moving forward with his brand of super-funk ska punk.
He's busy for a reason: he knows what's in store for tonight…this, being my first Fishbone show, I have now idea what to expect – other than something good.
Around 9 pm, Dr. Madd Vibe pulls up a chair, throws down an ancient wind-up siren, holds it down with his foot and starts cranking…the Roseland theatre was filled with a wailing, warning scream, followed by some fire 'n brimstone preachin' from the Good Doctor and the place was alive with contagious energy.
Angelo Moore was showing more respect than was deserved. He and the Brothers Fishbone rocked Portland with a set of nearly uncontrollable mayhem while being virtually ignored by the lack-luster crowd – save a few die-hards that understood what they were witnessing.
To be at the top of your game – unmatched in skill, enthusiasm and showmanship; with some of the greats in the music business - Rocky George (from Suicidal Tendencies), John McKnight (from Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals) and of course, Norwood Fisher - professing thoughtful, passionate music about life and love and sex and death and laws and bonin' and dancing and power and truth – and to be relegated to the opening slot? In a shitty RV, without even enough room to hold all your band members?
Yeah...
That's what makes them legendary and forever. They don't need you to love them - they love music and that's enough. Fishbone transcends pop culture and current trends and gives your head something to chew on and your feet something to groove to – because they can. That's what they do.
From megaphone to saxophone, Theremin to suspenders - Angelo gave the audience a show fit for the gods. Kung-Fu-ing the Theremin like Bruce Lee on speed - making it squeak and squall like a screaming cat on fire, and moving with his heavy, bass saxophone like a sexy lover in love, shouting out the truth of the reality of our surroundings, all the while 'fighting' his loose suspenders, barley keeping his pants from falling down and giving every chick what she wanted to see - he and Fishbone delivered a classic set of beautifully tight, bright, pounding rock n' roll that few could hope to duplicate.
It's that kind of passion that endures.
Who knows if Fishbone will ever get the respect they deserve? After 20 years, they're still making relevant, rocking music - and the world is better because of it.
I'll let bass extraordinaire Norwood Fishers's only words of the night sum it up. He gave a knowing, resigned wave to the crowd and said, "Thank you for coming to see Slightly Stoopid…I'm just happy to be here…."
