Fishbone Turn 170 Russell Into A Frenzy With Four Decades Of Funk, Punk And Ska

Fishbone brought four decades of genre-defying energy to Melbourne, with Angelo Moore leading a 22-song set that moved from ska and funk to punk and thrash metal.

by Anna-Maria Megalogenis

Formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1979, Fishbone have influenced countless successful bands with their genre-defying fusion of ska, reggae, soul, punk, funk and metal. Yet despite their enormous influence, they remain criminally underappreciated.

I had been waiting to see Fishbone ever since missing their legendary show at the Palace in St Kilda in 1992, where vocalist Angelo Moore stage-dived and crowd-surfed several times, including jumping from the balcony rail into the crowd. It was back when punters could jump onto the stage and stage-dive, with Palace security simply helping them back down. How times have changed.

Now, here they are for their 40th anniversary In Your Face album tour, and the energy in the crowd is palpable. From a short distance away, members of Fishbone are signing merchandise for fans at the merch stand before making their way onto the stage.

Drummer Hassan Hurd takes his spot first and immediately starts pounding his skins with abandon, the sound reverberating through the confines of 170 Russell. James Jones slaps his bass to full funk effect, while guitarist Tracey ‘Spacey T’ Singleton works his fingers up and down the fretboard.

Founding member Angelo Moore, on lead vocals, saxophones and theremin, is singing up a storm and working the stage with his trademark energetic stage antics. The harmonies courtesy of Moore, founding member Christopher Dowd on keyboards and trombone, and JS Williams on keys and trumpet are exquisite.

The opening song from In Your Face, “When Problems Arise”, is astounding. From the outset, each member of the band is invested in playing their hearts out. The energy on stage is infectious, sending punters into a frenzy and keeping them dancing throughout the set.

“This is our escape America tour,” Dowd tells the crowd. Each member of the band is a master of their chosen instrument, and the musicianship is astounding. “A Selection” features Moore’s daughter Cheyanne Star Forever Moore on vocals, and she returns for a couple more ska-infused songs later in the night, as well as playing saxophone.

“I wish the world wasn’t so crazy right now,” Dowd exclaims before launching into “Movement in the Light”, featuring some gobsmacking three-part harmonies.

During “Give It Up”, Moore leaps into the crowd, his limbs flailing about, offering a glimpse of what I missed in 1992. When he returns to the stage, he treats us to a display of hip-hop dance moves, including popping and locking.

Later, Moore launches into a lengthy diatribe about Noah taking animals onto the ark before declaring, “Swim, motherfuckers!” This introduces one of Fishbone’s heaviest thrash-metal songs, “Swim”, which hits as a veritable onslaught on the senses.

“Racist Piece of Shit”, released in 2024, is a fiery anti-Trump anthem that draws screams of agreement from the audience. Popular hits “Party at Ground Zero”, brass-driven “Everyday Sunshine” and “Sunless Saturday” follow in quick succession before the band closes the set with the metal-inspired “Servitude”.

The encore brings “Cubicle” and “Dog Eat Dog” before “Servitude” closes the night.

Fishbone exceeded every expectation of what a live band should be. After more than four decades, they remain an electrifying, genre-defying force, and seeing them live only reinforces their reputation as one of the greatest live acts around.

Fishbone Melbourne Setlist

Intro (I Chase the Devil – Max Romeo)
When Problems Arise
A Selection
Cholly
I Wish I Had a Date
Movement in the Light
Give It Up
In the Air
Turn the Other Way
Knock It
Simon Says ‘The Kingpin’
Swim
Skankin’ to the Beat
Why Do We Keep on Dying
Ma and Pa
Racist Piece of Shit
Party at Ground Zero
Everyday Sunshine
Sunless Saturday

Encore

Cubicle
Dog Eat Dog
Servitude

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Tagged as: 170 Russell, Angelo Moore, Fishbone, Fishbone Melbourne, Fishbone review, Fishbone setlist, funk, In Your Face, Melbourne Live Music, metal, punk, reggae, ska