Fishbone tear up SF's Regency Ballroom with a timeless Ska Punk fire
Before Less Than Jake took over San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom, it was Fishbone who set the night ablaze, reminding everyone why they’re not just pioneers of the ska-punk-funk-soul hybrid, but still one of the most electrifying live bands in existence. Decades deep into their career, Fishbone continues to redefine what it means to open a show, turning their set into a full-throttle headliner-worthy experience that left the crowd breathless and begging for more.
From the moment the band hit the stage, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be a nostalgia act sleepwalking through the hits. No, this was Fishbone at their raw, unfiltered best—tight, chaotic, and endlessly charismatic. The horns were absolutely radiant, slicing through the mix with a brass-fueled ferocity that ignited circle pits within the first few notes. The Ballroom floor was alive with motion, a living, breathing entity of skanking, moshing, and joyful collisions.
Fishbone’s setlist was a love letter to their diehard fans, pulling deep from their storied catalog while delivering the classics that have become anthems of defiance and celebration. The band’s genre-defying sound—part punk rebellion, part funk groove, part ska swagger—was in full force, with every song feeling like a masterclass in how to keep a crowd moving. And yet, amidst the mayhem, there were moments of sheer musicianship that reminded everyone why Fishbone have always been in a league of their own. Their ability to pivot from frenetic punk energy to tight, syncopated funk grooves is still unmatched.
What sets Fishbone apart, even after all these years, is their unwavering energy. Angelo Moore commanded the stage with the magnetism of a man half his age, leaping, dancing, and blowing the roof off with his saxophone. The entire band moved as a unit—loose, wild, yet razor-sharp. Their chemistry is palpable, a byproduct of decades of shared sweat and song, and it radiated out into the crowd who responded with an ocean of moshing bodies and raised fists.
Opening for Less Than Jake is no easy task, but Fishbone made it feel like a co-headline event. They weren’t just warming up the crowd—they were setting the bar absurdly high. This was a band that came not just to play, but to conquer.
In a night drenched in nostalgia, Fishbone proved that their fire hasn’t dimmed one bit. They’re still one of the OG’s of the genre, still teaching lessons in how to tear down a venue with sound and spirit. For anyone who thought about skipping the opener, they missed a masterclass in live performance.
Fishbone on tour is an experience that’s never to be missed. The Regency Ballroom will be ringing with those horn lines and bass grooves for weeks to come.
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