The Tubes forever

[Brian]

If you love the Tubes and you haven't seen the first page of this thread, click here.

I've gone to dozens of Tubes concerts at many fine places since 1975, but none at a better venue than Pershing Square last Saturday night, thanks to the beautiful ambience with an enthusiastic and diverse L.A. audience. I'll have more to say about the evening later. For now, here's the set list:

• Up from the Deep
  
• Haloes
  
• It's a Man's Man's Man's World (James Brown)
  
• Smoke (La Vie en Fumer)
  
• Amnesia
  
• What Do You Want from Life
  
• I Was a Punk Before You Were a Punk
  
• I Saw Her Standing There (The Beatles)
  
• Tip of My Tongue
  
• Don't Want to Wait Anymore
  
• Lust for Life (Iggy Pop)
  
• White Punks on Dope
  Encore:
  
• She's a Beauty
  
• Talk to Ya Later
  
• Third Stone from the Sun (Jimi Hendrix)
  

After the show, Anni and I talked to the videographer on a stool next to us who captured the encore, steady as rock, surrounded by great sound. Was he going to post on You Tube? Unfortunately, no. Still, many others between us and the stage had their cameras hoisted. I just searched for Tubes uploads in the past few hours, but nothing yet. If I find a good video from Saturday's concert, I'll embed it.

[anni]

Yes, what a terrific evening. We started out dining at the marvelous 'Astro Burger' of Silverlake. Brian got his favorite fresh vegetable soup, yummy. I tried the meatball/rice/spinach soup. Also yummy. We both had Gyros...perfection.
On to the concert. What a great venue. Easy to park (under Pershing Square)...great, clean restrooms. Bring something to sit on (blanket or camp chairs) and enjoy!
Here's the best of my attempts to capture the fun, digitally speaking:




HAH!

[Brian]

Only one guy posted on You Tube: Part of "White Punks on Dope" with a panorama of the park and skyline.

I was 8 in 1966, the first time I went to Pershing Square, where old men stood to make speeches, when only the Biltmore loomed overhead. The last time was 2011 to commence a march. Now, at least for the city's summer Downtown Concert series, the space is fenced off, with access regulated through tunnels east and west. We placed a blanket on a low U-shaped concrete wall that serves as bench between the stage and the general's statue and enjoyed the excellent sound, if not the atrocious low budget lighting. Two food trucks served sausages and Italian ices, and we also avoided the beer and wine garden. Too far.

The park was full of beautiful people of all ages, but we never felt crowded. A solid contingent of old Tubes fans now in their 50's and 60's were joined by what seemed to be the neighborhood, including some singles and a few drunken college students. The videographer I mentioned previously brought his brother, sister and 79 year old mother -- he said that Johnny Vatos & Boingo Dance was stellar last month. Most of them must have walked there or taken public transportation. We breezed out of the parking structure downstairs. The line to meet the Tubes after the show was at least 50 deep.

The Tubes were superb as always. They played a wonderful set, despite ending an hour shy of their usual club appearances. For their current five-city sprint, which kicked off in Pershing Square, Jonathan Mover is replacing Prairie Prince on drums. The latest Tubes World Tour is coming to Oshkosh, Wis.; Washington, D.C.; Annapolis, Md. and Sterling Heights, Mich. They will not be leaving as soon as they're paid.