[2] Dave Grohl called with an idea for how to create a small touring band[2] with Eddie Vedder's band Hovercraft and Dave Grohl's newly formed Foo Fighters opening for Watt.

[4] 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.

[6] All tracks composed by Mike Watt; except where indicated SLUG magazine praised the album calling it an "astonishing sonic time capsule.

"[7] 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.