From: mcilduf@ibm.net

On March 1, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to a Tool show. Oh, 
but wait...Myself and about six others were to drive down to Maplewood 
NJ to play in a frisbee tourament, and driving back north to Poughkipsee 
was a long shot. After about nine hours of strenuous mud-fun (it was 
raining), we clamored into two cars and sped onward, only the MaxAlert 
pills pushing us. We arrived at the arena with about an hour to spare, 
and I almost lost my ticket. Inside the floor was packed. We got up 
right with the barricade where Justin Chancellor would soon stand. My 
friend began to take the barricade apart, bolt by bolt (A: I can't 
believe nobody's mentioned that throughout the first half of this 
concert, men with no necks were trying to repare it..B: I STILL HAVE THE 
BOLT!!!) and handing me the pieces. Myself being on the scrawny side, I 
was torn from the crowd during Crawl Away, but was soon back inside.
Some things to clear up with other reviews:
1: The bra from 4* was thrown up.
2: Chickenweasel was neglected until we started screaming it. Even then, 
some people looked at us like we were loony (DONT CALL ME THAT!).
3: Crowdsurfing people landed on my head.
4: Levvy got DROPPED. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
5: I LOVE TOOL!!!







From: Mark Robertson (fastmark@frontiernet.net)
Subject: Tool 3/1 in Poughkeepsie

Although I have seen intense bands such as Korn and Deftones, I don't
believe that I ever enjoyed a concert as much as I enjoyed Tool.  Two
friends and I traveled 5 hours each way, went broke, and had the time of
our lives.  We would have paid more and driven further to see them. 
Tool is absolutly the most amazing thing that I have ever witnessed.  I
went hoarse from screaming and am still hoarse 4 days later.  The crowd
was great, not too many assholes.  I wish that they had played hooker
with a penis, but it doesn't matter because I fuckin saw Tool.  The
melvins sucked, mostly because of the anticipation and excitement of
seeing Tool.  I heard a few Chickenweasels but didn't care becuase Tool
was on stage.  AEnima was a great closer, and I was grateful that they
even played an extra song.  Two words: fucking amazing.







From: JohnNap77@aol.com
Subject: Poughkeepsie Tool Show

What's up?  I was at the show in Poughkeepsie on March 1st and it rocked.

 Since you're gonna post a review, I take it you were there also.  Great,

great show!  THANK YOU for your awesome Tool site.  Without it, I would 
never
have even heard about that show.  I had never seen them before, but knew 
from
their CDs that they rock.  Still, that show was far more incredible than 
I
anticipated it would be.  I mean, I thought it would be awesome, but it 
was
totally incredible!  I saw Metallica the night before and Tool blew them
away.  I'm trying to locate a bootleg video or tape of that show.  I'm 
dying
to get my hands on one.  Do you have one, or do you know of anyone who 
does?
 Well, talk to you soon.  Thanks again for your awesome Tool website.  
And if
you have a bootleg of that Poughkeepsie show you're willing to sell, I'd 
love
to buy it.  Take care,
John








From: Chuwii@aol.com

We just wanted to give a review that dealt with more than what was 
played.

Every other review probably has the set list so I wont even waste your 
time.
 Anyway,  We have never seen Tool live before, and it was a hell of a 
thing
to see.  Man all i could say after the show was "damn, i never felt 
anything
like that..."  And it is true the feeling in that place was something 
beyond
explaination, but we'll try and get out as much as possible.  
     The first thing that was heard was the rumble of (-) Ions.  It sent 
the
crowd into a frenzy.  All we could feel was the very clothes vibrate on 
our
bodies, shaking like they were begging to come off.  Then they jumped 
into
Third Eye.  The crowd started to pulse and move.  The Heat of all the 
bodies
was amazing.  After a while no one could tell were one body ended and the

next ended.  By the second song everyone was sweating and pushing and
pulling.  There was a feeling of fucking and being fucked.  Everyone 
flowed
with the music.  It truly became a TOOL to reach people.  Maynard was
amazing.  He would stare out into the crowd, seeming to absorb everyone's

energy.  Once he turned to Justin Chancellor and just stared at him for 
such
a long time, then he exploded into such a ripping vocal melody...i 
couldn't
remeber what song, it was too much.  
     Maynard was painted in blueish paint with dots all over his body 
which
reminded me of that line from Third Eye "phosphorescent desert buttons".  
The
way he moved and pulsed, he seemed like a magnifying glass that absorbed 
and
amplified the music.  I dont think they would ever need a PA system.  He 
made
the crowd burn.  It all turned into a sea of bones and sweat, heat and 
blood.
 
     Before they played Opiate he explained the meaning of the song and 
then
said 'never trust and agent, they just fuck it all up...'  I thought that 
was
funny and true as hell.  At one point they had this break were they were 
all
on the floor writhing like snakes making these noise...Maynard 
manipulated a
drum head i couldnt tell what Jones anf Chancellor work on but this break

lasted for about five minutes and brought the crowd to such a point of
tension that when they finally exploded into song the crowd went nuts,  
we
were swept off of our feet, not that we were payin attention.  
     When we were leaving the theater, the floor was covered with 
moisture, I
remarked that it could have been from all of the sweat, alex laughed and 
said
it was probably from the smoke machine.
     When we got outside we were drenched in sweat, not all our own.   It

took us about three hours to get to the show,  we live on long island.  
We
drove at eighty to get there on time.  It was worth riskin our lives for 
it
and we'd do it again.
       Maynard said once in some interview that everytime somebody pushes 
the
limits of humanity we all evolve, they're pushin and we are evolving.  
     
pete
chuwii@aol.com

alex
ale555@aol.com








From: Alan & Gina (gabriel@villagenet.com)
Subject: Review of the 3/1/97 Poughkeepsie, NY performance

After reading other reviews of TooL performances, I wish to submit one 
with a slightly different perspective.  I had the pleasure to watch TooL
from the eigth row, behind the hyper-moshes and surfers on the floor.  
The Mid Hudson Civic Center proved to be an excellent venue, allowing us 

ancient fans the opportunity to actually see the band from a relaxed 
point of view(I never before thought it possible to relax at a TooL 
show.

Thanks to "toolshed.down.net", I had the pleasure of driving two hours 
to Poughkeepsie, NY to hear, feel, and see the brilliance of TooL.  
After reading about all the mayhem at other TooL shows, my friend and I 
were a bit nervous of the violent, aggressive crowd that TooL attracts.

However, four minutes into the opening song(Third Eye), I had the 
feeling that most concergoers were mystified (I refuse temptation to use 

the "double d" expression, with all due repect to Mr. Keenan).  The 
crowd was quiet, asleep, absolutely unbelievable.  In the same room, is 
a passionate, aggressive, soft, melodic, rythmic and cerebral band.  
During the days leading up to the concert, I could not sleep for more 
than 5 hours straight, and here in Poughkeepsie, half the crowd appeared 

to be snoozing.  They were polite, and that(in all seriousness)IS most 
important!!

I felt like opening the doors, and let some of the kind folks standing  
outside in the rain(many of whom begged for my ticket, ha) into this 
tremendous, sold out show.

The band's performance was excellent, but I got nothing to compare that 
with.  Hopefully I will have the honor to watch TooL perform again, 
because they are unique, artistic and passionate about their work.TooL 
is a glittering diamond in a world of follow the leader fools.

Something certainly seems to satisfy, and that would be a live TooL 
performance.


VTY,    

Alan David









From: Chris Andrews (candrews@idsi.net)
Subject: Review of 3/1 Show in Poughkeepsie

Being trapped in a often overly-suppressed and repulsive state of
"adulthood," it is indeed a pleasure to be able to experience the music
of TOOL and remove onself from reality--if only for a few hours.  

It had been a while since I and my friends (Tom & Karl) had ventured out
to a 'live' show.  The opportunity to see TOOL in person on March 1 in
Poughkeepsie, NY was something that could not and would not be passed
up.  

During the rainy drive up Route 9 to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center--as
Stinkfist pumped from my maxed-out stereo speakers--we speculated about
the event we were about to experience.  We had read and heard many
different reviews of previous TOOL shows and were sure that no matter
what was forthcoming, the results would be intense.

We were not disappointed.

After enduring typically weak opening band noise, the multi-aged crowd
buzzed with anticipation and excitement over the arrival of Maynard &
Co. on stage.  It all began with 'Third Eye' -- a surprising, yet
well-excecuted opening song.  The transition into 'Stinkfist' was
flawless and, to be honest, the Civic Center rocked harder and louder
than it ever had in the more than dozen shows I have seen there in the
past ten years.

Rather than letting up, TOOL charged into a thunderous performance of
'46 & 2' that left the crowd craving more.  We (Tom, Karl & I) were
pumped when the band then played 'Crawl Away' which is a big favorite of
ours from UNDERTOW.

I was extremely impressed with Maynard's performance of the next song,
'Euology'.  He sang this song like it was coming directly from the CD. 
That is one of the things that I really liked about this show.  Too
often, you'll go to a concert and hear crap that sounds nothing like the
music a band has on it's latest recording.  Not with TOOL.  What you
hear is what you get with them.

'Jimmy' was the next song, followed by '4 degrees'.  The madness
continued with 'H.' and a long intro lead to 'Sober'.  The show would
not have been complete without the next song--'Opiate'.  The night ended
with an encore performance of 'Aenima' which concluded the show with a
BANG that left you wanting more.

Probably the only disappointment for me was that they didn't play
additional songs from UNDERTOW, such as 'Prison Sex'.  But I guess
that's what tells you a show was truly good...when you get home and
realize that you wish you could get back in your car and go see TOOL
again, immediately.

TOOL is a definite "must-see" live.