A Perfect Circle Tour Reviews

for the following shows:
Aug 15 1999 - Viper Room (Los Angeles, CA)
Aug 20 1999 - Opium Den (Los Angeles, CA)
Aug 20 1999 - Troubadour (Los Angeles, CA)

As "Recreational Racism", Maynard and others played a series of covers coutry-style at the Viper Room on August 15, 1999. Later that night, a new band called "A Perfect Circle" played at the Viper Room. They played two more shows that week. Here are some reviews.




From: Nathan J Burdick (burdick3@corp.earthlink.net)

Kabir, Hey brother I went to the Whiskey show yesterday and there is
definitly much to report. But first I must ask what is Perfect
Circle???Unfortunatly I could not afford the Viper Room show and was
unaware that Maynard wouyld be performing regardless...now I hear that
Maynard debuted his "new project" Perfect Circle with whom he is recording
an album...
	As for the whiskey performance wow!!!! His band was called
Recreational Racism. They were a country band doing Circle Jerk covers.
The only original they did was one of the funniest things I've ever heard
it was called "my big 'ol country boner wont go down" w/ lines like " I
fucked Elvis Presley on the toilet where he died" and " I fucked johnny
cash bent him over and fucked his tight white ass"...Maynard was in full
character complete w/ a big blonde pompador wig w/ big burlg sideburns and
a bushy blonde mustache. He was wearing a horrible beige suit w/ a big
cowboy belt buckle. His band were all cowboys except for his back-up
singer who was a tammy-faye baker look-a-like complete w/ whig and
makeup....It was hilarious chalk another one up for good 'ol Maynard!!! if
anyone has a copy of this show or pictures please email me.....









From: MNB808@aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 06:17:38 EDT

My three friends and I got to the Opium Den at 8:30.  They didn't open the
doors until 8:40.  We hung out at the bar and had a beer until the band
went on just after 9:00.  Maynard was hanging out at the bar too, with
Billy, the guitar player.  Then, when they got up on stage, Maynard
started off by saying "Don't blink, this set's going to be over before you
know it."  He also said something about hoping that nobody was there to
hear Tool-like songs, because the music would be different.  The band was
made up of 5 members: 1)Maynard, 2)Billy Howerdale, 3)a great drummer (I
think his name is John), 4)a guitarist from Failure ( I couldn't hear his
name), and 5)a girl on bass with long black hair (I also didn't catch her
name).  He introduced them all after the third or fourth song.  I also
thought that I heard him introduce the band as "A Perfect Circle." As soon
as the music started, I could tell that I was going to enjoy the show.  I
thought that it sounded a lot like Tool, mainly because of Maynard's
voice.  But, the guitars were definitely different, and the drummer had
his own style too.  The music had many moments of being very peaceful and
beautiful, but also had lots of crunching guitar riffs and hard-rockin'
drums intertwined.  At the Opium Den, they played 7 songs, one of which
was a cover of the Cure's "Lovesong."  Although, a friend of mine told me
that the verses were actually from Ozzy Osborne's lyrics, (I think she
said from "Diary of a Madman", or something like that).  Anyway, the set
lasted for 45 minutes, and the sound was incredible.  Maynard was his
usual funny self.  Throughout the evening, Maynard kept saying that the
band was Billy's.  He was Tool's guitar technician during the AEnima
recording session.  I'm glad that they all got together to make this new
music, which I thought was absolutely great.  During a couple of songs,
Maynard was actually reading lyrics off of a piece of paper.  I don't
think that he really needed these papers, I think he did it just to show
how new these songs really were.  The music was absolutely great.  My body
was moving the whole time.  It was so great to hear this new music, and to
see them in such a small place, especially for free!  After they went off,
we hung out for a little while, and tried to finish our beers.
 That was until the next band kicked us all out, because we had to pay to
see their gig.  They said that they were hardcore hip-hop.  They told us
that we would have to go outside to pay just to get back in.  That's no
way to run a club, or for a band to try to get new fans.  Well, fuck those
guys, we weren't going to pay to get back in to the place where we had
already been watching a show and drinking beer.  Anyway, nobody that
evening could possibly top the show that Perfect Circle had just put on.
We later arrived at the Troubador at 11:30.  The band before them, The
Apex Theory, had actually packed the place.  I guess their set lasted a
little long, because Perfect Circle was supposed to go on at 12:00, but
didn't actually start until 12:15 a.m.  The lead singer mentioned that
Maynard would be coming up next.  Once Apex Theory went off, many people
left, and I was actually happy, because that just meant that I would have
a better view, and it wouldn't be so damn hot in there.  All the people
who left didn't know what they were missing.  Perfect Circle only played 5
songs (I think all of which they played earlier at the Opium Den), and
they didn't play the Cure cover.  But, the music sounded incredible again.  
The set lasted for 30 minutes.  Billy is definitely a talented guitarist,
and the drummer kicked ass.  I'm so glad that I got to hear those songs
twice that night.  It really made them more memorable in my head.  I
didn't get the setlist, or even the song titles for that matter, but I
will try to get them from my friend.  Perfect Circle will be playing a
show at the KeyClub in Hollywood on September 2, with Fishbone.  
Everybody should go.  You won't be disappointed.
 Anyway, I hope that Perfect Circle and Tool will both record albums soon.  
We all crave their new music.  Thanks for reading.









From: Barclay Virden (mer11@mediaone.net)

Kabir,
    The shows last night were a very nice surprise.  I didn't know what to
expect, and (despite better judgment) I kept hoping for a surprise TOOL
show.  That's not what we got... but instead we were treated to a very
good band.  The Opium Den show (FREE!) was the better of the two, as the
Troubadour's set-up (perhaps because of no sound check) left Maynard's
beautiful voice nearly buried beneath the instruments.  'Twas very nice. I
really hope they put out an album.  Maynard warned at the outset (to the
best of my recollection), "For those of you expecting a TOOL show, looking
to bang your head and break things, you should leave now.  This is AM
radio stuff."  Not quite.  Can't say I remember either banging nor
breaking anything at a TOOL show.  I have a tendency to be selfish about
things, wanting to feel like I'm somehow privileged to something special.  
Well, I'm happy for the TOOL's success... and entertained by the skeptical
criticism that Maynard seems to practice in addressing his masses... but
yeah, I've gotta say that I like an intimate concert experience.  I'd like
to feel that my depth of interest brings the occasional reward like I felt
last night. I know, what makes me so special?  Nothing... I'm just biased
towards myself.  He's got such an incredible voice and presence.  That
being said, Perfect Circle is playing with Fishbone at the Key Club on
Sept. 2nd (if you didn't know). Take care, and thanks again for the page.  
-Barclay









From: Evan Zarefsky (ezarefsky@yahoo.com)

Just in case you didn't know, Maynard showed up w/ his side projects
last weekend for two benefit shows.  Attached is a portion of the
writeup that is at addicted to noise:

The benefit began at 4 p.m. at Whisky a Go Go with a lineup featuring
Pennywise, Fishbone, the Vandals and Recreational Racism ó one of the
two side projects Keenan fronted Sunday. 

Keenan's oufit opened the show with a set of country-style versions of
Circle Jerks songs, including "Group Sex" (RealAudio excerpt) and "Back
Against the Wall." Keenan wore a brown suit and a loud blond wig.  While
the evening show was for ages 21 and up, the Whisky show was for all ages,
and the audience was dominated by teenage boys who created a mosh pit that
grew most fervent during Pennywise's headlining set.  Morris introduced
Pennywise by telling the crowd that the Hermosa Beach, Calif., band is
carrying on the punk-rock torch. Pennywise mixed older tunes with songs
from their latest album, Straight Ahead (1999), and ended with "Bro Hym
Tribute," during which a horde of young men joined them onstage for a
sing-along.

"There was skepticism about punk rock being dead on the Sunset Strip, but
those kids let it all fly," Morris said afterward. "It was awesome; it was
flawless."

Keenan later turned up at the Viper Room as part of Perfect Circle, with
whom he is recording an album. The Viper Room show included the original
lineup of X, Thelonious Monster, the Weirdos and Haynes, who performed a
DJ set. "Am I not the Chemical Brothers?" the lanky, dark-haired Haynes
asked as he danced behind his turntables.









From: Brad Martin (bmartin@usinteractive.com)

I attended the both Perfect Circle shows. I got some pics at the show at
the Opium Den, but im sure the ones at the Troubadour turned out much
better. There was an attendence of about 40-50 people including Danny
Carey, Chino (deftones) and Rage's Drummer at the opium den. Im guessing
there were more rock stars in my presence, but i dont know many of thier
faces. The Troubadour show was packed.  Both shows were amazing.  Maynard
said before he started the set at the Opium Den "If you think this is tool
type music and you wanna bang your head and break shit, youre going to be
disapointed. This is AM radio style music, like billy likes" They played a
Cure and a Black Sabbath cover and mixed the 2 together at the Opium Den,
but didnt play it at the Troubadour. At the end of the set, maynard
mumbled something about they were opening for Fishbone at the Keyclub on
sunday or monday, i didnt quite make out what he said. Im looking forward
to going to Coachelle. i wonder if they ! will play anything new that they
have been working on. - Brad Martin, Tustin, CA