From: ILUVTOOL@aol.com

TOOL
The Warfield, San Francisco
October 21, 1996


Failure finally showed up as the opening band, ending a month's 
speculation on who would be advertised next. Originally it was advertised 
as the Young Gods (who are they?), then it was Failure, then it was 
Frenzy, and eventually it was Failure. They played a good forty-five 
minute set, at least for those that like them. I'm not one of that 
number, but for those who are I apologize for being unable to identify 
anything on their set list.
Tool came out swinging, flanked by two projection screens behind them 
which played various clips for each song. For those who plan to see them 
on this tour, I won't spoil it by describing them. For those than don't 
plan to see them, what do you care? (I'm sure soemone else will write 
about it). They started with Stinkfist and Forty-Six & 2, and moved on 
into Intolerance. By this time it was easier to discern what the crowd 
was like, since there's a different kind of crowd at every Tool show I've 
seen. It was mostly Tool fans of varying degrees, with a healthy helping 
of the curious and the hopelessly addicted headbangers, who would be 
somewhat disappointed in tonight's dose. The crowd's mood seemed to match 
Tool, who seemed pretty relaxed. They sounded great, and gave a sonically 
powerful show, absolutely mezmerizing aesthetically as well. They 
launched into (not in quite this order; see other reviews) Eulogy, Hooker 
with a Penis ("This song is about our new T-shirts" which were $23), 
Undertow, Prison Sex (yes, with the new section, and it continues to 
improve), followed by "sort of a sequel to Prison sex" (MJK), jimmy. The 
only song played from Opiate was Opiate, which has been touched up subtly 
but smoothly. Many of their older stuff, in fact, has been brushed up a 
little bit here and there. The new stuff, incredible as it is, hits 
another dimension live, as you should have come to expect by now. Sober 
was next (they started with what sounded like Third Eye, but it turns out 
it's a new Sober intro), and then on to Pushit (which I love; it has 
evolved into one of their best songs over the last two years). Then they 
called it a night and announced their last song, prefaced with Maynard 
noting that a lot of people find this song singular in meaning, thinking 
that it's simply about L.A. "But I've got news for you, San Francisco. If 
we go, you go." The boys launched into AEnema, hammering it out for a 
final shake to end the evening. Tool was just short of being as riveting 
as they were at the New Year's Eve 1995 show. As I said, they seemed 
somewhat relaxed, but not quite as intimate as you might think. Maynard 
claimed that the only thing different about the next week's show would be 
whatever shoes he wore. I had my ticket already, and that seemed fine to 
me. He opened the second show by introducing the Cows (who had been 
advertised all along) with, "Boy, are you guys in for a treat tonight." 
He wasn't kidding. See my next review for that show. 

- Cameron Keith