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Live at the Temple Bar and More

Fishbone - Live at the Temple Bar and More Audio CD

A fair review of the Fishbone "Live at the Temple Bar and More" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Fishbone reviews here, or go back to the Fishbone tabs.

Band: Fishbone
Title: Live at the Temple Bar and More
Rating:

Release Date: 2002-06-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Skann N' Go Nutts 2: Are U Wit It 3: Premadawnutt 4: Demon In Here 5: In The Heat Of Angrrr 6: Last Dayz, Critical Times 7: Git Out Of The City 8: Down Boy

LIVE AT THE TEMPLE BAR AND MORE (2002)
After this album, original member Walter Kibby II leaves, along with newer recruit Spacey T. This is essentially the last recorded material by Fishbone with half of its original lineup still intact. for pastures greener. Part of the complaint may have been about lack of studio time, or effective management, or constantly touring to eek out a living. Whatever the complaint, this Live album recorded at 3 different venues debuts original material. It's sound quality is good, and the Henhouse Sessions DVD (. . . )documents that many of these songs did get the studio treatment. It would have made a brilliant album, with no signs of Fishbone creativity on the wane, despite their personal fortune or visibility. Word has it there will be new studio material in 2005, which is good news for many.

Fishbone is really a band that needs to be witnessed live, and captured in the studio. I've seen this band many, many times, and any recording of them and the energy they produce as a live band is worthy of purchase, especially if it's new material. But I would personally love to hear studio versions of this material, as the Henhouse DVD acknowledges there is. Particularly `In The Heat of Angrrr'.

The 2002 Temple Fishbone were: Angelo Moore (Vocals / Sax / Theremin), Walter Kibby II (Vocals / Trumpet), Tracey `Spacey T' Singleton (Guitar - before Fishbone he was with Sound Barrier), John Steward (Drums), and Norwood Fisher (Bass / Vocals). All songs were credited to Fishbone as a group. Singleton was the original guitarist of the first Black heavy metal band to be signed to a major label. By odd coincidence (for me as a reviewer), Neftali Santiago of MANDRILL (who a few days ago got reviewed by me for their 1973 `Composite Truth' album!) produced the 4 song demo that landed them a contract with MCA Records in 1980. Synchronicity and small circles.

Skank n' Go Nutts -
Angelo asks everyone if they're ready. Science Fiction Ska is what they're about to hear should they be ready, which switches from outer space to heavy metal thrash ground level. With the departure of guitarist John Bigham and drummer Phil `Fish' Fisher, the first concern is if Fishbone can still be `good'. By this first song, I don't hear that they've lost as much as people like to think they have. `Skank' is as good as anything that has appeared on any of their previous studio albums. The recording quality of this material is very good as stated before, especially for a live gig.

Are U Wit It -
Cool laid back funk is the style for this next song, driven by Norwood's heavily compressed slap bass, and Spacey T's wah wah pedalled guitar, which goes into a pretty incredible out of this world guitar solo. That's why I would love to have heard this guy on a studio recording of the same material. His use of effects changes nearly every section of this song. Moore uses the Theremin like a hip hop scratch record.

Premadawnutt -
The trademark Fishbone Horns dominate this song, which is very hard to describe. It comes across like a thrash metal version of Toni Basil's `Oh Mickey'. But before it can stay there long enough to be familiar, it drifts into Reggae, and then a secton that sounds like you're running and hitting a wall over and over again. This song is like Looney Tunes on Acid. It then becomes this frenetic 200 mph race back to the opening horn section, and subsequent free-form sax solo.

Demon In Here -
The story behind this one is actually true, as the Henhouse Sessions reveal. As Moore describes the protagonist, Singleton plays acoustic guitar runs. But what this song becomes is something totally different. Could be classic Fishbone if you listen to it, easily placed alongside something from `The Reality of My Surroundings' or `Give A Monkey A Brain . . . '. The Theremin adds a slightly Looney Tunes quality to this song which sounds like a drummer's nightmare, but Steward handles this whole song with ease. Goes from total heavy metal crunch into Hang `Em High territory.

(Burning) In The Heat of Angrrr -
Could easily sit alongside the first Fishbone E. P. (1985) or `In Your Face' (1986). Anyone who wondered what happened to `classic' Fishbone, look no further. It still exists in this song. One of the best songs of the new material, first it's rock, then quickfire, but laid back soul. The ending is like a horror movie.

Last Dayz, Critical Times -
Grunged out, severely heavy rock, which all of a sudden becomes reggae. The warnings of Armageddon set to music. The Theremin, heavily echoed, practically screams. This song makes me lament the loss of Walter Kibby II, he adds so much to their songs.

Git Out Of The City -
Swing it. Which then swings right into Reggae. Which then jumps into the deranged Delta Blues. Passes from one musical genre to the next like it's the easiest thing to do.

Down Boy -
Quick Ska which turns into some sort of easy breezy psychedelic song, back into ska, then into Hendrix territory for a bar or two. Then into heavy metal Jazz. The album closes with fans singing over and over again, `Fishbone is Red Hot'.

All of this material is easily some of Fishbone's best. I see no signs that this band should stop, because creatively they still have it, and sound like no other band out there. This album stands as a document and diary of one of America's most important bands, who mixed almost 100 years of African-American musical culture into one form, called Fishbone. Purchase the album just to say `I own a Fishbone album'.
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Not the Same 'ol Fishbone but Good Enough!
To borrow one of their song titles, 'Those Days Are Gone'. With the departure of several of the original band members, the bright future of this legendary band is firmly placed well behind them. However, there's certainly enough here in this latest brew for the diehard Fishbone soldier to sip on. For the Fishneophyte, the first four or five albums are listening prerequisites to appreciate the mozaical musical style, frenetic energy and good wholesome humor of this album. 'Live at the Temple Bar' also makes up for the lackluster 2000 release, 'Fishbone and Friends' which contained no Fishbone and no Friends with it suppressive corporate production sound.

Like each one of their previous albums 'Temple Bar' requires several listens then you're hopelessly hooked. Without the mellifluous influence of some of the departed band members, at times some of the songs are a bit too discordant and because it's a live production, are a bit too gritty, but it's still Fishbone. Encapsulating the band in their natural element, the live show, each song is an awe-inspiring example of magisterial musical artistry and showmanship

What's also remarkable about this collection of songs is that once you get past the wrinkles and tattoo (which suspiciously appears to be covering a bald spot) in the picture on the backside of the CD of the lead singer's devilishly grinning visage, you realize that this 20+ year old rock band is creating new music that is as youthful as ever. With time, bands tend to produce a more contemplative sound in contrast from their earlier work, however, with song titles like 'Skank 'N Go Nutts', Fishbone thankfully shows no signs of growing up.

A poignant moment on the CD comes at the very end of the last song when the audience fades off chanting in unison, 'Fishbone is Red Hot'. This not only reveals the love and admiration fans have for this talented group but also the signature of a band whose audience is hungrily caught in the afterglow of a magical and intimate moment.

'Live at the Temple Bar and More' with Fishbone's typical rockjazzfunkpunksoulthrashskaetc sound, is only for the adventurous music listener. Tap into it and enjoy a band doing what they were meant to do. Have fun!.

Fishbone kicks! VERSATILITY and virtuosity in tact live!!!!!
Personally like it better than any of their other cds (I HAVE ALL OF THEM)! It reminds me of bad brains and (classic)red hot chili peppers mixed together. Sknk n go nutts! If you like fishbone and don't have this cd, go get it! It is my favorite cd i've listened to this month! I can't wait to hear their next cd. with reggae/ska/thrash/and funk mixed in. 'There is a demon in me & he smiles at me' is my favorite track, hopefully a studio version is also in the works of all these songs!.

THE GREATEST LIVE ALBUM IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!!!
I don't work for the band or the label. I'm not joking or being sarcastic. I love a wide variety of music, from Bach to Bebop to Beatles to Bad Brains. I have no personal gain here. But all things considered: all-new material which is as strong (or stronger) than anything they've done in the past, outstanding (even stunning) production quality, and nailed-to-the-floor performances all the way around by each band member (especially the new guys) -- this album just leaves every other live album in its wake/dust. PERIOD.

Fishbone??
They are fun to watch and are truly talented. I'm glad Norwood, Angelo and Walter are still playing live shows. Unfortunately, without the rest of the original line-up, they don't really compare to the Fishbone I once knew and loved. It's sad that they are playing at heavy metal dives nowadays but go check them out if you want to have fun. Or just buy their first four albums and listen to them at home.

You can see a complete list of all Fishbone discography, or go back to the Fishbone tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.