From: Brian Topf (bstopf@midway.uchicago.edu)

Pandora's Toolbox

Tool's crowning achievement is not so much it's innovative and
disturbing recorded material; but the expertise with which it is
presented and performed live.  When I was about to enter the doors of
the Aragon, I had no idea of what sort of an evening I would have
waiting for me.  I had heard all the hype and anecdotes telling me how
much they kicked ass live; and, in my mind before I saw them, I didn't
think they could live up to it.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The
opening act, The Cows, were competent musicians, but should fire their
sound tech for not mixing in the lead singers vocals correctly.  After
playing a 40 minute set, they left the stage; immediately followed were
desperate chants of TOOL, TOOL, TOOL!!  I took the opportunity to get
off the floor to get some fresh air(and to take a leak), but I was back
well in time for the grand entrance of the Band. The lights dimmed, the
projectors went to work, and the recorded sound of burning twigs erupted
from the speakers.  On the projectors was the blazing quadrilateral sun
which is on the cover of the Aenima LP.  Finally, they walked on stage;
Maynard was painted half blue and was wearing nothing but jockeys.  His
explanation was something like the following, "It's cold here.  Someone
stole my laundry; yes, everything.  This is what I'll be wearing for the
rest of the tour.  If anyone wants to donate any clothing, just throw it
up here."  I think at least 2 or 3 articles of clothing went up
instantly.  He then introduced the rest of the band; Danny on drums,
Adam on guitar, and a "special hello" to the new bass player Justin
Chancellor.  They started the set with an incredible version of "Third
Eye".  For me, it was Mosh Pit 101.  The crowd dynamic was very intense,
certainly tighter than anything I was used to.  Next came an incredible
version of "Stinkfist", the distortion of Maynards voice was more so
than in the album version, I prefer the live version immensely.  The
rest of the set consisted of "46 and 2", "Swamp Song", "Eulogy", "Prison
Sex", "Jimmy", "Pushit", "Sober", "Opiate", and "Aenima".  I might be
forgetting some, but I can't be sure.  They also played a 5 or 6 minute
introduction to "Sober" which was totally incredible and built up an
immense amount of anticipation.  When the familiar bass-lines went down
and the clips from the now-infamous video were shown, I knew that I had
just witnessed something special and uniquely beautiful.  Perhaps the
most amusing of Maynard's jokes came when he was introducing "Opiate". 
It went like this:
Maynard: This is our last song...
Audience Reaction: NOOOOOOO!!!
Maynard: Off our first albun.
Audience Reaction: YEAAAAH!! TOOOOOL!!!
Very amusing, and Opiate was just as incredible live as it was on their
EP.  I couldn't get enough.  They closed with "Aenima", who's "fuck LA"
message really spoke to me, myself being from Northern California. 
After they left the stage, the lights came back on.  I once again
returned to the world from which TOOL allowed me to escape from for 90
minutes.  The appropriate question to ask is where I was for those 90
surreal, nepenthe clouded minutes?  Heaven?  Hell?  Someplace in between
perhaps?  At this point I couldn't say.  All I can do is hope to someday
repeat the experience again.  If you haven't seen TOOL live yet, do
yourselves a favor and GO!  It's well worth any hassle you might have to
endure.  Enjoy.