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Celebrates 40 Years of In Your Face
Live at The Glass House, Pomona
May 12th, 2026 Review by Matt Martinez
A genre of music that normally doesn’t get the respect that it deserves is ska. I will be the first to admit that I haven’t given it the proper time of day. But when I had the opportunity to cover Fishbone, who has been a staple in the ska community for four decades, it seemed like the perfect chance to experience what ska has to offer. Fishbone is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album, “In Your Face,” with the final stop taking place at the Glass House in Pomona.
A VIP meet and greet was held prior to the show where fans not only got to meet the band, but also grab a few souvenirs for free, and watch the band soundcheck. Fishbone takes things a step further and allows the fans to help them soundcheck with Fishbone Karaoke. Inviting the fans to sing their favorite Fishbone songs, as the band performs live with them seems like a unique and special moment for the fans experienced it.
Opening the show was local ska-punk band Chudson. As the rhythmic chanting of Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” (aka the Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga song) blasted over the speakers, Chudson marched out in nothing but adult diapers.
Welcoming the crowd by performing a Haka practically naked, it was apparent we were in for an entertaining set at the very least.
Once they got into performing their music, Chudson was a six-person ball of energy that was ready to party. The music was high energy and lifted the spirits in the room; we even got a mosh pit spinning.
The biggest thing that stuck out to me about Chudson was that the band looked like a group of high school seniors, just performing for the sake of getting on stage as the life of the party. But their sound was so clean and tight, it was obvious they’ve put a lot of effort into sounding great on that stage.
Up next was a band from San Antonio who brand themselves as a Tex-Mex punk band known as Piñata Protest. Strutting to the stage in cowboy boots, blue jeans, a cowboy hat, a tough guy demeanor, and an accordion, vocalist Álvaro del Norte was not the Texan I would have imagined, but he brought that Texas Mexican-American style to the people of Southern California.
Piñata Protest’s sound felt like a mix of mariachi and punk music, which the crowd easily found the groove in. Álvaro del Norte decided to get a little political at one point, literally dividing the crowd. On one side we had the salsa roja lovers, and on the other we had the salsa verde lovers.
This led to a wall of death, and then the biggest spinning mosh pit of the night. Though we may all share different opinions of what the true best salsa is (it’s verde) [editor’s note: it’s roja], we could all agree that Piñata Protest knew how to get the crowd moving.
It was then time for Fishbone to take the stage and let the rest of the venue bask in their celebration of “In Your Face.” Band leader, vocalist, and saxophonist Angelo Moore may be pushing 60, but he is a wild man on stage.
I heard his antics back in the day were a sight to behold – jumping off stages and into crowds – and though he may not be doing those things anymore, he is still the most animated man on the stage. You could tie him down with cement brick shoes and Moore would still dance and strut around the stage like it was nothing. The man constantly had an infectious smile on his face that radiated throughout the Glass House.
Though Moore may have been the most charismatic person on stage, the rest of Fishbone are right on his tail, entertaining the crowd and performing from the heart. His oldest compatriot, keyboardist Christopher Dowd is spinning the keys and adding his own flair to the show.
Then there’s Tracey Singleton on guitar, Hassan Hurd on drums, JS Williams on trumpet and keys, James Jones on bass, all giving their own spice.
This celebration of “In Your Face” truly felt like a party. Fishbone never let the energy die down, and the crowd was singing, dancing, and keeping a mosh pit going throughout their whole set.
Some of the favorites were “I Wish I Had a Date,” “Skankin’ to the Beat,” “Racist Piece of Shit,” “Party at Ground Zero,” “Everyday Sunshine,” and the encore song, “Sunless Saturday.”
For my first ska show I could not have asked for a better time. From seeing the ska fire is still being carried by the younger generation in Chudson. Piñata Protest mixing in ska elements with their own musical heritage and style.
Fishbone showed us that they can put on a show 40 years into their career that would tire younger bands, along with bringing in new fans whether they know ska or don’t. The moment the beat hits your ears, you can’t help but start moving your body, and that’s the sign of truly great music.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Red Hair Images
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