©2010
Dunedin Free Press/Brennan Ink
By
Evan Brenner
25 years ago, Fishbone emerged from a sea of alternative rock groups in Los
Angeles that included bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and captivated audiences
with their live performance.
Today, Fishbone is still electrifying crowds, and they still have the same passion
to play live in front of spastic audiences that they did in the 80s, credited
with influencing bands like Sublime and No Doubt.
Fishbone joins The English Beat and Outlaw Nation on this year’s Spring
Skaward tour. The tour is a joint celebration with The English Beat, celebrating
the 30th anniversary of their debut release I Just Can’t Stop It,
and Fishbone's quarter-century anniversary as a band.
“The English Beat is one of the bands that inspired us (Fishbone) to be
who we are,” said Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher.
Led by Dave Wakeling, The English Beat formed in 1979. They got their start
in England during uncertain social times. The Beat, as they were originally
called, made their mark by fusing soul, reggae, pop and punk. After four years,
however, the group disbanded.
Today, there is both a UK and a US version of the beat. Fans will see US version
on the Spring Skaward Tour.
Outlaw Nation, hailing from Louisiana, mix reggae, hip-hop and pop. ON is currently
signed to Stoopid Records, which is owned and operated by the reggae-rock group
Slightly Stoopid. Fishbone’s Angelo Moore and English Beat’s Dave
Wakeling have guest appearances on ON’s most recent record.
“It’s all family,” said Fisher.
Fisher noted that this tour is especially exciting because it marks the start
of what was, at the time, a new fusion of music in England.
“It’s crazy because…this is the 30th year after the inception
of the two-tone movement,” said Fisher.
And it wouldn’t be a true celebration of the movement unless one of the
bands came from that uprising, which the English Beat can proudly say that they’ve
been there and done.
The two tone movement, named after 2 Tone Records, was the first of its kind
to mix ska music with reggae, punk, rocksteady and pop.
Fishbone is also celebrating the release of their first official live concert
DVD. The DVD was shot while on tour.
“After all this time…the cameras were rolling, and I still got nervous,”
said Fisher of the recording.
The DVD, Live In Bordeaux, was filmed in Bordeaux, France in April of 2008.
“It was a sold-out theatre,” said Fisher
While the current assortment of reggae-rock bands may seem saturating, it doesn’t
worry Fisher.
“That youthful energy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon,”
said Fisher. “I think the kids will always need this music to stomp to.”
Fisher leads Fishbone and company to the State Theatre in St. Petersburg on
Thursday night.
