Tool at Lollapalooza 1997 Tour Reviews

Date: June 25

(also see Kabir's review)


Review written by: Mike Craig (N/A) Review posted on: 07/23/97 17:31:29 I will have to give TOOL a 10 here. This concert is the greatest moment in my life. During Snoop you could see Danny, Justin, and Maynard off stage. While they were setting up for TOOL you could hear Maynard practicing" Hooker with a Penis" in a Frank Sinatra manner. Tool came on and the audience went wild. Tool did a bunch of songs from Aenema, STINKFIST,EULOGY,H.,FORTY SIX AND TWO,HOOKER WITH A PENIS,JIMMY,and AENEMA. Two from Undertow, PRISON SEX ,SOBER and one from Opiate. Maynard,in glow in the dark face paint, brown leather pants, platforms, a pony tail, and a stuffed bra spoke only twice. He commented on how the " catholic church had outlawed sex in the western world,and made it awkward for people to show affection in public, but you can still bring that cigarette to your mouth" and also told us "at a concert with all these acts try to catch every one, and even though you may not like it you may learn something. And stick around for Orbital, trust me you WILL NOT be upset." And with that they were gone. With Maynards crazy stage movements and his costume, and the bands great job that section of my life will never be forgotten.

Review written by: Patrick Dougan (pdougan@gte.net) Review posted on: 07/02/97 22:49:39 Tool did a pretty good show at Lollapalooza 97. They sound exactly like the CD but amplified. MJK put on glow-in-the-dark face paint. He also wore breasts. I had seats but I wasn' going to sit down and watch them, so I went in the pit(which was in the back). They played during dusk so it got dark towards the end and I got muddy. It was a good mosh pit.

Review written by: PJ Fancher (pj2269@gator.net) Review posted on: 07/01/97 16:40:08 The first time I saw TOOL I was front row center, this time I was near the back center but it was still an unbelievable show. TOOL played the extended version of Prison Sex and an extended version of Stinkfist(which I had never heard before). The show was filled with lots of eye candy from the video screens and a delightful preview of the new Aenima video. Although I wished it could have been longer, I was pleased with the set(very glad that they played Aenima). Even though Korn and Tricky were good, the $40 bucks I shelled out for tickets was more than worth it just to see TOOL. The first thing I thought when the show was over was how muck I can't wait to see them again.

Review written by: Eliot aka DJ Chiller (eeisen@emi.net) Review posted on: 07/01/97 05:25:16 This was the first time I've seen Tool live and must tell everyone I can that the show was absolutley magnificent. Friends saw them a few monts back at Sunrise in Ft.Lauderdale and told me it was the best concert they had ever been to. Now I can understand why. Everything was spectacular. I had great seats; about 10 rows back, center. The sound was about perfect; not too loud like Snoop and others. The lighting was awesome and the rear projections wereincredible. Maynard looked wild with his painted white face, shaved head, long black ponytail, leather pants, and fake tits.The other band members played incredibly and looked normal. Very Cool. The drummer went off the entire time and laid down some superb beats. I was actually surprised to learn of Tool headlining 97 Lollapaloozabut now I can see why. They carried it. I Cant wait to see them again. South Florida Loves Tool

Review written by: Another tool freak from U of F (khick28601@aol.com) Review posted on: 06/28/97 12:46:57 My trip to Lolla was made ABSOLOUTELY WORTH WHILE by Tool and Orbital (My two favorite bands). I'd seen tool before and expected to be delighted but I didn't expect to be floored. The band sounded as flawless and cohesive as any studio recording, only BE TTER, and THAT is the mark of a truly great band. Maynard was, as usual, excellent and I completely loved his comments re: sex, smoking,open-mindedness. Songs were mostly Aenima which is fine with me (their best work yet). There was one long screen above and behind the band that displayed really cool images as were on the fall tour [LOVED the ele- phants!!]. The magical symbols integrated into the set (th e pentagram and bass drums) gave it a magical presence and was a nice touch. Lights were awesome and completely in synch with the energies of each song. I had to keep pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Undoubtedly, Tool is the best live band I've EVER seen or heard. I was hoping tool would play last--I wasn't sure if the crowd would fully appreciate Orbital-- but Phil and Paul rose to the challenge and by the end of the show, they had everyone dancing on the floor... including an exhausted Lisa. :> Thanks for the wonderful show, guys.

Review written by: Jim (Jimbo7725) Review posted on: 06/28/97 00:45:10 I won't mention any other aspect of Lolla. besides Tool with the exception of Tricky. This is because during Tricky's set, Maynard was looking on from the left side of the stage. He was very visible to me because I was in the center of the fourth row. I tried to get his attention and flash my home-made OGT shirt to him; I couldn't tell if he noticed and/or cared. Anyway, onto the performance. Maynard was pretty good looking in drag-the tits looked real; but I could see his package in his tight leather?/vinyl? pants. The sound quality sucked so bad from where I was-right up front, in front of Justin. The vocals and guitar sounded too low and the bass sounded too high. It probably sounded great from the back of the lawn, but I got the best view (against the fence). The projection screens were very amazing and large. By the way, Kabir is lying. They did show the upcoming new video in accompanyment to Aenema's performance. I won't ruin it, but it is really good. I screamed repeatedly for No Quarter, but they stuck to their set. I was disappointed in the songs they chose to play and the order to play them in, because it was very similar to Tool's previous performance in South Florida. Their newest stage prop is a pentagram/pentacle thingy with a lot of symbols on it hung in a gong-like fashion. All in all, I thought that they didn't play long enough and ampatheaters aren't a great venue for tool. I was lucky enough to get one of the setlists- a roadie threw it out and I caught it, but it's currently lost somewhere in my room.On it,next to Prison Sex there were "(B)"s on both sides. I guess it stands for the extended version, because that's the version they played. Okay, go read some other reviews now. Jim/Jimbo7725/kid in OGT shirt

Review written by: Mathaeis (Luminaire4@aol.com) Review posted on: 06/27/97 22:57:25 Tool kicked major @$$. Maynard was wearing tight leather pants, a fake pony tail, had his face painted white, and had a bra on. (Everyone swears thos looked a little too real) He started with the song Hooker with a Penis. I saw some people about to leave until they heard this song start. After that he went into Stinkfist, and in the bridge of that song the band played part of the eulogy riff a few times. About now it was dark enough so they could turn on the monitors which had some freaky hypnotic images--morphing gears, weird lights, elephants having sex, and a couple of their videos. I dont remember the order of the other songs, but I know they played Pushit, Forty-six & 2, Opiate, Prison Sex, Sober, Eulogy, and finished with nima. At one point he started talking. He said something that was basically like this: You know, when the Southern Baptists brought over their ideas about sex, they made it seem like a bad thing. All you people are afraid to touch each other now. Sex generates the most positive kind of energy. But look at all of you smoking out there. Smoking'll kill you faster than sex. So I say, if you're gonna kill yourself, DIE FUCKING!!!!

Review written by: Master Reviewer (Marnell1) Review posted on: 06/27/97 17:00:50 It ROCKED!!!!!!!!!! Love the outfit Maynard!!!!!!!! Very Funny!!!!!!!!! The backdrops were awesome!!!!!!!! TOOL ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review written by: Ruben Quinones (Quinones07@aol.com) Review posted on: 06/26/97 23:39:28 At last I finally got to see TOOL live.The newspaper down here wrote that Korn put on a better show than Tool, but what do they know.Being in the lawn area we only had two big screens to see Maynard and the rest of the guys.When Hooker came on all of us in the mosh pit got nuts. I really can't discribe the sound, beautiful is the only word I can use.In the backround Tool had these awesome psycadelic animations going on and short clips of Prison Sex and some alien type figures comr on and off the screens.Three ideas of advice, 1 SEE TOOL,2 EAT SHROOMS OR LSD and 3 OPEN YOUR MIND AND SOUL...

Review written by: Heather (MRC COC) Review posted on: 06/26/97 20:28:57 tool was the best. i loved every minute of there show and his thoughts that he shared with everyone. i love you MAYNARD

Review written by: Aimee Astte (ASTTE) Review posted on: 06/26/97 15:35:58 Tool completely stole the show away from korn, and snoop dogg Their stage set up was incredible, a white and black backdrop where the top white part was used as a screen while they were projecting music videos and an eccentric array objects and shapes meshing into other forms. It set the mood for the music. The performance was very clean and tight and they definitely sound much better live than on a recorded cd. The whole point of a concert is to experience the music and when you hear them, that's exactly what you'll do. You can feel the music and Maynard words pumping through you intensely. My boyfriend is the Tool freak, not me, and all he could say to me hours before Tool got on stage, while they were on stage, and hours after they got off stage was," oh my god, it's Tool babe!" He's still in a state of shock proving that Tool's performance is nothing short of brilliance.

Review written by: Master Reviewer Dan! (jnco514@aol.com) Review posted on: 06/26/97 15:03:07 I was front stage at the show and tool was great, the only problem with the show was concert staff had to go. They stole my backstage pass at the end of the show. What kind of bull s#*t is that? [Note from Kabir -- the man is damn right.]

Review written by: Juan Guerra (gufamn@msn.com) Review posted on: 06/26/97 12:13:14 Lollapalooza 1997 - show #1 - WPB, FL Tool put on an awesome performance as the second to last band to perform on the opening night of the 1997 Lollapalooza tour. They were dressed casual like usual (t-shirts, no shirts), except for Maynard. He had a white drama-like mask painted on his face (resembling the one he used to cover his happy face at the Club Lolla chat). He had some sort of hair piece on his head giving him a long pony tail. He wore shiny, tight black pants, and a womens ballerina style spandex top with a stuffed bra. The set lis t went as follows to the best of my recollection. 1- Hooker 2-Stinkfist 3-46&2 4-Prison Sex (with ext. lyrics) 5-Eulogy 6-H 7-Sober 8-Opiate 9-Aenima Although they weren't the last band to play, they did get some extensive playing time. They were welcomed by the crowd. Maynard said something to this nature about the tour (don't quote me)..... Welcome to the first show of this Lollapalooza tour. There are a lot of new acts on the bill. Some you like some you don't, but you should open your hearts (minds?) and listen to what they have to say. For example ; stick around for "Orbital" after we're done, maybe you'll learn something. He also made some remarks about sex and cigerettes (had to be there). Anyways, they were tight and right on time - what a way to start the tour.

Review written by: A major Toolfrek from U of F (fbmac@aol.com) Review posted on: 06/26/97 02:17:07 Tool was definitely the highlight of Lollapolloosa! Maynard's dancing, make-up, and girdle that he wore were original! This tour is definitely pushing Aenima however it was great hearing new stuff. The seating situation sucked, no pit,no way to get clo se to Maynard or the band like in '93's Lolla. Tool is worth its weight in "platinum"!!!