"Ring Spiel" Tour '95

The Ball-Hog or Tugboat? album had 48 contributors, with a different musician lineup on each song, so Watt never thought he could tour the album. Watt's touring band consisted of Grohl on guitar and drums, Vedder and Pat Smear on guitars, and William Goldsmith on drums, alongside Watt on bass guitar and vocals. Grohl wanted to play more guitar Wanting to keep the tour low-profile, promoters of the tour were instructed to not use Grohl or Vedder's names to promote the tour but word leaked and MTV showed up at one tour stop. ==Album release==

When Columbia/Legacy approached Watt about releasing the album he was initially hesitant and suggested the label contact the other musicians to see how they felt about the idea. Watt was afraid some of the others would be embarrassed to have an album from twenty years earlier released. "It turns out they weren't embarrassed. They wanted it out." Pat Smear urged Watt to release the album as well. == Track listing ==

All tracks composed by Mike Watt; except where indicated • Walking the Cow (Daniel Johnston cover) • Big Train (Chip + Tony Kinman cover) • Formal Introduction • Against the '70s • Drove Up from Pedro • Habit • Makin' the Freeway • Chinese Firedrill • Piss-Bottle Man • Forever ... One Reporter's Opinion • E-Ticket Ride • Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing • Coincidence is Either Hit or Miss • The Red and the Black (Blue Öyster Cult cover) • Secret Garden (Madonna cover) • Powerful Hankerin' ==Reception==

SLUG magazine praised the album calling it an "astonishing sonic time capsule." Pitchfork said "At their best, live albums capture not just a concert performance, but also document the energy and the context around the music. "ring spiel" tour '95 manages to accomplish all of the above; it's a nice time capsule if you were there, and it's a great document to have if you weren't, commemorating early years of musicians who are now canonic." ==Personnel==

• Mike Watt: vocals, bass • Eddie Vedder: guitar, vocals • Dave Grohl: drums, guitar • William Goldsmith: drums • Pat Smear: guitar, vocals ==References==