Great Seats for Tool
I was actually reticent about purchasing tool tickets when I saw that the only ones available were going to be a side view of the stage. I'm very glad I'm dropped the money for my brother and I to attend the concert. Other than my own dislike for the audio mix that day (it have had more to do with the venue rather than the band itself), the concert was amazing. They had visuals set up for every song. 3d computer animatics that were showing on the central monitor array in the center of the arena as well as being projected on the floor of the stage itself, kept us visually entertained while tool thrummed away a greatest hits list from Aenima on. They didn't play anything from Undertow, which dissappointed me a bit, but I'm sure I'll get over it.
The setlist was: (here's hoping I remember it)
It was great to hear Wings for Marie/10,000 Days in its entirety. Its certainly a very heartfelt song. Maynard stated he was still sick but still put on a good show. He was a little weak on Stinkfist but pulled out some great vocals by the end of the night. The highlight of the show was having a clear view of the 3d CG animations projected on the stage (we were on the third level), and a clear view of Danny Carrey (the drummer). We could see his feet. That guy's a machine. Seriously, there were strobe effects timed to portions of their songs, as well as song specific cues for lasers and animatics. Not a single one misfired. The band was 100% in sync in every visual that bombarded the audience. My only frustration is with the fans.
A lot of people hate tool. I could never figure out why they were so hated until I saw their fans. This group would have been at home at a Limp Bizkit, or Linkin Park concert. Sure, the average tool fan probably spits vitriol at fans of those bands but the demeanor and dress are exactly the same. Combine the vitriol towards other bands with a notion of innate superiority, and you have the makings of a zombie like cult that does a disservice to the music. Fanboyism is the reason tool is hated by many.
Anyway back to the concert. I can't say enough about seeing the drum solo for 46 & 2 live. I don't know if the original recording was muddled on the studio album but there are some amazing things going on during that solo. For this concert tour the later parts of schism are sped up. I liked the changes. There also seemed to be more solo breaks for the guitarist (Adam) to explore things a little. I know one criticism of the band has always been their lack of groundbreaking guitar work. My biggest gripe was the mix. Everything was very tinny. There was a huge lack of deep bass. Now this could be because of the arena, or because of the how they were equalizing the instruments but at the beginning of 46 & 2 the bass intro was impossibly tinny with zero low end power to it. The funny part is that earplugs solved this little problem by lowering the treble (at least in my own head) It was actually perfectly balanced once the earplugs went in. (I always wear earplugs to shows now. The last thing I need to do is damage my hearing. I love music too much to let it go.)
All in all it was a good night. The band Isis opened for tool that night. They're definitely worth checking out. They're a progressive minded semi-metal band with ambient soundscapes underneath their music. Lots of percussiveness in the bass and drums with long ambient passages form the guitars. The vocals range from singing to a metal growl but the lyrical delivery is usually melodic rather than barked. They have a electronic ambient soundscape underneath their songs giving them a sort of wall of sound. They're worth checking out. I've picked up Panopticon and am loving it.
Oh yeah, during Aenima Maynard changed the lyrics from "learn to swim," to "Gotta piss." He also changed "actresses," to "urinals." He kept crowing between songs during the encore that he had to pee. I figured he was just messing with the crowd like he always does but he did run off stage right after Aenima was over. The rest of the band stayed, hugged, cheered and generally congratulated each other and the crowd for putting on a great show.
The setlist was: (here's hoping I remember it)
- Stinkfist
- The Pot
- 46 & 2
- Jambi
- Schism
- Lost Keys
- Rosetta Stoned
- Wings For Marie
- 10,000 Days
- Lateralus
- Vicarious
- Ænema
It was great to hear Wings for Marie/10,000 Days in its entirety. Its certainly a very heartfelt song. Maynard stated he was still sick but still put on a good show. He was a little weak on Stinkfist but pulled out some great vocals by the end of the night. The highlight of the show was having a clear view of the 3d CG animations projected on the stage (we were on the third level), and a clear view of Danny Carrey (the drummer). We could see his feet. That guy's a machine. Seriously, there were strobe effects timed to portions of their songs, as well as song specific cues for lasers and animatics. Not a single one misfired. The band was 100% in sync in every visual that bombarded the audience. My only frustration is with the fans.
A lot of people hate tool. I could never figure out why they were so hated until I saw their fans. This group would have been at home at a Limp Bizkit, or Linkin Park concert. Sure, the average tool fan probably spits vitriol at fans of those bands but the demeanor and dress are exactly the same. Combine the vitriol towards other bands with a notion of innate superiority, and you have the makings of a zombie like cult that does a disservice to the music. Fanboyism is the reason tool is hated by many.
Anyway back to the concert. I can't say enough about seeing the drum solo for 46 & 2 live. I don't know if the original recording was muddled on the studio album but there are some amazing things going on during that solo. For this concert tour the later parts of schism are sped up. I liked the changes. There also seemed to be more solo breaks for the guitarist (Adam) to explore things a little. I know one criticism of the band has always been their lack of groundbreaking guitar work. My biggest gripe was the mix. Everything was very tinny. There was a huge lack of deep bass. Now this could be because of the arena, or because of the how they were equalizing the instruments but at the beginning of 46 & 2 the bass intro was impossibly tinny with zero low end power to it. The funny part is that earplugs solved this little problem by lowering the treble (at least in my own head) It was actually perfectly balanced once the earplugs went in. (I always wear earplugs to shows now. The last thing I need to do is damage my hearing. I love music too much to let it go.)
All in all it was a good night. The band Isis opened for tool that night. They're definitely worth checking out. They're a progressive minded semi-metal band with ambient soundscapes underneath their music. Lots of percussiveness in the bass and drums with long ambient passages form the guitars. The vocals range from singing to a metal growl but the lyrical delivery is usually melodic rather than barked. They have a electronic ambient soundscape underneath their songs giving them a sort of wall of sound. They're worth checking out. I've picked up Panopticon and am loving it.
Oh yeah, during Aenima Maynard changed the lyrics from "learn to swim," to "Gotta piss." He also changed "actresses," to "urinals." He kept crowing between songs during the encore that he had to pee. I figured he was just messing with the crowd like he always does but he did run off stage right after Aenima was over. The rest of the band stayed, hugged, cheered and generally congratulated each other and the crowd for putting on a great show.
Comments
Post a Comment