Review written by: KLAE (TOOLIMP@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/20/98 20:41:53 I saw Tool in Great Woods and it was..well..GREAT! Ive been a Tool fan since 95 but i had never seen them live. This show was a great first for me. I just wish it was longer. i was in the 5th row center. TOOL had the best show by far. the black light eff ects and the screen in the back were very entertaining. even someone who didnt like Tool would have loved the show .Danny's drum set was a sight in it's self the gong and the seemingly hundreds of cymbal's and drums were amazing they really showed Danny's talent. Maynard's paint was an addition it made him look mysterious. For me just seeing Maynard on stage was enough to put me in shock. But how the paint made his dark eyes stand out. I know i am probably dreaming but for about a minute of Sober it looke d like maynard was staring at me. I know he probably wasnt but i can hope. It was amazing to see a band that changed my veiws on so much, only 5 rows ahead of me. In my opinion this was a great show
Review written by: Meganne (meganne9@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/15/98 16:54:23 This was my third time seeing tool. I love them, and I can't see how anyone can say it was a bad show. The only think i didn't like was in the middle of H, all the guys were turning around staring at all the girls tits, I really didn't think that was nec cesary. I was very happy when they played Jerk - Off, because i have never seen them play it live yet, and now i have. Maynard always has a way to make you watch, by his movements. He gets so into his music, its great. To be honest with you, the only reason i went to ozzfest was to see tool, and thats the only band i watched. Tool is definalty worth going to see, at any cost.
Review written by: Alex (xauw@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/15/98 16:48:38 I just need to say that last Tuesday was the best large venue concert of my entire life. It was my first time seeing Tool live, and it was amazing. They played all of my favorite songs except Third Eye (time restraints), 4 degrees, Opiate, and jimmy. They ended with a slightly altered version of Jerk-Off, with a great guitar solo at the end. They did start Third Eye, the bass drum part at the beginning, but it turned into Sober after about 10 seconds. I wish I had gone to the Maine show as well, but definately not instead. A lot of reviews of the Maine show mention them being surprised about them playing Third Eye, but two of my friends have seen tool twice, and Tool played Third Eye both times. I was knd of surprised they didn't Now to the other bands: I got there about 12:15 and the Melvins were already half way through, and I didn't listen to them much because I was meeting up with my friends, and they didn't seem that good. I don't know. Kilgore wasn't that good, but the bassist was great. Ultraspank were good; they sounded kind of like Fear Factory. System of a Down were great, but I left early to get a good spot for Sevendust. Sevendust came on 10 minutes early, and rocked much more that had when I saw them at the Palladium in Worcestor. I missed Snot, but I had a great spot for Coal Chamber, who really good, and played a new song. After Coal Chamber I raced over to the second stage to catch an awesome set from Incubus. After that I didn't see any other second stage bands. I ate a cold $5 cheeseburger during Soulfly then sat and waited for Limp Bizkit. Bizkit would have been great if I hadn't been in a spot with such crappy sound, but they still rocked and had a huge toilet that Ginger Spice and one of the Hanson's got flushed in. They weren't as good as they were when I saw them with Sevendust; they didn't play "Jump Around" by House of Pain or "Wicked" by Ice Cube. After Bizkit me and my friends got stuff signed by Incubus, and took until 7:25 to do it so when we got up there 30 minutes before Tool went on, it was almost packed. But we got an OK spot, but often it was impossible to concentrate on the band with all the crowd surfers, etc... After tool, we headed to the back to relax for a few hours during Ozzy. The video at the begining was cool, the band were great and it was amazing that Ozzy is still alive after influencing 3 generations of musicians, but it was disapointing to hear only two Sabbath songs. Alex
Review written by: Mizeree X (xnls@mediaone.net) Review posted on: 07/14/98 17:52:40 I had seen Tool at Fitchburg and at Lollapalooza, so I wasn't entirely new to the Tool experience. However, I was on the lawn & had to scramble for a good view for the hour before Tool began. But when they did, it was all worth it. It was not as good as the Fitchburg show (because that show was longer and filled with Tool-only fans). But I was delighted to hear some older tunes on the setlist. Ever since buying Opiate, I had wanted to hear Jerk-off live. When they kicked into it at the end, I had shivers running up my spine. It was amazing! There are other postings with a setlist & stuff, so I thought I'd make it brief & just give my opnion on the show. I await the next Tool experience.
Review written by: J Pinky (idagooch@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/14/98 01:37:34 I used to really really like Tool. But now i don't know. I saw them at Ozzfest on the seventh, and because of them I will never be able to experience and love another live show ever again, because I have seen tool live. Basically everything else fails in comparasion. Damn you tool, though they played only for 50 minutes, they were the greatest thing i have ever seen on stage. though I will readily admit i have not been to very many shows, tool's 50 minute performance blew everything else i have ever seen away. Damn you tool. Just watching Maynard sing what i think is one of the greatest of the Tool songs, albeit probably the most popular (ie most overplayed) Tool song on the radio, and maybe in my opinion one of the greatest songs of all time, Aenima, was worth the entire ticket alone. There was something about it that stirred up all my emotions. This is ten times as impressive considering the fact, i'm far from one of those emotional people, who by hearing a song, just sit and cry or soemthing. As for the rest of ozzfest it was pretty decent. I really thought Sevendust did a decent job, and looked good performing in front of a stadium crowd. It was just wierd seeing an impressive crowd, especially for a second main stage band, getting into them, after watching them open at a club show only a year ago. Limp Bizkit despite from what i heard of a lot of people, in my opinion was actually really good, and they just fell victim to a crowd that had heard, what i thought was the sleeper of the day, Soulfly or shall we say a new Sepultura just before them, and was worn out by the power of Soulfly. Soulfly just blew everything else away, of course except for Tool. As awesome as Soulfly was, Coal Chamber was, and it pains me to say this because they are SOOOO good playing the club circut and are just sooo good in general, and Rayna the bass player from Coal Chamber is my goddess and i want to bear her children, SUCKED. I don't know if this was due to a crummy sound system and sound check or what, but they just didn't sound right. The drums were to loud,something was wrong with the guitar and you couldn't hear Dez at all. Oh well, that's life. It's ok though, everyone's gotta bad show, and Coal Chamber is still awesome. As for the king himself, I admit i'm not an ozzy fan, but I have to admit, his mere stage presence just boggled me. This is the guy who started it all, kinda of a mythological figure to me. And there he is not a hundred yards from me, singing. It was just cool. But once again Tool, was just incredible. I seem to always have a band a week, soem band that is my favorite for a little while until...but now Tool has just dominated all, and will more than likely hold taht top spot as MY band for a long while. But once again because of them, i can never look at another live performance the same way again. Damn you tool, damn you. J Pinky.
Review written by: Alex (AC72078@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/13/98 10:20:47 I went to Ozz-Fest just to see Tool. It cost a lot of money, but I would have gladly paid double. I'm not rich, but I don't see there being a price I wouldn't pay to go see them when they come around again. Unfortunately, I've never been able to go to more than one of their shows a year. Sometimes I think that that is a good thing. A child that eats sweets all day doesn't appreciate the monthly trip to the candy store. If you get my point. I've never seen a stage presence like those guys. Maynard is obviously sooooo deep into the music that he drags everyone out of their seats and pulls them in. Adam is so calm that it seems all his energy is focused on his part, which is fucking amazing. Danny has to go nuts just to do what he does sooooo well and Justin is just a BEAST. During their set I felt like everyone in the place was singing along at the top of their lungs. Maybe this wasn't the case, but it felt great!! Hope to hear from you all, Alex
Review written by: Kain 9 er (tuatha-an@mailexcite.com) Review posted on: 07/13/98 02:10:37 just a short one for me i think, tool kicked ass, slightly annoyed at no hooker with a penis which the thursday crown got. but overall i think i got a better deal going to tusedays anyways. megadeath was ehhh., it was megadeath, not to compare or anything but next to metallica they suck performing or on records. ozzy was a little old guy who tried to jump up and down and look at tits without u sing his bifocals, and his songs were bad. he only played a few sabbath songs which was not what i wanted. i must thank tool ver graciously for eulogy. which is the best song i know by them, opiate reaches close but the mucis is so much more entrhalling in euology, enough rambling, any live metal is good enough for me!
Review written by: brian chicken (splatterpunk@mailexcite.com) Review posted on: 07/11/98 13:18:48 Amidst a cloud of pot smoke and a crowd of tit-rapists, i watched a mixed bag of ozzfest performers. Security guards in a golf cart combed the parking lots for beer, which they stored in an ice-cooled container to preserve the beer for their own purposes. Police on bikes also busted a few concert-goers, dumping the beer onto the dirt. I was trying to sell an extra ticket, but so were 20 other people, and no one was buying. So me and my two friends entered the gate at 1:45 to see Sevendust, with high hopes for the event. Sevendust started with their radio hit "Black" and overall were fair, at least they had some melody and an actual singer. Which is more than I can say for Coal Chamber and Soulfly. Limp Bizkit was entertaining and I like their sound, but the vocalist Fred apparently was losing his voice. On the second stage, Incubus was enjoyable; they have a guitar sound like 311, and I find them to have a better singer. Life of Agony has quality tunes, but I was irritated by the vocalist's constant requests to "get up!" and jump around. Second stage was closed out by old-timers Motorhead who have a honest metal sound. As for the three headliners: Megadeth rocked with new and old stuff; highlights were "Sweating Bullets", "Peace Sells...", and "Use the Man". Ozzy came out last of course. His songs are great, but on stage, it looked like geriatrics. Old Man Ozz hobbled around, shot water into the crowd with a high-pressure hose, and when he clapped his hands, it looked like his suit was too tight. Tool was the second-to-last band to play, and definitely the best. I was surprised by the choice of opener ("Part of Me") and closing song ("Jerk-Off"). I was in the pit on the lawn most of the time. I saw 3 or 4 helpless teenage girls get their shirts ripped off, and a few others voluntarily flashing the high-beams. The crowd seemed more interested in tits than Tool. Anyway, I actually got a better view of the stage when heads turned, so I'm not complaining. Most of the other reviews give a set list and describe what Maynard said so I won't go into that. The songs I enjoyed the most were "Crawl Away" and "Jerk-Off" but needless to say, everything sounded excellent.
Review written by: Mike (mgoth@sprynet.com) Review posted on: 07/09/98 20:33:08 Well, I've finally seen the band everyone claims to be the new face of modern metal, though it is a slightly older face. I expected the band to kill and I was not disappointed. HOWEVER, what they are doing isn't anything radically different. It just sounded that way when put up against the Pantera/Slayer/Black Sabbath mimics that are on Ozzfest this year. Take a dash of 1988 Metallica, a dash of Genesis, a dash of King Crimson and a really disturbed lead singer and bingo - you have TOOL. But, they were the highlights among a number of lowlights yesterday (Incubus?Limp Bizkit?LOA?System Of A Down?). But, give me "Rust In Peace" over any Tool song any day of the week....
Review written by: Bill M. (Banana3230@worldnet.att.net) Review posted on: 07/08/98 17:22:18 Last night was the first time ever that i got to see tool live, and i must say that i wasn't dissapointed at all. Me and my friend had lawn seats but we fought our way to the front to have a better view. The show was amazing, they opened with part of me, which i was so happy for because I love that song and i was hoping they would open with a song off of opiate. The band was tight as all hell, and played extremely well. They had this half circle screen in the back ground showing wierd images, and parts of vidoes, which was really cool. Maynard had his face painted all white, his stage presense is so cool, one minute he'll be calm then all of a sudden he'll spaz out all over the place. Unfortuenetly there were people there that deciced to mosh and crowd surf, which is fine with me when your listening to soulfly or limp bizkit, but with tool most people want to watch the show and don't wanna have to worry about wether some guy is going to fall on there head, most people got pissed at the crowd surfers and tossed them over the railing and on to the pavment. I don't wanna give to much away about the tool show, only because it's so much better when you don't know whats going to happen, becuase no matter what you are going to be surprised. The rest of the ozzfest was pretty good as well, soulfly, limp bizkit, sevendust and life of agony all put on a pretty good show. Ozzy is the man right before he got on stage the played a movie on the screens of ozzy making fun of differet bands and movies, like titanic and hanson, very very funny. Well thats it.
Review written by: James K (psychoholic49@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 14:31:21 TooL kicked my ass at Great Woods last night. Although not the only reason I went, they was the biggest. I had never seen them live before. Anyway, they opened with Part of Me, which was totally unexpected. It rocked. They continued with 46&2, which was d ifferent but equally mesmerizing. I can't remember the order of the rest of the setlist, but it included Sober, H, Eulogy, Crawl Away, Aenema, and finished Jerk-off. A few notes: Crawl Away was insane. I didn't anticipate this song either, but it is one of my favorites, and it totally rocked. Also, I thought that, as is apparently traditional. they would close after Aenema, and my friend and I were screaming 'Jerk-Off!', 'cause it's my favorite song. And, by an act of god, they played it. It had a strang e instrumental in the middle, before 'if consequences dictate...', which was cool. They also added a guitar solo at the end, which was AWESOME. I mean, it wasn't the most impressive guitar solo of the night (Joe Holmes won that award during Ozzy's set), b ut it was moving and sounded cool in context with the song. One thing that lessened my enjoyment of the show was the moshing. I don't mind mosh pits in the right context - Limp Bizkit's set was enhanced by it. However, Tool is not moshing music. Actually, it can be, but you'd have to be a moron to choose to mosh over watching Maynard and taking in the music. I was on the lawn, and I could see the stage about half the time. Maynard was blocked by a bigass pillar, so I couldn;t see him most of the time. Any way, I had to watch behing me for crowd surfers, one of whom landed on my head, which pissed me off. Yeah, I would have enjoyed it more in the seats, but the show was amazing, every note was perfect (both insstruments and Maynard's voice), I sang along to every song at the top of my lungs, and I am going to see them again next time they come to Boston (unfortunately, I can't make either the Tool show tonight or the Ozzfest tomorrow).
Review written by: Dave Nailling (Fett81@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 12:08:16 To all those people who noticed a strange "problem" with the timing in "H.," I have a thought fo you. The more I think about it, this "problem" was intentional. If you think about it, Maynard's singing of the lyrics a little behind the beat so undse pretty cool. I don't know, maybe I'm just a moron. -Dave
Review written by: Dan Grelle (grelled@merrimack.edu) Review posted on: 07/08/98 11:36:32 Last night was an experience I will never forget. I finally got to see my favorite band perform live, and I am still amazed at how good they were. Throughout the day I had been watching bands who delivered a very high powered groove. Although they sounded good they really didn't impresss me that much. However at about 5 of 8 eastern time my jaw hit the floor while my body filled with arctic like chills as TOOL took the stage. They started of with Part of Me. They sounded so Powerful and very Melodic. I wa s lost in the music and couldn't believe the sound of Maynards Voice. Danny Careys drums deconstructed the Great Woods venue as the sounds of his Toms, Bass, and Snare drums ripped through the concrete pillars that held up the Canopy. Chancellor's Bass ri pped my head off as he began Sober. The band's tone was superb, and the mix was perfect. As expected Maynard displayed an amazing ability hitting notes higher and longer than any musical instrument could ever hit. For those who were there and did notice t he timing conflict in 46/2 I commend you for your perception. Hey, if you ask me TOOL could have fucked up the timing in every song and still blew all of the other performers out of the venue. When it comes down to it, TOOL is and will always be the only band that can make me feel the way I did last night. I think that anyone who likes music should experience TOOL live. It's not just about the music at the shows anymore, it's about having an emotional, and religious experience. TOOL is beginning to define a new style of music. I ike to call it Melodic Metal. So I am also going to Lewiston, Maine and I will have another review tomorrow. Another thing, I have to thank my very close friend Evan West for bringing me to the show last night and to the one tonig ht in Maine, and the second "TOOLFEST 98" Thanks Evan. TOOL will change your LIFE! Trust Me. . . . The set list was : 1) Part of Me 2) 46 & 2 3) Crawl Away 4) H 5) Sober 6) Eulogy 7) Anema 8) Jerk Off
Review written by: Paul Campbell (PaulC880@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 11:35:38 Well let me start off by saying that I would have enjoyed the entire Ozzfest much more if I were siting in the seats. But besides that, Tool was the highlight of the entire night. They left me so amazed, that I left Ozzfest almost immediately following their performance (staying for one or two Ozzy songs). I have never seen Tool live, but I own some videos, and this performance blew them all away. There were more Tool fans in the audiance then any other band. When they took the stage, the entire lawn and seats were completely filled, which they hadn't been for other bands including Megadeth. The opened with "Part of Me" which was a big shocker. I thought that they would open with either "Third Eye" or "Prison Sex", but it was a great choice. Mayna rd switched up some lyrics at the end of "Part of Me" which he also did in "Aenema". There was some timing problems in "H" but they fixed that pretty fast. Other songs include "46 and two" which was incredible, even though it is played non-stop here in Boston, "Sober" which everybody sang along to, "Crawl Away", "Eulogy", and they ended with "Jerk Off" which was the best song of the night. They had a little instrumental part in "Jerk Off" right before the part where Maynard sings "If consiquences dicta te....". It sounded as though they had cut the power and started them back up again, which made it sound incredibly cool. If you can see Tool at one of their non-Ozz dates I would suggest it bacause at Ozzfest they are only on for an hour.
Review written by: Colin Campbell (qlipoth@telplus.net) Review posted on: 07/08/98 10:41:52 My first comment will be applause over the band's choice to perform a good deal of their old stuff, sampling with relative equity from all three releases. In last year's Lollapalooza tour, they chose to do do mostly their new material since it was their first tour since its release - at least the first that came my way. The light show was not nearly as elaborate, which was a little bit of a disappointment, but it certainly did not /detract/ from the show in any way. I was amused to find that they continue their use of arcanum with the sets, hanging a plate with occult symbols on it. (One of these was an angelic/demonic seal which I have yet to be able to hunt down, though it looks quite familiar. If I find it, I wil be sure to post. The main seal, which was green, I am not familiar with and may have been fabricated.) I am also seeing them in Lewiston, ME and shall post the notes there as appropriate.
Review written by: dave from Johnny Wishbone (draymond@ingallsboston.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 09:50:40 By early evening I began to have the sneaking suspicion that metal/ heavy music is dying a slow death, sinking from a lack of creativity and the proponderance of a "hey, let's groove like Pantera and Korn" mentality among the artists. Then Tool took the stage, and my head was torn off. I've been a big Tool fan for quite a while and though I'd never seen the band before, I had some idea of what to expect from the bootleg videos and tapes I've seen/heard (thanks Ev!); they totally blew away the other acts, and played an 8 (or 9) song set that left me speechless. Maynard's voice was perfect, especially on "Eulogy" and "Sober", which seemed to elicit the biggest reaction from the crowd, and the band was extremely tight, except for a tiny timing fault on "46 and 2", which they were quick to correct. I was disappointed they didn't play "Stranglehold", which I've yet to hear them cover, but they singlehandedly saved Ozzfest from becoming a rather boring show, and I can't wait to see them again. From my vantage point, I could see who I thought was Dave Mustaine watching their set from the side of the stage, and I half expected to see tears well up in his eyes, as if recognizing that because of Tool metal is evolving, and some groups are being left behind...
Review written by: Corey (cdd26jlh@mailexcite.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 08:49:24 WOW! This is the 3rd time I've seen TOOL and it was the best. Heres the set Part of Me Forty Six & 2 Crawl Away H. Sober Eulogy nema Jerk-Off Maynard Did that. "Okay I want you all to dig way down deep inside and say Yes" Then We did it in French, then in Spanish. Right before nema Maynard said something like "Can you feel that, its Ozzy getting ready back stage, it feels like something like an earthquake or meteor shower." Then Right before Jerk-Off he said "Take a deep breath, let it out. I want you to scream from the time we get off the stage until the time ozzy gets off. You should practice breathing now." Then Jerk-Off had that little bridge or whatever it was in the middle, it kicked ass. Corey
Review written by: Master Reviewer (Jenn24@prodigy.net) Review posted on: 07/08/98 08:46:12 The show ROCKED!!!!!! I was in the 1st row and Maynard was as great as ever. He spoke to the crowd a alot more than the other few times I've seen them. I had my camera and he posed for me about ten times. Once grabbing his package with one hand and giving the finger with his other. All in all the show rocked even though I was a little disapointed that they played all the songs I hear on the radio every day. Can't wait for Lewiston, ME tonight!!!!!!!
Review written by: Evan Michael West (Lhwest@mediaone.net) Review posted on: 07/08/98 02:34:20 There is no longer any need to call it Ozzfest'98. "Toolfest'98" is born. The highlight of the entire 11 hour day is and was Tool and I'm sure all of the other 15 bands will tell you the same exact thing. Seeing Tool is a religious experience. No longer will parents take their newborn children to be baptised, they will take them to a Tool show. The setlist was as follows: 1. Part of Me 2. Forty-Six and Two 3. Crawl Away 4. H. 5. Sober 6. Eulogy 7. Aenema 8. Jerk-Off "Part of Me" was a totally unexpected opener and "Forty-six and Two" was full of power and energy. A real treat even if the radio stations around Boston wear it out to shit! Next was "Crawl Away" whom he dedicated to "you, you, you, you, everyone..." "H." had some minor timing problems, but they were quickly recovered and that led us into the highlight(s) of the night. When the bass notes rang out for "Sober," I immediately thought this was going to be the same version that I've heard a gazillion times before, but the atmosphere of the song was so beautiful that it quickly changed my mind. The "I want...what I want..." was sung really loud and high, something I've never heard Maynard do before. Pure power and dynamics. "Eulogy" gave me chills, especially the immortal scream "Goodbye..." which he nailed. Next was "Aenema" where Danny Carey showed us why he is the best drummer around today. And finally, "Jerk-off" with a really cool extra jam section towards the middle that just destroyed. What more is there to say, you ask? I'll tell you. My friend Dan and I have the first headling show in Lewiston, Maine tomorrow and the second day of "Toolfest'98" on Thursday. Hopefully, they'll throw in "Pushit," "Jimmy," "No Quarter," "Stranglehold," and "Third Eye" but it doesn't matter what they play because either way, I'll be smiling. It should be incredible. Haajukeahblinki!!! Ev
Review written by: Steve Reddington (undertow@wans.net) Review posted on: 07/08/98 02:22:54 Do what ever you need to do to go see TOOL. Although their set was far too short, it was electric! The band seemed more comfortable with the material from Anima. Maynard wore his white-faced makeup, though his preacher outfit was missing. I have NEVER seen a finer set from any band at any time. The set list was a great mix from all 3 C.D.'s.... It was THE concert of a lifetime.....thanx OZZY!!!!
Review written by: Dave Nailling (Fett81@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/08/98 01:10:18 Well, all in all, Tool played a pretty damn good show. However, when compared to their apperance at Lolla a year ago, the Ozzfest show was not quite as good. I guess the fact that they could only use one video screen and the fact that they were limited to a small amount of stage space had something to do with that. Anyway, Maynard had his usual face paint on, but no boustier this time. Adam has cut his hair quite short, and Justin has grown his hair longer. I'm sure all of you care deeply about that . Anyway, there wasn't much in the way of cool makeup either. For instance, no body paint or flourescent paint was used. But, the lighting was incredible. Probably the best lit concert I've ever seen, it's only competition being Radiohead. As for the set list, it featured some old stuff. I don't remember it exactly, but I know they began with "Part of Me," and closed with "Jerk Off." "Jerk Off" was absolutley insane. They added a strange instrumental break towards the end of it which was mind blow ing. As for other non-nima tracks, "Sober" was played, and extremely well I might add. It always is. I know at least one more non-nima track was played, but it escapes me right now. I'm sure someone will have remembered it. As for nima, "H.," "For ty-six and 2," "Eulogy," and "nema" were played. The lighting on "nema" was unbelievable. A bunch of purple strobe lights flashed at the same rate as Danny's double bass work during the "Fuck L. Ron Hubbard..." section of the song. It has to be seen to be appreciated. All in all, it was a very cool show. However, I would have loved it if "Opiate," "Pushit," "4 Degrees," "jimmy," or "No Quarter" could have some how been squeezed into the set. Well, enough of my bitching, the show was incredible. T ry like hell to get tickets to any of the remaining shows everyone. -Dave