The Tubes - Kent Stage 2023

The Tubes brought their wildly theatrical brand of art rock to the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio, on September 23, 2023. The performance was part of the band's 2023 tour and gave fans an intimate setting for a group whose live shows have always been built around elaborate characters, costumes, props, and the unpredictable stage presence of Fee Waybill.

The Tubes have never approached a concert like an ordinary rock band. Formed in Phoenix in the early 1970s and later becoming fixtures of the San Francisco music scene, they developed a reputation for combining progressive rock, glam, satire, and performance art. Seeing them in a smaller venue like the Kent Stage allowed all of those eccentric elements to remain front and center.

The 2023 performance drew heavily from the band's classic material. “She's a Beauty,” “Talk to Ya Later,” “White Punks on Dope,” “Mondo Bondage,” and “Don't Want to Wait Anymore” were among the songs that helped connect the performance to the band's remarkable 1970s and '80s run.

Fee Waybill remained the center of attention. His ability to switch between characters and personas has always been one of the defining features of a Tubes concert, and even decades into the band's career he still knows how to turn a song into a full theatrical production.

“She's a Beauty” was naturally one of the biggest crowd moments. The song became the band's biggest mainstream hit in 1983, and hearing it performed alongside the stranger, more experimental material demonstrated how wide the Tubes' musical range has always been.

The show also featured plenty of deeper material, allowing longtime fans to hear songs that don't receive the same amount of radio recognition. That balance is important at a Tubes concert because the band's appeal has never depended solely on its biggest singles.

What made the Kent Stage performance especially enjoyable was the contrast between the venue and the band's oversized personality. The Tubes were creating a theatrical spectacle in a room where the audience was close enough to see every costume change, facial expression, and bit of stage business.

The humor was another important part of the experience. The Tubes have always been willing to make themselves look ridiculous in the name of entertainment, but underneath the costumes and satire is an exceptionally talented rock band. Their musicianship allows the theatrical elements to work without turning the concert into a novelty act.

For fans at the Kent Stage, the 2023 performance was a reminder that The Tubes remain one of rock's great live oddities. With Fee Waybill leading the way through classic songs, bizarre characters, theatrical production, and plenty of humor, the band delivered exactly the kind of unpredictable evening that has made its concerts so memorable for more than five decades.