7 Rock Fishes For You

Holiday traditions vary greatly around the world.  One Christmas tradition among Italian-Americans is the feast of 7 fishes.  I don't really know anything about it except that you make a big meal that features 7 different fish dishes.  Now, I'm not of Italian descent, and simply consider myself an American.  Regardless, I decided to try and come up with the rock version of 7 fishes in honor of the Christmas season.  Let's get eating.

I'm going to start with bands that have seafood in their names.  Most obvious of these is the jam band Phish.  Sure, they can't spell very well, but what do you expect from a bunch of stoners?  Haha, right, Trey Anastasio was a rich prep school kid and found a way to make a living without having to get a real job.  Pretty smart, huh?  I saw Phish a few years back in Miami - they play there occasionally around the New Year - and they played about 4 songs in 3 hours.  I think I've already commented on the Phish fan base, aka, those desperately seeking acceptance, but I like Phish's studio work, and this one is my favorite.  Ever heard of cluster flies?  Me, either.

If you knock off the cobwebs of your brain, you might remember a band that played Woodstock called Country Joe and the Fish.  I'm not sure that their music made them famous, but the Fish Cheer was famously famous in my house.  It was a less crude time for the popular culture in the late 60s, and having 500,000 people chant the Fish Cheer was funny to us kids.  Here it is along with the accompanying Vietnam protest song.  I don't think it's held up very well.

Enough of that hippie crap.  Here's a band that I've seen a couple of times and they are always fun:  Reel Big Fish and their great ska track simply called Beer.  Back when I was a drinker, I was a HUGE beer drinker.  How big?  If you're reading this and you're not 80 or older, you're still behind me in the number of beers you've had, and I quit over 6 years ago.  I still love this song and love dancing to it like a man possessed.

Any other bands out there with "fish" in the name?  Not that I can think of off the top of my head, but since I'm only 3 songs into the 7, let's move on to songs about fish.  Here's a great oldie by the Marvelettes:  Too Many Fish in the Sea.  Motown, baby!  You've all heard it, but have you seen it?  Maybe not.  Problem solved.

If you love New Orleans, you have to love Dr. John.  His music is the epitome of that city - a gumbo of influences and styles that keeps your feet tappin'.  I've never seen him live.  I had tickets a few years back for a show at the Queen in Wilmington but it snowed about a foot and I didn't make it.  Nonetheless, this dude is still making great music.  Here's a badass song called I'm Gonna Go Fishin' and it's terrific.  Enjoy.

I know a lot of people who say that George Harrison was their favorite Beatle.  Not me; I'm a Ringo fan myself.  Ringo?  Sure - fantastic musician, enjoyed the entire ride, multi-millionaire, married a Bond girl, and didn't die too early or stop having fun.  My Ringo fish song is next.  But I do have one for the Georgie fans.  Pisces Fish.  After listening to this song a few times, I'm still certain that my choice of favorite Beatle is justified.

And just to put the emphasis on my favorite Beatle, this track made the Abbey Road album.  It's actually a terrible song, but it got a lot of airplay.  And, well, it's a Ringo song.  Hahaha, that's funny, right?  Anyway, this song proved that the Beatles were human:  be thankful that this wasn't their original demo or we may never have heard of some band out of Liverpool that changed the world.  If you have any idea what this song is about, let me know.

Seven songs, seven fishes!  I'll bet you didn't think I could do it, but rock is rich with all kinds of junk, and this post proved my point.  It also proved that its Christmastime, and it's my last post before that wonderful holiday.  I'll have more before New Year's and you would be a fool to skip out and not come back before the end of the year.  Enjoy!