A Review of the Fall 1996 Tour

Date: December 3


From: lawnmowerman@olg.com Subject: Tool Review 12/3 The Capital Ballroom is Washington DC's only club with 1000+ people capacity that will host acts like Rage Against the Machine or Tool. (The 9:30 Club is real cool but only holds 1000). Security was really relaxed, no pat downs or anything just a sign posted saying that no audio taping was allowed (WHY????) I had to spend about a half hour outside trying to unload a ticket for a friend that was too ill to make it. I wasn't the only one as there were a few scalper scums present too. I ended up missing Psychotica but listening to my friends I didn't feel like I missed anything. I managed to get in about 10 minutes before the lights went down & the place was packed. I couldn't get any further foward than the Sound board & managed to get stuck next to a bunch of underage overgrown intoxicated wannabe slam dancers. Fortunate when the first notes of Third eye errupted I was propelled up front, by the 2nd song 46 or 2 I was about 10 bodies back from center stage. All in all the people that were around me were very cool, alot of moshing going on but not real dangerous (well I got a busted lip but shit happens...). This was definitly the hottest concert I've ever been too & I mean temperature wize. I'm not a big perspirer & I cut grass in the hot summer sun so I'm used to the heat but by the end of the show my clothes were soaked with sweat. A friend of mine nearly passed out & had to leave the show to catch some air. We were wondering if Manyard instructed the club not to turn on the fans or AC to keep him from getting the flu. Maynard did say a few coments but the only one I can remember is something about the X-ray vision people section that the club has (the club is actually 2 section with one part that has no view of the stage~ unless of course you have your X-ray vision). The club did not run it's in house video relay of the stage show (so I don't guess there will be any cool bootleg videos of Tool in DC). All in all the show was very well produced. The sound was great (Pantera could have done a similar job had they cared about their quality...). The visuals were very good but not alot of colors after the begining and the light show is all concentrated on the stage (not blinding the crowd, thank you). If you have any doubts about going...well you should go, unless you cann't stand a packed crowd. Drink plenty of fluids (but don't count on getting to the bathroom easily), plan on becoming a fluid body & part of the crowd & for god sakes keep you elbows below peoples shoulders! -- Kev Looking for a few good PCBs! Lawnmowerman@olg.com Especially Boxing Bugs. http://olg.com/lawnmowerman <- Video game info page