From: Gggf1@aol.com
Subject: Review of Dec. 7 show in Atlanta 

Tentative set list (not necessarily in order, or right songs): Third Eye, 
Stinkfist, 46-2, Swamp Song, Prison Sex, Eulogy, Pushit, H, Hooker, 
Sober, Opiate, Aenema

To start off my wonderful night of Tool, I had to scalp some tickets as 
my friend lost ours. But the good part is that we were able to scalp some 
tickets and got in, averting disaster. Since it had taken some time to 
park and scalp, we entered to the sounds of Psychotica. I must say I have 
seen some bad bands before, but not necessarily this nauseating. The band 
was composed of what looked like a guy in a giant silver sock and a huge 
beast (man or woman, you flip the coin) that mostly stood stage right 
looking unkept. There was also a guitarist and bass player with their 
shirt off trying to look menacing (but they were thoroughly upstaged by 
the sock and troll.) The drummer looked like he was working a little too 
hard for the music that was being produced. Stage left there was a mean 
looking guy playing an electric cello (or upright bass) who mostly held 
notes for upwards of five minutes, of which he appeared particularly 
proud. To end their masterful set, he held a note for around ten minutes 
as the rest of the band (socks and all) left the stage. Altogether I must 
say it was a pretty humorous sight, but I don't think funny is what they 
are going for. About thirty seconds after they finished their whining, 
Danny's drumset was wheeled out and the anticipation began. It was about 
a forty minute wait, scattered with sporadic "Tool!" chants when anyone 
thought they saw someone painted in blue back stage. Finally the lights 
went down and the noise went up. Now, I've listened to Aenema a lot, and 
I like pretty much every song except Third Eye and Hooker, so it was much 
to my dismay that they started out with Third Eye. The song has no 
direction and just seems to be an opportunity for MJK to scream. Anything 
is usually better live, and i would have to say this was too, but I still 
wanted something better to get my juices flowing (I refer of course to 
adrenalin.) Also, the song is packed with riffs, although misguided, on 
the heavy side. This provided an avenue for the hicks around us to start 
meekly pushing everyone in the back, attempting to create their own 
little mosh pit. Occasionally they were successful, but for the most part 
they just looked stupid. It's not that I am not man enough for moshing, I 
just like watching Danny drum, MJK squirm, Adam brood, and Justin play 
better than I like running into or slipping past some slimy guy named 
"TJ". 
Anyway, Stinkfist was next, which of course rocked, and which had an 
added middle section after the bridge before the transition section. The 
hightlight of the night had to be 46-2, which had a prolonged middle 
section, when they go from 7 to 8, and a longer drum solo. Pushit also 
was a major highlight, just because it is a great song. Maynard was 
entertaining the whole night, squirming and stomping and raging. I had 
never seen the band before, but had listened to them ever since Undertow 
came out, so I didn't know what they were going to look like. The only 
person who surprised me was Danny who is at least 7'8". I always wondered 
how he could hit so many drums so fast and now I know. The encore was 
Aenema, which sounded pretty much as it does on the album, but is so much 
more fun to watch live. It was entertaining to watch people bob their 
heads in three and then get thoroughly confused when the verse came in 
four. What a great band, and a great show.