A Review of the Spring 1997 Tour

Date: February 27


From: "Todd M. Nimmo" (retodded@mindspring.com) Hey bro. I had the fortune of seeing Tool last night in Asbury Park, NJ. I have been waiting to see them for 5 or 6 years now and finally got the chance. Can you say "Stage Presence?" There is no more a rarity than a band who can keep your eyes glued to the stage. Maynard and the rest of the band were to say the least, incredible! The show began with an incredible rumbling sound that basically made everyone stand and stare at the video screen like deer in headlights. What a spectacle! I've never seen people in transes before, but that's what it felt like. The band came out and blew us away with "Third Eye" and it was full steam from there on. Maynard wore a pair of boxers and wore fluorescent decorations all over his body. During the songs, including "Forty Six & 2" and "Opiate," he convulsed and slithered around the stage in his normal eclectic way. Other songs they performed were "Stinkfist" "Sober" "Prison Sex" "Intolerance" "H." and my favorite, "Eulogy." They closed the show with "Aenima" as the encore. I was, to say the least, blown away by the whole performance, so forgive me if I omitted a any songs. The backdrop of the stage was a two screen video display of real trippy graphics and odd renditions of the videos made for some songs. The majority of the display was a graphical display that could compare to an "acidwarp" program that numerous computer users know of. I'm not a great writer so this may sound like I've never reviewed a show before. Well, I haven't! After seeing a show that I will remember for the rest of my life.. I have to tell someone. Why not send it to the best Tool page on the net? I'll make sure and be at the next show and the next one and the next one... do you see a pattern? thanx, Todd BTW: The opening bands were horrible. The first was "Blue Tip" and then "The Melvins" I sat on the floor thru both sets! arrgghhh!