FISHBONE LIVE!! | RITZ
Coverage by Chris Sturk
Fishbone tore through The Ritz in Raleigh like a sonic hurricane, refusing to let a single fan forget the funked-up frenzy they unleashed. Formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, Fishbone stands as one of the true pioneers of the ska, punk, and funk fusion scene. Their genre-busting legacy took shape with a Columbia Records deal in 1983, the explosive single “Party at Ground Zero” in 1985, and their first full-length album In Your Face in 1986.
While they had been trailblazing from the start, the early-to-mid '90s ska-punk revival gave them a new spotlight. Albums like The Reality of My Surroundings (1991) and the wildly titled Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe (1993) cemented their role in that riotous wave, alongside contemporaries who could never quite match their fearless sound or kinetic stagecraft.
Their set at The Ritz? Absolute mayhem—in the best way. It was a sweaty, joy-fueled, horn-blasted celebration of Fishbone’s legacy. With classics like “Everyday Sunshine,” “Skankin to the beat,” “Sunless Saturday,” and “Ma and Pa,” they turned the night into a living mixtape of funk-punk bliss. Frontman Angelo Moore—aka Dr. Madd Vibe—was nothing short of electric. At 60, he outpaced performers half his age with a whirlwind of jumps, mic tosses, arm swings, and full-body commitment. The man’s a walking, wailing testament to longevity through sheer love of performance.
If you’ve never seen Fishbone live, rectify that immediately. They’re not just the OGs of their genre—they’re an experience.
