Fishwife (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Fishwife


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = San Diego, California, U.S.
Genre = Punk rock
Years_active = 1990–1993
Label = Cargo, Headhunter, Nemesis Records, Caroline Records, Goldenrod Records
Associated_acts = Hemlock, Tanner (band), Hot Snakes, No Knife, Pinback
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Current_members =
Past_members = Ryan Foxe Gar Wood Chris Prescott Matt Ohlin

Fishwife was a San Diego punk rock band in the early 1990s, creating powerful, over-the-top live shows. Although Fishwife had its roots in '80s hardcore, the schizoid post-hardcore zaniness that the group unleashed on its audience no doubt had any straight-edge kid running for the nearest exit. Lead singer Ryan Foxe's crazy stage antics included, among others, things like getting naked, a dildo ventriloquist act, leaping from a six-foot-high Marshall stack and landing on a cup of the favorite Mexican rice drink horchata, as well as handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at a local San Diego club that got them banned from playing the joint forever.

Band History

Formation

The group initially released its self-tilted 7" EP on local hardcore punk label Nemesis. Not long after, Canadian indie label Cargo Records opened its new headquarters in San Diego and started a new label, Headhunter. Fishwife was the first band signed to the new Cargo imprint. In 1990, "Snail Killer" hit the shelves, with tunes like "Postcards From the Planet of the Apes," "Dumb Indian Songs," "Eggs," and "Chiva." Fishwife were pushing the boundaries of hardcore punk with their hilarious punk-fueled lunacy. Foxe's vocals were somewhere between Jello Biafra's nasal croon and the cartoon growl of Cookie Monster. The group's sound easily shifted from frantic spazz-outs to mosh pit dirges to tripped-out acid rock chants in the blink of an eye. The group gained a large following in their hometown of San Diego, occasionally making their way up the West Coast. 1992 saw the release of the group's second CD, "Ritalin", which perfected the group's unique sound; tighter and more focused, Ritalin grabs you by the jugular and the funny bone simultaneously with such memorable classics as "Doggies Nightmare," "Almighty Wurlitzer," "Poopy," and "Hukilau." Fishwife recorded more than an album's worth of material before they broke up, which was released in the form of their third CD, "Poquita Rosada Mona", as well as a 7" single, on Goldenrod Records.

Demise

The group called it quits in 1993 when Foxe decided to move to New York and pursue school, while the remaining three quarters of Fishwife re-formed and took shape as the math rock trio Tanner releasing "Ill Gotten Gains" for Caroline Records in 1995, 1997's "(Germo) Phobic" for Headhunter, as well as several singles. Eventually, Foxe relocated back to San Diego and joined the garage rock group the Let Downs.

Guitarist Gar Wood plays bass in Beehive & the Barracudas as well as the now defunct Hot Snakes. He is also currently playing guitar in The Night Marchers. Drummer Chris Prescott went on to play in Hemlock and longtime San Diego favorite No Knife, and is currently drumming for Pinback. Bassist Matt Ohlin owns the Route 44 Skate Shop in San Diego and plays bass and sings in the group Hiatus. Singer Ryan Foxe now works and lives in Los Angeles.

Band Members

* Ryan Foxe - Vocals
* Gar Wood - Guitar
* Chris Prescott - Drums
* Matt Ohlin - Bass

Discography

*"Fishwife 7" (Nemesis, 1990)
*"Snail Killer" (Cargo/Headhunter, 1990)
*"Ritalin" (Cargo/Headhunter, 1992)
*"Poquita Rosada Mona" (Goldenrod, 1993)