Meet The SXSW Band: Fishbone
We have finally arrived at the end of our SXSW interview previews and we saved maybe the biggest and most well known act for last. Los Angeles based Fishbone has been making music for longer than most of us on the ATH crew have been alive and we were elated when the legends agreed to take part in our silliness. Huge thanks to the band and to their team for allowing this to happen. That’s a wrap. Hit the jump for all the usual information.
What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?
Fishbone, Los Angeles
Describe your group’s sound using only adjectives or superlatives.
Rhythmic, funky, hardcore, nostalgic
What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2023?
“All We Have is Now” is our most recent release on Fat Wreck Chords new label Bottles to the Ground and was the lead single from the compilation, Bottle Music for Broken People. We have an EP coming out in May. Our first release in 7 years and our first with 3/4 of our original line up since 1994.
Why play SXSW? What’s the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?
We love Austin. Our management company, The Noise Company is Austin based and this show is the companies showcase, so what better place to play than the Mohawk on a Friday night of SXSW
There are tons of bands coming into town, but if you could create your own perfect festival, who would you have playing? Would it have a sick name? Where would it take place? Feel free to disregard the rules of time and space.
The Fishbone Family Picnic – This would have to have a bunch of people that influenced us and helped shape us… You’d have to have Dr. Funkenstein, George Clinton and PFunk, Sly and the Family Stone, The Meters, The Specials, The Selecter, Devo, Bad Brains, Public Enemy, Wu Tang, De La Soul, Big Youth, Buju Banton, Ice T, Ice Cube, Action/Adventure, Jer, Son Rompe Pera, NOFX, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, D’Angelo, The Roots, Dave Chapelle, Rancid, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Doja Cat, Ramones, The Pixies, Kendrick Lamar, Odd Future, Eryka Badu, Outkast… man so many
What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?
all of the above from our Fishbone Family Picnic
Obviously you have seen or heard about the issues coming up this year about fair pay for artists at SXSW? Care to offer any insight or comment?
We have been fighting for fair pay for decades. We were first signed in the 80’s when we were in our late teens. We were wide eyed and ready for the world. Unfortunately, we didn’t know the business and have spent a long ass time digging out of it. Luckily, recently, we have been able to take control of a lot of bad situations, rework past deals, get out of some and get an opportunity to take things and put them more in our own control. Working with Fat Mike and the way he looks at music and fairness, we are in a great place to work back and get back on top while not being in debt to someone.
We’ve been seeing more and more artists get into the food and beverage game, whether it’s pierogis from Pavement or Deftones’ beer. If you ever got into the game, what would be your food or beverage and what would it be called?
We have had some great friends in the craft beer industry. Last year we did a limited beer with Fall Brewing Company in San Diego called Party at Ground Zero and our friends at Ska Brewery in Colorado have been selling a beer in honor of the same song (Party at Ground Zero) called “Pink Vapor Stew”… we hope to do more. We are pleased to have Tito’s sponsoring our show at the Mohawk, so maybe we can make some drinks for the night using Tito’s and name them after our songs… I’d drink a “Cholly” on the rocks… whatever that is.
Thanks again to the legends, Fishbone. Here is the lone confirmed show in Austin:
- 3/17 – The Noise Company Showcase @ Mohawk (12:40am)