Eclectic rockers Fishbone will take their ska-flavored sound to the West Coast and the American heartland on the heels of the planned March 21 release of Fishbone & the Familyhood Nextperience Presents: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx.
After opening March 24 in Santa Ana, Calif., the band will head into the Southwest and Midwest before returning to the West Coast. The tour concludes April 14 in Los Angeles, with guests No Doubt and the Suicide Machines performing.
As its name implies, the upcoming album features a variety of guests, including funk legend George Clinton, ex–Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and R&B crooner Rick James. "It's such a bigger album than the band Fishbone," bassist Norwood Fisher said.
The tour will showcase Fishbone's own takes on the new songs, which focus more on their soul and funk roots. Their albums over the past 15 years have delved progressively more into hard-rock territory, as with the title track (RealAudio excerpt) from the 1996 album Chim-Chim's Badass Revenge. Earlier songs, such as "Cholly" (RealAudio excerpt), from their 1986 album, In Your Face, blended ska, soul and funk to pave the way for such genre-bending rock bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Living Color.
Opening for Fishbone throughout the tour will be San Diego ska-metal trio Slightly Stoopid.
Fishbone tour dates:
March 24; Santa Ana, Calif.; The Galaxy
March 26; Tucson, Ariz.; The Rialto
March 27; Albuquerque, N.M.; Launch Pad
March 28; El Paso, Texas; E-9 Nightclub
March 31; St. Louis, Mo.; The Firehouse
April 1; Springfield, Mo.; Juke Joint
April 2; Omaha, Neb.; Ranch Bowl
April 3; Fayetteville, Ariz.; Dave's On Dickson
April 4; Lawrence, Kan.; Bottleneck
April 5; Boulder, Colo.; The Fox Theatre
April 6; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Sidewinders
April 7; Pocatello, Idaho; The Rock
April 8; Seattle, Wash.; The Fenix
April 10; Portland, Ore.; Crystal Ballroom
April 12; San Jose, Calif.; The Usual
April 14; Los Angeles, Calif.; The Universal Amphitheatre