Search - Tubes :: Wild in London

Another Live Set

Mr. Music | Pennsylvania | 08/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Do we need another greatest-hits live set from arguably the world's greatest under-rated band? "Tubes World Tour 2001" covered much of the same ground, but dare I say- this CD is more organic. Both CDs are extremely well-produced, but "Wild In London" is less slick, and less determined to sound as if it was recorded in a studio. Roger Steen, the greatest guitarist you never heard of, is spectacular here (dig his extended riff on "Don't Want To Wait Anymore"), Fee is in fine voice (is it me, or has he really, really learned how to sing?), the rythmn section remains the best in the business (Prairie Prince is the God of Percussion, and Ric Anderson is Ric friggin Anderson), and "new" Tube Gary Cambra capably multi-tasks on keyboards, backing vocals, and guitars. I would have enjoyed hearing "Ghost Riders" which opened the show (but which is curiously not included here), but you can't complain when you finally get to hear "Haloes" live- plus, you get introduced to Russell Chaps. Do we need another live set? If you own "What Do You Want from Live" (with its tinny 1970's production), "Infomercial" (which sounds, indeed, like a competently recorded radio concert), and "TWT2001", then.....then you are obviously a Tubes fan and you must also own this collection. If you don't own those CDs (what is wrong with you?), then treat yourself to an hour with the best live act around. Its the Tubes, proving that they are the greatest, the funniest, the coolest and the best at doing what it is they do. LONG LIVE THE TOOBS!"

Live Set that blends the best of the "old" with best of the

Mike | San Jose, CA | 03/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 2007, the Tubes are a "legacy" band. The body of their accumulated work is so vital, so impressive, so important that preserving it in live formats such as "Wild In London" is a welcome gesture toward true fans of the band and those who weren't there for that first, magnificent ride. As much as I'd love to see Bill Spooner in this mix (the only regret I have over the Y2K Tubes), Fee and Roger and Prairie and Rick carry on admirably with the new crew. "Vintage" classics such as "Mondo Bondage," "Don't Touch Me There," "W.P.O.D." and "Haloes" sound great here, as do the Rundgren-era tunes. This CD will not disappoint...in fact, it will light you up like a Christmas tree when you hear that final roar at the end of "Mondo Bondage" and the assertion of "Quay Lewd" in "W.P.O.D." that "I don't think he's (Jesus) gonna help me." For the ten million bands that lined up at the pig trough for their share of sex, drugs & rock & roll, I offer you The Tubes...passionate, staggeringly original, and still going strong in 2007. Long Live The Tubes."

Tubes Ride The Range In Style

a music fan | UK | 12/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire (3,000 seat venue)on the band's Wild West Tour in front of an ecstatic crowd, this is the Tubes at their very best. I hadn't wanted to go to the gig but was talked round. I wanted to remember them as they were in the early 80s and feared the worst from an ageing band with no major record deal and missing three original members. All I can say is that I was very happy to be proved wrong!



The high (and expensive) theatrical production values have gone and the focus is now firmly on the music. Gary Cambra and David Medd easily cover the roles of their predecessors and the band has been galvanised into action as a result. The playout guitar duelling between Steen and Cambra on Talk To Ya Later is quite exceptional. The remaining original members have to be on the money to keep up with the new boys and they are throughout, without exception.



The production of this live recording classes it quite simply as the most immediate and powerful of any Tubes live recording. As well as a number of classics, here is the first ever live performance of Haloes captured for posterity.



It is a pity that this isn't a double CD, as the Tubes showed that they are still very much a creative outfit and played a number of excellent new songs which sat well alongside the classics. Without a major label record deal these are unlikely to find their way onto a studio CD for some time to come. However, the show was filmed and has been released on DVD in the UK and Europe, but does not appear to be available in the USA. This region 2 PAL DVD is available from Amazon.co.uk and contains the whole show, backstage and soundcheck footage and an interview with Waybill. Buy it now and I suspect that you will soon be telling your friends that it's the best rock DVD that you've bought in years. In the meantime do yourself a favour and buy the CD."