The Tubes: The Musikladen Concert 1981

At the time of this German TV-aired 1981 concert, the Tubes were on tour in support of their latest release The Completion Backward Principle. On that album, the San Francisco art-rock outfit took on the corporate culture of the era complete with red and blue outfits matching the band logo behind them. This performance begins with an overture full of burbling synths and prog-rock guitars, before three figures wearing headlamps enter the stage. Shortly thereafter, the tall one in the center unzips his jumpsuit to reveal front man Fee Waybill, a bundle of energy who launches into "A Matter of Pride." "TV Is King," the next song in the 17-track set list, finds Waybill jumping on top of a TV set before leaping off the stage. While they applaud after each song, the audience also seems surprisingly muted, giving the group little energy to play off, although the band makes the best of it. When Waybill complains about "German tailoring" because his pants won't stay buttoned, someone yells, "Too much beer!" For "Sports Fans," Waybill changes into a baseball outfit and romps with cheerleaders before switching to a straightjacket to embody the troubled loner of "Mr. Hate." After that he dons a business suit for "Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman," but takes the opposite tack for "Mondo Bondage" and the closer "Let's Make Some Noise," stripping down to a thong. Also included here is the reflective Bill Spooner-sung ballad "Don't Want to Wait Anymore," a highlight of the Tubes' diverse repertoire. Presented in PCM stereo, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)