Moore does it all in upcoming AV show
As cliché as it sounds, the old adage, “If you want something done right, do it yourself” remains more relevant than ever.
Our community has a rich history of embracing this ethos. If there weren’t any venues in town allowing certain types of bands or genres through the door, kids found an open patch of land, borrowed the generator from someone’s dad’s garage and went after it. Learning how to do without, without giving up.
In a similar spirit for the last few decades, Angelo Moore has relentlessly waved the freak flag for his art. If one were to throw Basquiat, Iggy Pop, Dick Gregory and Screaming Jay Hawkins in a blender, Moore would be the result. Stretching back to his junior high years growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the ’70s, he has remained a true artist; speaking out against societal injustice and tackling any medium he sees fit.
Since 1979, he is most recognized worldwide for being the ringleader behind Fishbone, a revolutionary band far ahead of its time. As the group’s lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and chief theremin operator, he was integral in crafting their signature fusion of punk, funk, ska, reggae and soul. Their undeniable sound and masterfully chaotic live performances brought them an international cult following, touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and hits with their songs “Sunless Saturday” and “Everyday Sunshine”
Alongside the musical legacy Moore has created with Fishbone, he also performed solo since the ’90s as “Dr. Madd Vibe,” the moniker he created to release his paintings, poetry, graphic novel and most prominently, his own musical pursuits. On Thursday, Feb. 8, Angelo Moore will bringing his solo project, The Missin’ Links, to Transplants Brewing Company, 40242 La Quinta Lane, Unit 101, Palmdale. Tickets are $15 and the show begins at 7p.m.
It’s no surprise the debut album for his latest project, “Doctor Mad Vibe and the Missing Links,” combines all his sensibilities into one work.
Dubbed by Moore as an “art installation and double album”, the album contains a 44-page, high-gloss booklet filled with paintings, photographs, lyrics and illustrations. In true old school fashion, the album is limited to 500 pressings and isn’t available on streaming, making the current tour one of the few ways to experience it.
Assembling all of these elements together was no easy task.
“It’s funny because when I’m doing something like this and putting it together, I have to learn a bunch of stuff,” Moore said. “I got to learn how to work Photoshop, go through the process and hook up with the people who are going to show me this, that and the other. It turned into a journey. The music is mainly my forte; that’s what I do.”
Collaboration with his bandmates, various visual artists and photographers allowed this project to flourish.
“Along the journey, I meet all these people along the way, with the knowledge that helped me put this together,” he said. “It’s almost like being in a different country. You pick up on the language, you play, come home, and they think back and go, ‘What was I saying?’ (Laughs) You learn the basic words to get over the hump.”
As we head into 2024, Moore seems to remain as prolific as ever. In December he released, “My God is Better Than Your Gawd,” a socially rich commentary about fighting over differing spiritual views in today’s society. Remaining connected to his punk roots, he also was guest tour guide at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas that same month. It gave Moore, and his fans, a chance to have an intimate experience with someone who navigated the highs and lows of the music business and lived to tell the tale.
“I took them on a journey around the different rooms in the museum and you just talk about what you see,” he said. “You ask them, ‘Did you ever see this band? Do you remember these guys over here?’ I also get to tell them, ‘Say Nope to Dope and Ugg to Drugs’ (laughs). A lot of those people didn’t make it because of that.”
Celebrating over three years of sobriety, Moore spent his time during the pandemic to become a healthier person.
“In quarantine, I was able to get sober with that because I was cut away from everything,” he said. “Everything was canceled. The gigs and all the people and scenarios that went with it. All heavily drug induced.”
Unafraid of pushing the boundaries, Moore refuses to rest on his laurels and continues to seek a challenge, in his art and life.
“The dreams be up there,” he said. “The dreams be in my head. Sometimes to make the dream come true, it takes moving a mountain to make that little ‘bling’ to happen.”
For details, visit https://dmvml.com/.