The Tubes Rock BB Kings New York City-by Rich Crankshaw

The Tubes Rock BB Kings New York City

( I’m Like the worst cell phone videographer ever, really, my wife wants a divorce, I’m that bad)

Tuesday July 15th brought a nostalgic surprise to New York City. From 1975 when they debuted their first Album featuring “White Punks on Dope” to 2014, the tubes have brought a unique flare to the  Rock & Roll screen. In the early day’s when The Tubes were in their Heyday, The stage exploded with a brand that only the Tubes could bring. Back up singers, Dancing girls, theatrics and wild costumes was a normal day at the office for the Tubes.

While Tuesday night at BB Kings didn’t offer the dancing Girls, or the Background singers, Fee Waybill did not disappoint his fans. The night was filled with Costume changes, theatrics, and even some friendly banter with audience members sometimes bordering on vulgar, but what is Rock & Roll without a few f bombs to show your love to the fans?

Besides the trademark Fee Waybill antics,  The band delivered as they always do, but without the great Vince Welnick on Piano, who joined forces with Jerry Garcia and the grateful dead in the 90′s , and sadly passed away in 2006.  Keep in mind, if you think of Rocking the house as, a grand production backing a newly released Album that is at the top of the charts, then the Tubes did not deliver. When you go to a show like the Tubes, or other Old School Rock bands from the 70′s, don’t expect them to appeal to the production Gods. It’s all about continuing a legacy that the fans adore, until they drop dead. So a less than perfect performance is actually endearing for a band Like the tubes. It becomes an intimate evening with an old friend, especially in a mid sized venue like B B Kings.

Fee delivered the classic outlandish wardrobe changes, from the Straight Jacket, to the striped prison suit, to the enormous Glam Rock God complete with 2 feet of boot/stilts towering him over his fellow band members. The tunes included all the favorites, White Punks on Dope, She’s a Beauty, Talk to ya later, and of Course Sushi girl, complete with a fish head mask, and many other fan favorites.

To top off the evening singer Fee Waybill, Drummer Prairie Prince, and Roger Steen, Guitar, came out to talk to the fans and sign autographs. This was my chance. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a star struck fan waiting around for an autograph, not their is anything wrong with that. I just happened to have been on tour with The Tubes way back in 1988. When I worked for them, they were without the Flamboyant front man, Fee Waybill. As I made my way to Prairie and Roger, whom I know very well, I had the privilege of meeting the great Fee Waybill. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Prairie and Roger actually remembered me. When I knew them, I was 23 years old, Long hair and a bit of a wild streak. I had been working with cover bands the year before, doing pyro technics, tuning guitars and setting up the stage, etc, The Tubes were actually the first Recording artist that I would work for. I went on for nearly 4 more years afterwards.

My encounter with them 26 years later, at the world famous B B Kings Blues Club, was as warn and welcoming as it was back then. Keep in mind, I m not being bias, Ive traveled with a whole lot of “Rock Gods”, from Randy Backman, to AC-DC. So when I say that the Tubes were genuine, friendly, and very welcoming, It comes from experience with the opposite.

I can honestly say that they inspired me back then, and reassured that feeling Tuesday night at BB Kings. The nature of fame is unpredictable. It can effect people differently, and in ways that they never expected. As I embark onto a career in voice acting, I often reflect back to those famous people I rubbed elbows with for so many years. Ive seen the good and the bad, and myself, I truly hope I stay humble, and can be half as classy and free of arrogance as The tubes.

The Tubes are on the road so checkout http://www.thetubes.com/ for dates and locations, and don’t miss them. It’s not just a blast from the past, it’s a look at yourself, and how well you can withstand time.

by Rich Crankshaw