I stepped off the 1 into Skully’s Music Diner. Fishbone were playing the Los Angeles’ alternative rock’n’roll legend’s 1986 debut album, In Your Face from Columbia Records. Fishbone started with in You Face’s Zappa instrumental joint, Post Cold World Politics.
Fishbone were soon playing, In Your Face’s single, When Problems Arise.
“When Problems Arise” is an interesting song because Fishbone toured with Columbia label-mates’ Def Jam’s Beastie Boys while License To Ill dropped after the Madonna Like A Virgin Tour fiasco. Beastie Boys 1986 Licensed To Ill sold 10,00,000 records. Law enforcement were called into the February1 987 Fishbone/Beastie Boys show at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium.
I can imagine a 1986 Columbia Records marketing meeting: Sell a L.A. skateboarding Prince meets new wave band with Rick Rubin produced New York White Rappers.
We know Fishbone as pioneers of black punk who overlapped Bad Brains with P-Funk via ska. In You Face is a different understanding of Fishbone if you look at Fishbone from 1986 major label context of New Wave and funk pop-fusion.
The next song off “In Your Face” Selection does deliver a Talking Heads meets EU afropop School Daze skank which fully intertwined reggae/ska Police/Clash qualities of New Wave into the Go-Go sounding cut called “Cholly.” “In You Face” isn’t quite as debaucherous as “Fight For Your Right To Party” or “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” I thought Beastie Boys’ “Girls” while Fishbone played I Wish I Had A Date. Fishbone played with the danceable energy of Trouble Funk.
I’ve partied during A-Trak’s concert at Skully’s. I looked at people dancing and appreciated Fishbone’s dance floor precision. I’ve attended zydeco band shows at Lafayette’s Festival International. I’m watching all black musicians playing authentic dance music,
A 1986 Beastie Boy party was now a 2026 regional black band party which DJ A-Trak would appreciate.
Fishbone’s In Your Face is a party. Fishbone are considered one of the most legendary punk bands. I’ve watched Descendents, Devo and Gorilla Biscuits in recent years. Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, Open Mic Eagle, and other cover Fishbone’s In Your Face songs. Fishbone would headline Riot Fest. Fishbone aren’t looked at like Chuck Brown.
Fishbone’s performance at Skully’s was like we walked into Warped Tour and a Backyard Band show took over the room. Fishbone’s entire In Your Face Set felt like if Fabric Live had an LA Ska/Funk mix. Fishbone declared the culmination of the In Your Face set. I wondered if Skateboarding and Fishbone’s hair was a gift or a curse for the LA legends.
Fishbone started a new set with a Last Poets/Gil Scott Heron poem which denounced the current state of white supremacy over sound textures. Fishbone chanted, “Aw Yeah” like KRS-1 circa 1995.
Fishbone invited Foley on stage. Foley is the Columbus jazz legend who played with Miles Davis. Foley didn’t join Fishbone onto the stage. Fishbone brought out someone’s daughter for a birthday cake. I still liked Fishbone’s chosen climate.
Fishbone’s music went metal, punk and back into a rock steady skate skank while dissing Donald Trump. Fishbone led “Fuck Ice” chants during Secret Police. If you want a political punk album which doesn’t liked Donald Trump, I suggest Fishbone’s 2025 album Stockholm Syndrome. We were at a Punk Show. Fishbone then said “Fuck That White Devil in the White House” and clarified Trump doesn’t care about people regardless of race. I remembered exactly why I’m in Fishbone’s demographic.
Fishbone concluded their Columbus show with Fishbone’s Spike Lee video song for 1991’s Sunless Saturday which reminded me of listening to Fishbone pissed because the rain wouldn’t let us skateboard and the government was evil. The Spike Lee song is the song everyone in the room knew. Public Enemy were Fishbone’s late 80’s rap wave.
Fishbone’s 1986 In Your Face brings up an interesting question about 80’s music. If Fishbone’s In Your Face sells records like the Beastie Boys does black ska new wave abort glam rock in Los Angeles? Los Angeles had the Screamers, The Germs, Black Flag, Minutemen and soon… Motley Cru.
If Fishbone ruled record sales then The Whiskey-A-Go Go doing the butt could’ve created a cooler California.
Fishbone’s In Your Face would’ve saved a decade of music for LA if Fishbone’s classic found commercial success.
