Spring 1998 Tour Reviews

Date: March 29


Review written by: Stupid Internet User (Stupidinternetuser@mindless.com) Review posted on: 03/31/98 19:01:42 3-29-98 Rimac. Tool. Since I got a ride with someone else we just came to see Tool and skipped out on the Melvins. (Allthough I did want to see their Pink Floyd cover.) The stage was allready set up with the drums and everything. Adam had 3 cabs. There was a marshall one with an approximately 3-foot tall opiate priest --the one with the 3 pairs of hands -- on it (or behind it.) Next to it was another cab without a name. Then by that was another marshall cab. (I think it is the one that buzz from the melvins used when he played a song with tool.) Next to that was a tall covered up statue. And then their was Danny's drum set. Next to that was a big neon thing with the magik symbols. And then left of that was Justins stuff. (That whole list is from left to right, looking at the stage.) They also had two "small" screens on the sides, and another behind the equipment. The air was all smokey (only about 10% being ciggarette smoke if you know what I mean.) From the speakers was coming weird loops. At first it sounded like backwords masking. Then it sounded like japanese. It would say weird stuff, and then go into a loop, then say more weird stuff and go into other loops. Real tripped out. I felt like I was at some hitler rally or something to that extent. (In terms of weirdness and power.) I could tell the speakers were good because when one of the voices was slowed down the bass came through well, along with everything else. A video came on. It featured a chicks legs with a mouth where the pussy was, singing a jazz version of Hooker With a Penis. There was also some kind of Dick creatures too (crosed with a mouth and possibly hands.) Most people were busting up. The lights went out either before this, during or right after. I can't quite recall. I went up front to the left side. Justin started out 46 & 2. Maynard was dressed like an old tv evangelist with a suit and a wig. Most people just stood and sang a long. Then when the song picked up a "pit" type thing started. (The song order may not be 100% accurate) Once 46&2 was over they played Cold and Ugly. (. I started moving towards maynards side. They then played Swamp Song. It actually felt like I was in a swamp because it was so crowded. Most people were pushing, butt bashing and floating. The floaters (and moshers) were real dicks. The floaters didn't just flow and let the people float them, they fought it. I got kicked in the back of my neck and my head a lot. I also got my hair pulled, etc. It was really fucking annoying. I came to watch tool, not some drunk ignorant fuck try to hurt everyone. And when the floaters fell and got helped up they didn't stand still, or blink weird or grab for their head or anything... they just flung their arms and screamed woo. Such idiots. They then played Part of Me. Maynard saying--perhaps sarcastically-- this is a song about safe sex in the 90's. Masterbation? people smoking cigarettes but scared of fucking? Next was sober. Everyone went wild. I couldn't really pay attention that much, becuase I had to watch out for floaters-- it really pissed me off. Maynard introduced buzz from the melvins. Adam got a second guitar in dropped b. It was and orange colored les paul instead of his green/black one. (By now I had moved from justin's side, to the middle [maynard and danny] then to the right, Adam's side. It was possible to see the whole stage as long as people weren't in the way.) He mentioned they would be playing ozzfest with the melvins, because they were considered metal bands. (or something to that extent.) Buzz, then said, hey you are the ones who won the grammy. and they jammed for like 10 minutes. It had a good grove and kept building and shit. During this song (I think it was this one) Maynard started stipping out of the outfit and getting to be himself. He stripped down just to some weird shorts (mini skirt/shorts?) and kept on the wig. A roadie brought a duffle bag out. Maynard got in it. The roadie carried him around a little bit. Then maynard came out with out the wig and displayed himself like it was a magic trick. By this song people were allready worn out, so they just stood and stared (as if they were watching tv -- I stood and stared because I couldn't realy move around, and I wanted to "study" everyones playing. After this song (which was like 10 minutes -- the words were also like "come on come on come on come on") maynard introduced another guest -- the bassist from kyuss (last name reader[sp?]). No one really cared, and maynard sort of laughed. That bassist started a cool high riff, and the drums and justin and danny and everyone else came in. They jammed on this a while. This featured lyrics like "Satan is the way." I think it was called Demon Cleaner (as maybard announced.) Adam got his green guitar back. Next was pushit. It started with a clip of Bill Clinton saying "faster" (I think) looped with him wiggling and shit. (something earlier started with George Bushe stuff - I think it was swamp song) (Going forwards and reverse -- with the sound also.) It had a slow intro. The guitar was distoreted slightly. They played for a long time. Then it finally went into the more album like version, buildign and building. It sounded so good. (The speakers were good. The drums were awsome. The bass also came through well. You could hear everything without having to "focus in" on it.) Next was third eye. It had Timothy leary talking in the beginning instead of bill hicks. (someone told me it was from a video TL had out called "the brain".) On the screen was a dialated eye opened up (a la clockword orange) being washed right on the pupil, for a surgery or something just being looped. The other statue was uncovered now. It was a huge statue (6-7 feet) of the blue scalpel guy on the inside of the AEnema cover. I think the eye had a light source. Maynard "meditated" in the middle of the stage. Anyways's they played a long awsome version of Third Eye. Adam held the slide on his middle finger. His guitar playing was awsome. Sometime I think he was playing behind the saddle. He would also get some notes (rumbling?) just by pushing or lightly hitting his guitar. He knew how to use the pickups and knobs well. You could tell he paints, he would switch between different sounds of "colors". (Jason also had his wet [pussy] tone and his dry [shit] tone. Don't get me wrong. They are awsome. I am just comparing them, to how people would picture tool - not necesarily how I picture them though.) At the end adam got some kind of necklace or something [a string with a paper clip or something metal attached?] (at first I thought it was an e-bow) He held it right over the pickups and got the coolest sound. His guitar was just screaming. (Like prying open your third eye, I guess.) They then played Aenema. Everyone sang along. When they were done they went to get water and rest a little. They were all talking. A video came on of two cars (in the spectrum of colors) doing hair pin turns. I had ended up right by the speakers. The tape kept looping and the noises were loud. This just killed my allready someowhat fucked up left ear. The last song was Jerk-Off. They played it for a long time. They went out. Then their was just an electronic drum sound. Everyone came on and built the song. It was so cool. All in all Tool was great. The audience kind of sucked. It mad e me wonder if they really thought about what tool is trying to convey at all. The sound was great. The lighting was too. (It didn't constantly flow, it was more for background and forground, with y ellows, blues, purples and greens (mainly.))The video's were god. (Obviously drug influenced -- or for the drug induced.) My arms aand body is still a little sore from getting hit by all the assholes. I don't get why people waste $25 to hit each other. Too much testosterone I guess. I can't wait till ozzfest or till whenever I can see tool again. For adams playing (besides what I said) he didn't use his pink much compared to his other fingers. (He did use it a lot when he gets that d shaped power chord.) Most of his playing was in his right hand. His rythm is awsome. I was upset I couldn't see his equipment. He had a rather large pedal board. I only saw the roadie carry it away. I couldn't make it out because of the raised stage and monitors. Their was some kind of wah (at least I heard one.) I also saw a white (or possibly grey) boss shaped pedal. I think it might have been e.q. Once he even came to the very edge of the stage, still standing still, but very much into it. Another different thing about tool was that adam had shorter hair and so did adam. I guess everyone is getting rid of their hair now. I wish the audience could get into the music without needing to get drunk and try and beat the shit out of everyone. I tried to give a pretty in depth review (including some playing information) so I didn't go into as much as what maynard said and stuff like that. (I can't quote word for word. Other reviews have it better.) I also looked at another review to get the order of the songs. Thanks for reading this. Any questions or want to get more info or anythings email me. Stupidinternetuser@mindless.com

Review written by: Chris (Silly-Weird-One@juno.com) Review posted on: 03/31/98 15:30:29 Well Sunday show at RIMAC. I was waiting for this ever since I cut in line to be the first to buy the tickets. Tenacious D was mildly funny, I felt sorry for them since everyone was chanting "TOOL" and fuck you and get off stage. Before hand I thought the crowd was gonna be kinda mild, no seven foot Nazi's or drugged out assholes. But sure enough they got there eventually. It wasn't until the Muscle bound Marines came in that I got pissed off. These people were here for one thing and thats to kick ass. Waste of human space. Anyway My girlfriend and I sqeezed up to the front in between the melvins and TOOL. The crowd was going so absolutely nuts even before tool that my 5'3" girlfriend couldn't breathe. She had to stand on my steeltoes to get fresh air. After The movie with the singing twat and penis' we went off to the stands for a little breather. As soon as "forty six & 2" was over we headed back up and were right up front with the dirty metal rail, right in front of the bassist. This is only my second time seeing TOOL (the first being Lollapalooza) and My girlfriend and I now have an agreement that everytime they come we put off whatevers happening. Opiate is my favorite CD and they played almost everything off of it. Except "Opiate" I wish they had played that song. You could tell that most of the people there were "raidio fans" since the only words they knew were AENIMA. And the kick back beginning of "Push-it" Kicked so much ass. Maynard of course put on an impressive show. Coming out like an old TV evangelist, and getting into a duffle bag. Always a suprise with that man. All in all Fantastic show that could have been longer. **Side notes** George bush wiping off his nose after the cocaine quote. (Hilarious) I want the "Opiate" priest statue!!!! Next time an asshole puts his arm around my girlfriend I will do more than throw his arm off.

Review written by: OGT fan (bwigley@ucsd.edu) Review posted on: 03/31/98 14:20:24 I wasnted to correct Jeremy, he said in his review that maynard said "we are playing ozzfest, none are better then us" He said "NONE MORE METAL THAN US" (sarcastically of course.

Review written by: Master Reviewer (wlocom@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/31/98 13:33:22 Maynard was GREAT Melvins = Garage Band (I had a better band when in high school) 85% of Tool Fans @ Concert = White Trash 10% of Tool Fans @Concert = Moranic guys that just want to fight 5% of Tool Fans @ Concert = People that came to appreciate the band Dear Buz: Give it up! How old are you anyway? Are you a big Cure fan or just like Robert Smith's hair? Take some guitar leasons and find a day job.

Review written by: Diego Dave (wilkd@ix.netcom.com) Review posted on: 03/31/98 02:40:49 This was the second show that I was fortunate enough to see on this mini-tour. The first being the first show in L.A.. It appears, from all the other reviews, that I was one of the few lucky ones that got to see two completely different shows. The show at the Palladium ruled because of the atmosphere inside. It was the perfect size venue in which to see Tool, and the energy inside was insane. The sucky part about the L.A. show was how short it was. The San Diego show ruled because of the show itself. Tool played an absolutely perfect setlist. Something for everyone, and being the showmen that they are, leave the crowd wanting more (i.e. H.W.P, Stinkfist, 4 Deg.). Here is my impressions of the San Diego show, from the songs that I recall (I was pretty F**ked up). If you want an accurate set list, check out someone elses review. I watched the entire show from the front of the stage, moving from one pit to another. Tool opened up their show with the video of the talking twat, and singing dicks, the lights were still on during the video. By the way, the lyrics to the video was Hooker with a Penis, sung a little differently (actually, a catchy little number). At the end of the video, the lights dropped, the crowd went wild, another video started, and Tool broke into 46&2. The pits broke out very quickly, and I jumped in. All in all, I would have to say that the pits were not as violent as I expected them to be, I'm six foot tall, and I weigh 160 pounds, so I'm not exactly the biggest guy out there. I will offer my opinions of the pits, and what others thought of them as well at the end of this review. After 46&2, Tool played a collection of songs that included, Cold & Ugly, Sober, Sweat, and Part of me. All of these songs kept the crowd highly enthused through out. Just before King Buzzo of the Melvins came out, I went and rehydrated myself. I hung out in front of the sound boards for that song, and the next one in which they were joined by the bass player from Kyuss. I thought that the song that King Buzzo played with Tool sounded very Melvins'ish. So I did not dig that one too much. However, the song with the bass player from Kyuss, went off. That song, which I have no idea the name, completely jammed. Tool then played an absolutely incredible version of Push=it. They started it off very slowly, and it was very trippy. I actually made some comparisons to Phish, if you question that one, e-mail me and I'll explain. The crowd during that song was completely absorbed. A lot of people standing around with there mouths open. I have to say, since the show, I've listened to Push-it like six times. I have a whole new appreciation. After Push-it, they broke into Anema. The crowd quickly came out of there daze, and went back into a complete pit of mayhem. Bodies were flying. It sure seems as though people really like what they hear on the radio. After Anema, Tool slowed it back up, and played Third Eye. Yet again, they completely went off on a killer song. At this point I was back up by the front of the stage. I just kicked it there, and swayed to the melodies of this fantastic song. Having an idea that the end was near, because I payed attention and checked out the reviews from the other show. in L.A. and Phx. , I knew that they were playing the same show by that point. So, I knew that they were about to finish with Jerk-off. While the video of the car going around the hairpin turn was going, I positioned myself back in the pit. Sure enough, Tool came back and played an insane version of Jerk-off. My night had been made. I had seen them for the second night, it was a completely different show, and I got to see them finish it all with my favorite song. All in all, I had a great 2 shows. The only disappointment, was the shortness of the first show. Tool is an incredible band, both on their albums, and especially in concert. I have been wondering what type of genre you could call Tool, before I saw these shows I considered them somewhat un-catagorizable, but after these shows I have come up with a catagory. I consider Tool to be a Hardcore Jam band. I love a band that plays there songs differently, but the same, in concert. That is all I have to say about the San Diego show, hope you had as good a time as I did if you were there. If you care to read my opinions on the pits, read on. Before I begin, I would like to mention that I'm 28 years old, and, as stated above, I'm 6 foot tall, and 160 pounds. Now with that said let me begin. Damn, a lot of you people have been whining in prior reviews about how bad the pits were, and how people were getting hurt left and right. Well, I saw two shows from the pit, and I have to say that they were the MOST MELLOW pits I have seen in a real long time. I have seen a lot of hardcore shows in my lifetime (i.e. Metallica, Ride the Lightening; Slayer, Reign in Blood; Napalm Death, Testament, etc., etc.) I've seen a lot of bad shit. At both of these shows people for the most part were quick to help people back up when they went down. That is what it is supposed to be about. Now don't get me wrong, there WERE a lot of assholes at the shows (more so San Diego), these are the people who cheap shot others, and just look to make people miserable. These people need to be eradicated, and it's my opionion that it is the bands that need to do something (i.e. pointing out dipshits, explaing to bouncers what is not cool, etc.) But there is also another side, and this is kind of directed at the guy who posted the review from the San Diego show, where his girlfriend got knocked out. People who are smaller should stay the fuck out of the front of the stage. Are you stupid? What the fuck do you think is going to happen? Let me tell you whats going to happen. Once the band starts, the crowd is going to go insane, and you are going to be fucked, because you are in over your head. If you really want to go up front, wait until the band starts, and work your way up. Hardcore shows attract people who want to vent to the music, don't be so quick to get pissed, if you put yourself into a position where you are likely to get hurt, whose fault is it? I'm sorry to vent in the forum for the concert reviews, I had to get that off my chest. So remember, don't whine. The shows for the most part were great. If you have an opinion, let me hear it. Laters, Diego Dave

Review written by: T (tnsandiego@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 21:28:11 Yes, it was excellent. BUT no Prison Sex or Stinkfist!! I could not believe it. I waited in disbelief until a security guard made me leave. I should be thankful, TOOL came to my town and rocked. But, when I saw them this summer, they were absolutely perfect. Perfect acoustics, perfect set list... Perfect TOOL. Since, then I had this Perfect warm TOOL buzz going. Rimac sounded shitty, I didn't get my two favorite songs and it killed my buzz. But, nema was truly awesome. Maybe they just get sic k of playing certain songs. They played alot off their Opiate release. Maybe, I am spoiled. Oh well, I heard this mini-tour was to finance their next release. I am more than happy to contribute to that!

Review written by: Bud (WNorman936@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 20:44:29 Out of all four shows on this tour, They break down like this: The second L.A. show was the best. The set list was good the sound was good. It was the best. Second, The S.D. show. I didn't even have to pay for parking?!?!?! L.A. #2 . It was the first show they had some bugs to work out. But, They still kicked ass. The Phx Show I'm sorry to say(home town)was the least enjoyable. Only because Civic Plaza is the lamest place to have a concert. It's a big concrete box. But, they still kicked ass. All in all My four day Tool adventure was awsome Tool is awsome. See ya at Ozfest in LA, SD, And hopfully PHX Bud

Review written by: Jeremy (tricky4iz@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 20:25:00 great show. my fifth one. amazing every time. i still have bruises across my chest from the barricade. i like it. anyway, the show was as great as i knew it would be. maynard introduced both opening acts, the first one being two guys from hbo's mr. show w/ acoustic guitars singing songs about sex and even covering the flash gordon theme song. people kept chanting 'tool tool tool tool' through the whole thing. maynard came out and said 'you know, some of you disappoint me. see, you guys get what you want. we come out and play a set and we give you guys a little extra. we want these guys here. now shut the fuck up and watch the melvins.' later he come out accompanied by danny and adam wearing a three-piece brown suit & tie and a white wig carrying a bible which he later tossed into the crowd. the show started with a video of a naked girl bending over exposing herself with a mouth where her twat should be singing a lounge version of "hooker with a penis." then she was accompanied by several cock and balls in tuxedos for the chorus. they had a four foot statue of the opiate priest on stage and a life-size sculpture of the purple man from the nima liner notes. set list: "forty-six & 2" maynard: 'can ya feel it?! what is it?!' "cold & ugly" "swamp song" maynard: 'this is a song you probably haven't heard us play in a while. it's about safe sex in the nineties.' "part of me" "sober" maynard: 'oh yeah, did you know we were gonna be on ozzfest this year? none are better than us. we got the grammy.' buzz: 'oh, you're the guys that got the grammy." maynard: 'yes, we got the grammy. lower your eyes.' "stranglehold" (w/ buzz of the melvins) maynard did a little strip tease out of his suit - climbed into a duffel bag, got carried around for a little while and then got out "demon cleaner" (w/ another bass player, didn't catch the name) "pushit" (a slow version of) "third eye" maynard: 'let's see - hey hey hey hey....." "nema" -encore- "jerk-off" - 'maybe it takes longer to fuck a total asshole' 'i should play god and fuck you myself' can't wait till ozzfest...

Review written by: C|-|/-\R|_EY (Tragicloss@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 19:11:05 The march 29th T O O L show at RIMAC was the first show of T O O L, I have ever witnessed. It was immaculate. Beautiful in ways I can not even begin to describe. The raw emotional power of maynard's vocals sent me into a different world of disgust, angst, energy, anger, and loneliness. I can honestly say that I gained personal insight from this exhibition of trust and sickness. I was located on the floor up near the front by Adam. The average crowdgoer was an a little bit thrashed out college student, eit her drunk beyond all semblance of a human being or standing in front of their girlfriends so that the slam-dancing idiotic anti-semetic tattooed clowns who's mothers had taken a little bit too much acid while pregnant wouldn't hurt them. This in itself wa s a sheer act of bravery. The electricity surging throughout the crowd was enough to knock you on your ass and keep you down for a while. I'm 5'8" and let me tell you pain at a T O O L concert is extremly necsissary. Or at least if you are trying to stand in a sea of chaos which keeps swelling and smothering you only to spit you out either above the crowd, surfing or into a mosh pit full of nazi wannabes who have had a tad too much crystal-methamphetimine. I came out in the latter. Goddamn those stupidiot s. One of the friends I was standing with in the begining; being a 15 year old girl who is about 5'6" was sucked under and crushed. I heard her scream above the irridecsant pulse of the bass notes in the first song 46 & 2. Immeadiatly I tried to find her. Coming out again in a pit of arses I was pushed back under by a specific skin head. Whom I had the privellege of punching in the freshly shaven head as I came back up. The punch was awkward and lame as I had nearly no control over where my feet were. At this point T O O L was nearing the end of Cold & Ugly, a song which is rumoured to not be played as frequently as it should be. I found my way out of the crowd off to the left side of the stage where I found the colapsed body of my friend. I was extremly livid. I'm thouroughly irritated by the simple fact that there are a surplus population of assholes in this world. Many of which had tickets to see T O O L that night. Immeadiatly a security guard came over to us and helped me carry her to the gate. Ever y time we would stand her up she would fall again. So a medical pro came out and took her away to the depths behind the stage with another one of my friends. This sucked a dick ridden with pus like discharge. I stood on the side in front of the bleachers with a friend while watching for the others return and Maynard exploding on the stage durring Part of Me. After that they did a nice rendition of Sober, although it's a little commercialized. The next two songs were songs I have never heard before. I did hear that one was a cover of a Ted Nugent song called Stranglehold. During these different songs I started to get back into the crowd but got my left foot stomped on by some durranged candidate for a labotomy. So I left the crowd and climbed up the fence to get to the bleachers. This is when they began to play Pushit. This song tore my soul out. I couldn't hold back tears. It was a very emotion filled version I didn't know was possible of being played so well. I just sat there and bawled as I expelled the lyrics from my face. Third Eye came next and it ruled. There was a keyboard player for this song and I don't recall exactly who it was. At that point my friend came back from backstage and sat near the bleachers watching the last song. Jerk Off. I thrust myself back into the crowd and slowly made my way up to the very front to meet a friend and see the final moments of the tremendous concert. This experiance cemented my infatuation with T O O L and left me dazed and practically deaf, but with more insigh t and vitriol than I have ever felt before.

Review written by: Kanoa Connors (kanoa21@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 18:28:41 There are just no words to explain the feeling that Tool brings to one. Having the music running through your veins is such a overwhelming feeling. Watching Maynard convulsing across stage, was extremely pleasure-some. However I think he was teasing us by wearing that costume. It wasn't until he took off the costume that Maynard came into full effect. The sound was great, the crowd was raging, and the aura was just right. Until next time...KC

Review written by: tilly (stillerson@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 17:33:26 First of all I just want to say that the melvins do FUCKING suck I dont care if they are one of tools favorite bands. And as far as tools set it was great, but definately not there best show. It seemed as if it was just kind of a fuckaround end of the tou r show. The opening clip of the talking pussy was cool . Im disapointed that they didnt play eulogy or h or intolerance or prison sex ,and they played three songs off of opiate which is a great album but does not even compare to the other two. Either way I still love tool and I will continue to see them when ever they come around .

Review written by: Sneezer (ophil3@uclink4.berkeley.edu) Review posted on: 03/30/98 16:09:25 Quick Note: Sneezer would like to apologize for stating that "No Quarter" was played at the show. Seeing as how the aforementioned Sneezer doesn't know "No Quarter" from "Mmmmbop" (well...not quite that bad), he assumed that the unrecognized cover song was the Zeppelin tune, as that was the only song he knew Tool to be covering currently. So don't accuse "everyone" of thinking it was Zeppelin; it was merely an underedumacated Sneez.

Review written by: OGT Fan (bwigley@ucsd.edu) Review posted on: 03/30/98 16:00:15 Well 6th time seeing tool, 3rd time this year. Not dissapointed. I go to UCSD to its always cool to have my favortite band play on my campus... especially for the 2nd time in a year and 2 weeks. The Melvins don't "suck" so to speak, but I could do without them. The Tool set was awesome (dont remmeber it offhand) but it did leave me wanting more. They played 3 songs from opiate which is cool, but I think they really skipped most oif the best material from Undertown (No 4 degress, Undertow, or Prison sex) They did mangage to play Sober, which is the one song I would not have missed, its a great song, but who hasnt heard it a zillion times? About the length, it was just under and hour and a half, I really wish they woulda played a little more, the show was over before 11pm, i think they coulda played more. At shows like Lolapalooza and this sumemrs Ozzfest they are not going to even have the option of playing as long as they want, but on this small mini tours they can play until the venue kicks em out if they wanted. They did not play Stinkfist, H, or Hooker with a Penis... I wanted to hear Hooker with a Penis cuz it rulez.. but I guess I will live.. they played a lot of material which I dont expect to hear on Ozzfest this summer (track 11 and 15 on Aenima) What is it with Nazi's being Tool fans though? There was a gourp of maybe 5-10 guys that I think I see at every southern CA TOOL show they are tatooed up any semitic shit and just love to get violent.. oh well.. I was up at the front in from of ADam the whole time.. he has a great persona onstage.. he doesnt move much but you cant help but be in awe of him.. Maynard was helped out but Adam and Justib in the begining.. he was dressed as a tele-evangalist.. white wig.. baby blue suit.. holding a bible.. he said "Can you feel it!" and when everyone cheered he said "What is it?" Oh at one point he got stuffed into a duffle bag and was carried around stage by some huge oaf.. can someone try to give me their interpretation of that? ANyways I have said too much meaningless crap.. thanks for reading this far. -Brian

Review written by: RFelix (rfelix@earthlink.net) Review posted on: 03/30/98 14:00:54 Well, this was my first Tool show and I was thoroughly impressed. How could anybody think they played No Quarter. I was ready for them to play 10 more songs, so I was upset when they finished so abruptly. The crowd looked insane from the stands in the back, and I'm glad I stayed there. The sound was awesome but an hour and a half just don't cut it. Not bad for my first show, and definitely not my last.

Review written by: Milk (QRYCHE3@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 13:05:49 Disappointed again. What has happened to the energy, the intensity, the anger? The band was very obviously not into the show. The same suit. The same hair. The same lines. It looks as though boredom has set in; and when the band isn't into what they're doing, neither is the audience... And to those idiot drunken beefhead Marine dickheads: Do us all a favor and go away- forever.

Review written by: jk (JULIENQ@AOL.COM) Review posted on: 03/30/98 05:09:45 ATTENTION: IF YOU WANT TO READ ANYTHING ABOUT THE PIT, SKIP THIS REVIEW Well, what can I say. Seventh time I've seen them and they never cease to amaze me. Definitely worth the 2 and a half hours I drove each way to see them. The set was: 46&2 cold & ugly swamp song part of me sober stranglehold (ted nugent cover w/ buzz from the melvins) demon cleaner (kyuss cover w/ bass player from kyuss) pushit (new version) third eye nema jerk-off (encore) I was pretty happy with the sound. Better than the sound could ever possibly be at the Palladium, that's for sure. The older tunes, (cold & ugly, part of me), had some very subtle changes in rhythm and phrasing that really made them sound great. Not ov ertly different, just a bit more fresh. The keyboard player (whose name is actually Vince), that was questioned in a previous review, basically provided background noises. The newer version of pushit is amazing. For most of the song it is quite a bit s lower and at a lower dynamic level, which made the original faster, louder parts of the song climax that much more. Before the melvins, the guys from the hbo's "MR Show" came out and played under the moniker of "Tenacious D." They played for about 20 minutes and did a comedy/music type of thing with acoustic guitars. I thought they were actually pretty good. They di d the Flash Gordon theme song. Of course, everybody was yelling "get off the stage" and chanting "TOOL" "TOOL", which is really stupid if you ask me. Maynard came out between the first two acts and basically told everybody to shut up because TOOL brough t these acts here to play and provide even more entertainment than just TOOL themselves. Bravo! Anyway...Never mind the Melvins. I suppose if you're into that kinda' thing, then they were good. The cover songs were pretty cool... I don't know why everybody thinks they played "No Quarter." Maynard changed the lyrics a bit in Jerk-Off. Instead of "kill you myself", he said, "fuck you myself." Instead of "I'm tired of waiting", he said, "I'm tir ed of wanking", and made some cool masturbatory motions with his hand. And instead of "shoot you in your fuckin' head", he said, "butt fuck you up your fuckin' ass." I thought the show was terrific. Tool is always amazing live. A truly talented and ar tistic musical ensemble. My only problem with the show was the people there. I never understand how music with a message like TOOL's manages to draw a crowd of idiot, asshole, ignorant, mindless jock losers. While looking at the pitiful legions that lie before me, I thought of a fitting acronym for the RIMAC Arena, (where the sho w took place). RIMAC: Ridiculously Ignorant Meatheads Acting like Children. I apologize to anybody like me at the show. Somebody who truly appreciates and understands the music and message that TOOL delivers so masterfully. With that said... a great show.

Review written by: R. Maghami (magha001@mailhost1.csusm.edu) Review posted on: 03/30/98 04:07:53 Tool kicks my ass, but this wasn't their best. Kinda disappointing...

Review written by: Happily Buzzed (HRllns@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 04:06:45 Great Show!!! But short as everyone and their dog is saying. The song with Buzz was Ted Nugent's 'Stranglehold', not Zep's 'No Quarter' (which they did a coupla years ago in Tijuana). The eqoist, testoterone obsessed jocks in the pit have to go!!! Read some Terrence McKenna you puds, and you'll chill out and start to get the whole 'Third Eye' thing............

Review written by: Matt (mwheeler@ucsd.edu) Review posted on: 03/30/98 03:11:48 I just got back from the San Diego show at UCSD, my school. The show was completely amazing. My ears are still ringing. I have never experienced so many angst filled people in one place. Even the rage concert I went to this summer couldn't compare. Their set list was pretty cool except they didn't play eulogy or prison sex, which really had me bummed. They did play a good mix from all three albums though. Maynard came out dressed in a suit a tie complete with bible in hand. From what I have heard he was dressed different at the LA shows. I believe all the video clips were the same though. Basically the show seriously kicked ass.

Review written by: Ben (RoyDuPrix@aol.com) Review posted on: 03/30/98 02:44:19 well paint me purple and call me premature, that was the best damn show ive ever seen. and i dont know why you people are bitching about the melvins, they really arent that bad...cept for that last song, i felt like i was in a coma. i dont really remember what the set list was but i heard jerk off which i had never heard live and pushit so im happy. hey all you jocks and frat boys out there who feel the need to suddenly start singing (badly)the words to that tool song you herad on the radio that one time...SHUT UP! all youre doing is advertising your stupidity so be quiet and let the rest of us go back to guessing what you are. but other than that i was very pleased. i just stayed in the back on the stands, the floor is for tall guys and their girlfriends. well, im off to bed, hope the rest of you enjoyed it as much as i did.

Review written by: Sneezer + da bizomb + John + Grim45 (ophil3@uclink4.berkeley.edu, etc.) Review posted on: 03/30/98 02:14:01 A few questions linger in the air as we sit here and try to sum up the whole San Diego Tool Concert Experience: 1) Who the hell is "Kevin," the keyboard player?! and 2) Less than 2 hours? For the curious, here was the setlist: 1- 46 & 2 2- Swamp Song 3- Cold and Ugly 4- Part of Me 5- No Quarter (we think), with Buzz of The Melvins 6- Demon Cleaner, with a guest bassist from a band called Kyus? Da bizomb thinks his name may have been Jason Weiner... 7- Sober 8- Pushit, with really extended intro and strange opening 9- Third Eye 10- nema 11- Jerk Off So, they came on stage, and Maynard looked roughly like Cochise from the "Sabotage" video (maybe it was the lack of hair :)). Maynard stripped down to his typical concert attire of boxer shorts at some point, possibly during "Part of Me." Then he got in a big ass bag, and some dude from offstage carried him around. Maynard spoke less between songs that Sneezer has seen him previously, but had some interesting things to say. "Part of Me" was about "safe sex in the 90's." This probably goes with the masturbation interpretation of this song posted in the Opinion section. Later, he asked the audience, "shouldn't you be studying?" (for those who don't know, Rimac Arena is located on the UC San Diego campus). Weird audience idiosyncracy: Several people decided to break open those glowstick things and throw them in the air, raining phosphorescent goo down on many a concert-goer. One ended up flying in Danny's direction, which he deftly blocked with a handy towel. Clearly those quick hands are good for more than drumming... (Sneezer claims credit for this lame joke). So as for the two big questions... 1) A keyboard player, apparently named Kevin, appeared for Pushit and Third Eye. I'm rather interested in where this guy came from. He never had the melody, and appeared to have been making some random noises during these two numbers. 2) The show was irritatingly short, I thought. The quality was there, but we were kind of dissappointed that it was so short. So, um, we think that's about it. The music didn't take over and live for us or anything, but it was still a great show, even if not Tool's best (in Sneezer's humble opinion).

Review written by: Rob Nikzad (snikzad@ucsd.edu) Review posted on: 03/30/98 02:09:31 This show was the apex of my life...I expected incredible and received tenfold. What makes it even more incredible is that I got to meet Adam Jones, shook his hand. I can't even begin to give an accurate set list, but the highlights were a very slow version of Pushit with an incredible climax and raging finale, and a much enthusiastic (on the bands and the crowds part) Aenema. This is when my body just stopped functioning. The music took control and started living for me...wow.