One of the great contributing factors to the varied live music scene to be found in Glasgow is the long list of quality venues. Basement bars, old churches, former ballrooms and even fruit markets showcase worldwide talent. Then, of course, there's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. Small, intimate and versatile. Country one night, indie the next, and on this particular evening Scottish ska, French two-piece rock, and Californian ska. Edinburgh's Big Hand was the spark that started the fire, The Inspector Cluzo was the French fuel, and Fishbone came along and started throwing aerosol cans, gasoline and explosives into the burning musical inferno on stage.
Big Hand is a group better dressed than you or I have ever been which provokes the Bluesbunny curiosity as to whether or not their music possesses the same class. Two vocalists, Tim "Lo-Lo" Lomas who also plays guitar, and Paul "Pabs" Skelding, who also pounds away on the drums, take turns singing the songs. "Let it Out" is Pabs' vocal best work, with lyrics that belong to the night and an easy rocking start that picks up with the addition of a trumpet. Then "Magnet" draws you in closer with an ecstatic intro that touches on Booker T and the M.G.'s, and when the trumpet, and vocals kick in the song feels like it has had an injection of some sort of performance enhancing substance. To close their set, the natural performer of the band, trumpeter Phil Ramsay wandered through the audience as he continued playing, stopping to ask audience members to blow his horn. An aggressive ensemble with lots of energy, spirit, style, pizzazz, and nice hats.
Hitting the King Tuts stage next was The Inspector Cluzo, whom Big Hand described as "very, very French". Well, Big Hand was right. Two guys out to have a good time and cause a ruckus, The Inspector Cluzo consists of Matheiu on the drums, and Laurent wailing away on his Gibson SG and slamming out to the vocals with occasional support from Matheiu. They bring forth a hard rock sound in tunes like "Mad", but also bring a tidal wave of humour. Especially in "Tuturlututu", which Laurent says is "… about that little scream after making love, and if you do not hear this sound, you are not a good lover". But the real catch is "Fuck Bass Players", where these two confess that two is all they need in this band. This song is very catchy and had the audience calling for a repeat of the very simple chorus. This song is was definitely the comical highlight and had everyone smiling from ear to ear. They may be a one trick pony but there is an LP out in September and we'll see if it does the trick. After all, it only takes one. Right, Eifel 65?
The excitement built as the audience stirred with anticipation for those legends from California, Fishbone. With over twenty years of service between them, they've taken hits, bumps and bruises but still show dedication, love and the know-how to rock. In an over sized white suit, charismatic front man Doctor Madd Vibe (aka Angelo Moore) commanded attention like a preacher and danced away with his sax, as the band pumped out some of the most genuine, and authentic ska with a performance that has to be seen live. The Doctor called upon those at the back of the venue to put down their "martini's and cigars and come dance", but when that didn't work he jumped off the stage and stretched his microphone cord to the back where he sang and danced directly in front of them. But, Mad Vibe wasn't the only member of Fishbone to leave the stage, the latest addition to the band, Dre started a wave of crowd surfing when he came out from behind the keyboards and flipped off the crowd barrier on top of awaiting hands. As the set heated up, a couple members of the band stripped down shirtless, and so did a few in the audience too.
Now as a big fan of the California ska-rock-funk scene, I've had wet dreams about seeing Sublime live, but when Fishbone exploded into their cover of the band's "Date Rape", I was blind sided with happiness. Not only did Fishbone come from the same era as Sublime, but also the same area. A wonderful tribute to the late Bradley Nowell and the boys. But the party didn't stop there and continued with "Party with Saddam", a song that convinces me that all it takes is one hell of a party with Castro, Bush, Blair, Putin, Hussein, Bin Laden, and Kim Jong-Il to bring peace and resolution. As long as "… we party 'til our colours blend, party 'til Saddam's your friend, and we'll never drop the bomb again". If this party ever occurred, Fishbone would have to play live as their energy could transform any warmonger into a peacemaker. Like a freight train without brakes, Fishbone just kept on going displaying everything from a talented slap bass performance by Norwood Fisher, whose mohawk forms one giant dread that hangs above his forehead, to belting out tunes about their love of big women.
Even as the set extended beyond usual curfew restrictions no one had the slightest intention on leaving. This well weathered and experienced band's performance concluded with their 1991 release "Everyday Sunshine" where everyone exhausted the last bit of energy they had left. Another phenomenal performance at King Tuts that was like a warm hug combined with the rush of shooting heroin. A hell of a show that was definitely worth losing my (real) job for. Thanks for getting me sacked Fishbone, I owe you.