Review written by: Chino Strife (lleavit1@maine.rr.com)
Review posted on: 08/20/98 02:24:27

I first found out that Tool was coming to Maine at a Foo Fighters concert
in May. I walked in the door, and they were pasing out flyers for the Tool
show. You'd think they were passing out flyers for the Apocalypse when I
found out that I was finally gonna get the chance to see the best band on
the planet. Damn, that show was crescent fresh. Tool fuckin' left me
stupified. Maynard came out on stage with huge tittys ang a wig, and they
opened up with "Sweat." Everyone went fuckin' ballistic. We were all just
tearin' shit up. It was great. And I was just amazed, because it was my
first time seeing Tool, and I didn't know that it was humanly possible to
experience something that cool. I mean, this was like, better than SEX!!!


 



Review written by: William McKinnon (biggbill44@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 08/10/98 23:33:11

I would like to start by saying that the show in Lewiston was one of 
the greatest achievements I've ever been a part of.  I would also 
like to address those who seem to have all the answers and opinions 
of the people who attended the show.  I have read quite a few of 
these reviews and have noted that all seem to be highly devoted fans 
of TOOL's message and what their about but seem to have this stigma 
or type of phobia about people from Maine.  I am from Maine, I am 
not retarded or inbred, and I went to the show hoping to enjoy the 
full extent of the experience, NOT TO KICK OUT OF STATERS ASS'.  I 
stood off of the right side of the stage about ten feet within 
touching distance of Adam, (who was simply amazing to watch), and 
met some "Metal Dude" that was dinking a beer, had about three 
teeth, and kept on screeming incesantly for TOOL to appear.  Guess 
what folks, he was from Massachusettes.  The two buddies he was with 
were the first ones to start the pit and one of them pissed in a cup 
(which happened to slash a little on my leg) as soon as the lights 
went down.  How is that for disgusting retard type shit, and they 
weren't even from Maine.  I live more to the northern part of Maine 
in a town called Norridgewock and have a pretty good grasp of what 
inbred shit is and what exactly they do and how they work, I go to 
school and work with them every day.  Most of the kids at that show 
were of the hippie punk scene from Portland and out-of-state. Do not 
be fooled about Maine it is not a slobbering infestation of inscets 
and worms for human life forms.
Sometimes you have to live it to understand it, and it is obvious 
that of the people that right these reviews they are quite 
intelligent and have a wonderful feel of the music and what the band 
is trying to project but, they are down right ignorant as far as 
anything to do with Maine is concerned.  I will say that I to 
thought that the Central Maine Civic Center was a very shitty place 
to play and that quite a few of the people their were rough and 
brawlin' but, what are you going to do. With that genre of music you 
always get the metal dudes who just want to go and rock and beat the 
livin' beJesus out of some one and then you get the real fans who 
hear the pain and agony in Maynard's voice and the sheer power of 
the music which is enough to keep you stoned for week's.  I hope 
that TOOL does not read and digest these reviews only to never set 
up the revival tent again near Maine.  For 4-years I have been 
waiting to see them in concert and was more than ready to pay the 
$120 doallars to go to Mansfield and endure the Ozzy and Coal 
Chamber fans just to see one band.  When I heard they were coming to 
Lewiston I nearly blew my top.  My hope had come true.
Now for a review of the show.
Wow kids, if you missed it you missed out.  The good Reverand 
Maynord put on a helluva sermon and brought the choir with him 
including lights and the wrap-around screen with video show (which 
was most entertaining and I should give props to Adam since I would 
assume that he put it together).  They played an unbelievable mix of 
oldies but goodies and put some twists on the new favs.  Who liked 
the revamped PUSHIT?  Was that a treat or what(It was also the 
chance I was hoping for for the fucking metal-mosh-motherfuckers to 
stop beating the piss out of eachother and actually listen and 
figure out that theres more than whats at the surface of the 
music).  Sweat was amazing.  Very powerful very raw.  My personnel 
favorites were SWAMP SONG and 4 DEGREES.  Unbelievable though, every 
person that I talked to that ectually went to the show says the same 
thing, they sound almost exactlly on stage as they do on CD which is 
a damn rare thing.  I will diffinately go to another TOOL show in 
the coming years or for that matter as many as I possibly can, even 
if it means traveling all over this creation.  I would encourage 
anyone who likes the overall genre of music to go and hear the word, 
feel the power, and be a part of something bigger than oneself, go 
to a show.  Treat yourself to a revelation.






Review written by: qqqqq (don_genaro@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/29/98 16:11:22

   Tool is an amazing band and all of that blah blah blah
Maine as a place is equally amazing

solitude and inbreeding are both known to produce extremes

Tool has led me to a deeper reading of the works of Carl Jung
and Terence Mckenna

In Maine a man in a passing car blaring the sounds of 46&2
yells "hey faggot"

listening to music about a higher state of conciousness while 
shouting insults at pedestrians?  this is interesting

seeing Tool juxtaposed with that ignorant billigerant extreme that 
exists in Maine (I believe there is another, less conspicous, extreme 
existing in Maine as well)raises questions

what is behind those insults and all of the pushing and shoving?
if we are to believe in the idea of the collective unconcious and/or 
something that matters behind all of this then where does the 
ignorant redneck fit in?

"I was having a spiritual experience while those dumbasses were just 
there to beat people up" whine whine whine   are you simply "more 
evolved" than the beer swigging elbow throwing mosh pit people?
46&2 and christ conciousness is about everyone

why are these "rednecks" attracted to the music of Tool and yet 
seemingly deaf to the sounds? what does it all mean? There are a lot 
of questions

good show






Review written by: matt (jgoldin1@maine.rr.com)
Review posted on: 07/24/98 14:32:30

"hello maine!"

the set:

1. Sweat
2. Hush          

3. Forty-six and Two "while I was doing that last song, I saw you staring
at my tits"

4. Swamp Song       
5. Stinkfist        
6. Third Eye
7. Pushit - before a little chat about ghanging perspectives

I unfortunetly missed the following, but instead of boring you with a pety
story, I'll just say: damn it.

8. Sober (extended introduction)
9. Opiate - Flood
11. �nema






Review written by: shelley (ssquier@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu)
Review posted on: 07/22/98 07:59:32

What a totally unique venue!  This was my first visit to Maine and 
what a cool reason to be there!  Out of the eight Tool shows I've 
seen, this was the best!  The set list was great-I can't hear enough 
of this version of Pushit-very trippy!  Sweat is great to start with 
and I loved hearing Hush. This was a great week-three Tool shows in 
three days-WOW!! 






Review written by: Justin A. (Maryc@inc-net.com)
Review posted on: 07/21/98 23:34:44

Though I cant say I totally disagree with alot of the negative reviews
concerning the atmosphere at this show I think a few points need to be
made. First off, all the moshing and crowd surfing was to be expected and
if you werent expecting it then you should have grabbed a seat. Granted I
could have done without since I was there to see,enjoy and feel Tool just
like all the other fans there but as I told my girlfriend my plan was to
enjoy the show and if it wasnt happening up front (we were there hours
earlier and were right up front) then we were finding a seat. Well needle
s to say I was moshed away from her and pushed off to the side by a mass
of humanity going ga ga over the Melvins who I wasnt much impressed by
personally. Luckily I located my girlfriend later (after she was pulled
out of the front row before she collaps ed) and we got to watch the show
from some good seats. I thought the version of Pushit was incredible,
definately my highlight. After the show alot of people were upset about
the crowd and since I dont know there individual storys i cant comment. I
dont blame Lewiston, ME or anyone for the state the crowd was in. Everyone
does there own thing and as long as i can find a good seat and expierence
the band we know as Tool im a fuckin happy man. Unless they start crowd
surfing in the seats I got no beef.
           --Justin A.







Review written by: traviscommeau (deadman_12@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/21/98 05:18:45

The 'spiritual' release of the morons (generally speaking) at this 
show was anything but that.  Had it been, i would've known it.  
Having the completely brainless conversations that i did with a few 
of the kind patrons of this venue i can safely say that on my side 
of the stage, if there was any spirituality, it was being crushed 
with the rest of us.






Review written by: MaLiGanT (heath@ime.net)
Review posted on: 07/20/98 02:07:53

Ok Ive read alot of the other reviews for this concert and am alittle 
upset.  I went to this concert not too long ago and was amazed by 
Tools unreal show.  The people who are bitching and moaning bout the 
"red necks who didnt listen to the music and came to beat on people" 
is a load of shit.  The violence you saw was more of a spiritual 
release of energy that went with every lyric.  As the mood in the 
songs got harder, as what he said became more serious so did the 
mosh.  It wasnt just a barbaric beat down.  In the pits I was in it 
was all in good fun also.  People pulled people who fell back up so 
they dont get killed and shit.  Sure a few people there were pricks 
and pushing people up against walls and shit but dont judge the whole 
concert and the state of maine by a few morons.  And dont give us 
anymore shit about how your a pussy and couldnt handle the power of 
the music.  GREAT SHOW GOD DAMNIT!!






Review written by: Master Reviewer The Bassman (bsidebass@aol.com)
Review posted on: 07/14/98 07:42:55

After reading all of the previous reviews, I would just like to say 
that TOOL is the best band that has hit the spotlight in a long time. 
The only problem I had was getting to the Goddamn place.  Other than 
that, the actual show was awesome.  I loved the slow version of 
pushit.  As far as I am concerned, TOOL should consider coming back 
again.  Even if most of us Mainers are a bunch of hics, we still know 
good music.






Review written by: Jason (Cinopordyh@aol.com)
Review posted on: 07/14/98 00:08:44

What a great Two Days!!!! I saw Tool at Ozzfest on the 7th, and then 
made the trek from Boston to Maine on the 8th. What a time!! And the 
best part about the whole two days was that the sets were almost 
entirely different, so I think I saw a total of 16 different songs, 
which included the whole Opiate CD! Man what a show. 
I have read most of the reviews for this show, so Im not gonna do a 
set list, cause the ones posted are very accurate...I will say of 
the venue that, yeah, it looked like a WWII airplane hangar in the 
middle of nowhere!! I got there around 5ish ,and there were already 
plenty of people lined up. So i got food and beer(which I was able 
to buy with my MASS License with no problem, but like someone else 
said, my friend was unable to get cigarettes at Rite Aid..figure 
THAT one out! hes fucking 24 years old...)We went back to the lot, 
which was more crowded and there was a giant line to get in..Some 
girl offered me $100 for my ticket, told me she came all the way 
from NY with no ticket...We all laughed,thought that was kinda a 
dumb thing to do. Turns out,that girl's review is on here,and she 
got a ticket, and met maynard and all that stuff...So if you're 
reading this, you burnt me, thats for sure!!! Way to go, more power 
to ya! Anyways, with the line so long, and it being general 
admission and all...I said fuck it and we drank in the lot from 6 to 
8, and by then there was no line ,so we got right in, and saw most 
of the melvins, which were, um..interesting? shall I say...
Then I got up towards the front, proabably 10 feet or so away from 
the stage. 
I've seen Tool twice before, but not any general admission shows, so 
I didn't know what to expect for a pit. Let me just say that I found 
it to be somewhat stupid(the whole moshing thing). As many of you 
have said, I think a lot of the people there went just to beat on 
random people, and not for the meaning of the music.Okay, I do like 
to mosh sometimes, like at a Coal Chamber or Korn type of show, and 
thats cool...but For Tool it just did't seem right. I bet some of 
those same people who were there for the sole purpose of moshing and 
kicking the shit out of people grew tired and bored during 3rd eye 
and Pushit, cause they were slower and what not. Those two songs 
right there had me mezmorized...wow.....I never ever expected to 
hear 3rd Eye live...It was SO great. I just stood there watching 
Maynard's eeire movements and taking in all the flashing lights. It 
didnt even seem like a 15 minute song.And i loved that long slow 
version of Pushit.Very very good.
Every song was excellent ,and Maynard was humorous inbetween songs, 
and also serious. My favorite thing he said was right before Opiate, 
when he said,
"If you've learned anything from listening to our music(not that 
we're trying to teach, I dont want to be condescending) but I hope 
you've all learned to think for yourselves."
I thought that basically wrapped up what Tool is all about, and just 
shows that they are a very intelligent band with a lot to be learned 
from. 
Well, I could rave about the show forever, but I am sure Kabir 
wouldn't appreciate that...hehe...and Thanks Kabir for the great 
site and a place to put our reviews. --Jason(Cinopordyh@aol.com)

[No prob -- K]






Review written by: Master Reviewerpfloydthebarber@yahoo.com
                    (pfloydthebarber@yahoo.com)
Review posted on: 07/13/98 19:41:23

unlike most of the other reviwers i actualy live about 7 
min. from this uncultured, illiterate, hick infested town.
however the rednecks werent enough to keep away myself and many other 
tool fans. unfortunatly it did prevent us from completly enjoying the 
most exiting summer event ever to hit such a boring state.
we managed to sneak in a bad sounding recorder for our enjoyment 
only, not for sale purpouses. but it only taped a few songs.
anyway, I got there about 2.5 hours early and the lines were 
already fairly long. they let us in and my friend and I managed to 
get up in the front row for nearly the whole concert.
the securety guards were a bunch of horney middle aged pricks, who 
never stoped flirting w/the girls next to us.
the melvins did a great performence but were completly blown away by 
tool. (in my mind anyway) tool is by far the best band ive seen in 
concert. they did a wonderfull job and were the only band ive seen 
not come on for any encores. I could tell that they love what 
they do. it was great. I think i enjoyed swamp song the most.
its my favorate and I didnt think there was a chance of them playind 
it but they are full of suprises. two thumbs up.











Review written by: mark robinson (markr1@voicenet.com)
Review posted on: 07/13/98 00:54:44

wow. this was definitely a show of contrasts.

lewiston, maine had to be one of the worst towns i've ever seen in my 
life. its residents were even worse. it's sort of ironic that my 
friends and i decided to go to this show in particular to avoid the 
Ozzfest crowd. reading other reviews of this show reassures me that 
my opinions about this town are correct.

my friends and i waited for hours in line for this show and were the 
first ones in, but we were muscled out of our spots by other "fans" 
who decided that their strength and ability to elbow those in front 
of them into submission was a better reason to be in the front row. 
unfortunately, they succeeded, because i valued my own health and 
future over having a better view of one of my favorite bands. it's a 
shame, too, because these peoples' constant pushing and abuse were 
enough to distract me from a wonderful and interesting set by the 
Melvins. 

as the Melvins were setting up and the crowd was preparing for its 
rush against the barricade (the security's idea of security consisted 
of making everyone sit down about 2 feet from the barrier and then 
let everyone stand up and rush at once towards the front. obviously a 
security scheme devised by a lewiston resident), they played Tricky's 
Pre-Millenium Tension over the loudspeakers, which impressed me 
greatly. eventually, the rush occured and the Melvins' set started 
and the pushing and shoving (no pun intended) started. finally, i was 
pulled out and shortly after the Melvins' set ended and i found a 
decent seat on the right side (which would give me a great view of 
Maynard and Danny. unfortunately, my view of Justin and Adam was 
blocked by a set of monitors).

as Tool was setting up, they played a variety of excellent music, 
most notably Download's Base Metal and a few tracks off of Aphex 
Twin's Richard D. James Album. big bonus points. they also played a 
Laibach song, samples of William S. Burroughs and Timothy Leary, and 
some cool drone-based stuff (reminiscent of Coil's Time Machines). 
finally the lights went down and Tool came on. from my seat i could 
see the crowd of 4500 headbanging rednecks go wild, for the Metal 
they had come to see was about to begin. Tool did not dissapoint, 
opening with Sweat and Hush. the energy provided by the band was 
amazing, as was the testosterone provided by the crowd. i'm glad that 
i was pulled out when i was, because i literally would have been 
killed by the surge of the audience. next came Forty-Six & 2, which 
drove the knuckle-dragging crowd nuts. Stinkfist, in its amazing 
extended/remixed form, was next, and it evoked a similar reaction. 
then came Swamp Song (i may have mixed up the order of Stinkfist and 
this song, i can't really remember the exact order and i'm too lazy 
to go and check), another crowd pleaser. up next was Third Eye, which 
was started with a Timothy Leary sample instead of the usual Bill 
hicks intro. this rendition blew everyone, myself and the crowd 
alike, away. the reworked Pushit came next, which was probably the 
only thing capable of stopping the moshers in their tracks. everyone 
stood speechless and admired this new version (personally, i'm still 
partial to the original, but this version was still quite amazing). 
next was Sober, with the extended intro, this time with a synth line 
added into the usual jam. i really hope this is the direction that 
Tool takes in the future, because it sounded nearly perfect. this was 
followed by the Opiate/Flood combo, which Maynard prefaced with his 
usual individuality speech. ironically, during this song, two of the 
females in the audience decided it would be a cool thing to sit on 
the shoulders of their boyfrends and take off their tops. i felt like 
i was at a fucking guns n roses concert or something. anyway, Aenema 
was last, and tool seemed tired by the time this song rolled around. 
adam had guitar troubles and maynard missed a couple lines. 
regardless, the rendition was still amazing (and, of course, Rockin' 
enough to get the crowd riled up again) and the crowd left the venue 
satisfied.

it was great to see Tool live again, but it's a shame i had to endure 
it at this poor excuse for a venue. i encourage anyone that is 
thinking of travelling to lewiston to see a show in the future to 
decide against it, because the shittiness of the town, security and 
crowd make it so it *almost* isn't even worth it.

mark.






Review written by: Benjamin Barker Kraybill (brianmm@prolog.net)
Review posted on: 07/12/98 18:06:26

Well, my friends and I planned a week long road trip around seeing 
tool in Lewiston Maine last Wedsday.  We are from Lancaster PA (the 
amish) and on sunday (July 5) we headed off on our journey.  We went 
up to Boston and then visited Acadia National Prak in Maine before 
heading over to Lewiston on the 8th.  We got there really early 
(around 1 PM) got checked into the hotel and headed off to find the 
venue.  Lewiston Maine is probably one of the shittyest towns I have 
ever seen.  When we got there, there were a few people waiting 
around and getting there spots in line.  the place was by far the 
most run down venue I have ever seen.  I was worried that it would 
fall apart and cave in with us in it.  Right off the bat I saw a guy 
that I have seen at about every marilyn manson event that I have 
seen around the Philly area, which was weird.  Anyway, we ended up 
being the first people let into the arena and security showed 
everyone that they were completely incompetant by having us sit a 
yard or so in front of the barrier for about a half hour before the 
Melvins came on.  Then without warning, security jumps over the 
barrier as a signal to the crowd to get up and surge forward, 
meaning about a thousand people surging forward on to my buddies and 
I (which seems pretty dangerous to me).  For the most part, the 
crowd was reflected the state of the town-->  Shitty.  There were a 
few people that were there to enjoy Tool, but it was pretty evident 
that the only thing that they really wanted to see was heavy metal.  
They probably hadn't even thought about a possible message behind 
any of the songs ever; rather clinging to the idea that tool is 
metal and that is all that mattered to them.  There were a bunch of 
assholes who were trying to take our spots and the succeeded in 
taking them by trying to crush us until we gave in and had to be 
taken out or the crowd.  Even though it was obvious that there was 
harm intended by these "people", the "security" did nothing to stop 
them even though it was happening right in front of their eyes.  My 
friend mark was the first to be taken from the crowd during the 
Melvins (who I hadn't heard before, but I get the feeling that I 
would have enjoyed them a lot had it not been that I was completely 
preoccupied by the intense pain I was feeling).  Some asshole pinned 
him up against the barrier while trying to take his spot.  Then this 
big jock body builder who clearly was only getting joy out of 
showing off that he could move people out of his way and probably 
did not know a title to one of tools songs decided to move in on 
me.  I held my ground for a good 20 minutes before he basically 
pinned me into the barrier in a way such that I was losing 
circulation to my head and nearly lost consciousness.  Finally after 
I had begged the security to do something about the guy, they 
decided that the best way to handle it would be to remove me (at the 
time it was the right thing to do, but it shouldn't have gotten to 
the point where I was in serious danger).  this all took place 
during the period between the Melvins set and when tool came on.  
Security took me backstage to be checked out by a paramedic.  I sat 
there for about a half hour or so and actually got to watch tool 
coming on stage from back stage.   I heard Danny messing with his 
drum sticks and I saw Adam and Justin come on stage together.  
Maynard probably walked right in front of my eyes, but I didn't 
notice because he was wearing a wig and the lights were kind of low 
and after nearly being crushed, I wasn't too sharp.  I didn't bother 
them because I figured that with the intensity that they have on 
stage, they probably shouldn't be distracted beforehand.  Then I 
walked back into the arena area to see tools set.  We had come all 
the way from Pennsylvania to see this show, and their set was worth 
it.  They opened with Sweat and Hush.  They sounded great even 
though I generally don't like the songs from opiate anywhere near as 
much as those from the full length LPs.  they then moved into 46 & 2 
and then Stinkfist.  Both of these songs were crowd favorites as 
well as mine as far as short, intense songs go.  I even went down 
into the crowd in hopes of dancing and whatnot (against all good 
judgment, considering the state I was in), but I have to say that 
for some reason the crowd was oblivious to these songs because even 
as I moved into a prime mosh pit area the movement was little.  I 
mean, I generally am not the type to enjoy going into a big mosh 
pit, but it gives me the chance to move as I want to move because of 
the openness.  Well, anyway, this wasn't happenning.  Then they went 
into Swamp song (which was pretty well played, but I was trying to 
find a spot to sit at that point ). After those songs I believe they 
played Third Eye, Pushit (new version), and Sober (improvisationnal 
drum and guitar instrumental was stuck at the beginning)in that 
order.  WOW!  These songs were truly amazing.  by that time I had 
moved to the back of the area and sat down on to appreciate the rest 
of the concert.  i can't tell you how beautifully they played these 
three songs.  They then moved on to Opiate, Flood and then finished 
with �nema.  I had only seen Tool once before and this show was 
definately better.  This performance was actually probably the best 
performance of any kind that I have ever seen (and I have seen some 
great shows).  So aside from the unpleasant experiences that I had 
before they came on, it was great.
Oh and I forgot to add that my other friend Jason, who actually 
stayed up front longer than I had decided to be removed from the 
crowd, but when he got on the other side of the barrier, he started 
hitting one of the guys who had been an asshole to us and he thinks 
that he broke this guy's nose.  I am the type that generally hates 
violence of any kind, but for the first time in probably a few 
years, I was happy to hear about someone being hurt and also for the 
first time in a long time, I was fantasizing to myself of what I 
should have done to the guy who tried to crush me.  I guess that it 
was the first time in a long time that I came in contact with 
someone who was beyond reason and was trying to harm me.  And plus 
the fact that we had come all that way to see them (and hopefully 
this type of person at the OZZFEST dates) also added to this feeling 
of wishing harm on another person without feeling any sort of guilt 
for it at all.

that's all,
ben






Review written by: mikerovin (sirmike76@efortress,com)
Review posted on: 07/12/98 16:43:25

I think deadman12's review below really does an excellent job in 
summing up the lewsiton show.  It's really unfortunate that one has 
to continiously swing and flail his/her arms just to stay close 
enough to see.  I travelled hours on end to see one of the most 
influential bands in my life perform.  ONly to be constently pushed 
farther and farther away, because I won't participate in kicking 
someone's ass for fun, and because I dont want to be crushed by 
someone wanting to kick my ass for fun.   Nonetheless, TooL 
performed an awesome set.  Danny's drums sounded like cannon's and 
Maynard's pipes were fine tuned.  Adam and Justin performed superbly 
as well, as expected.  It was a memorable experience overall, one 
I'll never forget.  It boggles my brain though, that people who want 
to run and jump and punch, and not even watch the show end up in the 
front, and those who are there to enjoy the music and watch the show 
end up farther back.  Maybe someday I'll understand.






Review written by: Nathan Burns (ncburns@yahoo.com)
Review posted on: 07/11/98 14:32:00

This was my first time seeing Tool in concert and I had a great time.  I
wasn't impressed with the Melvins but they were able to tide me over until
Tool appeared. And it was awesome when they did.  The lights went out, and
the lead singer (name?) said "hello Maine" and then they erupted heavily
into their first song. 

It was pretty hot in the Central Maine Civic Center. All I could breathe
in was hot air but I really didn't mind. My shirt was soaked from mine and
other people's sweat which I had to wring out afterwards.  The lights were
a great addition and the video s creen was too. I would watch the bassist
as he played I could feel every note pound and thrash in my ribs. It was
very LOUD yet it sounded great.  20-ft. gaping holes would appear without
warning and mosh pits would start up. I got to within 5ft. of the s tage,
getting pushed off balance and up against people. There was plenty of
crowd surfing and people landing on the concrete. I got a few elbows in
the head and side, but I'm ok. And turning around one time, a topless girl
was crowd surfing so that wasn't
 a bad thing. ;)

Still, if you haven't seen Tool in action-do it.







Review written by: Colin Campbell (qlipoth@telplus.net)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 19:08:24

If you are looking for specifics on songs, et al, look below, for 
there is certainly enough there to satiate even the most enthusiastic 
of dullards who don't remember it in the first place.  It seemed like 
the show lasted forever, and this is certainly not a bad thing, save 
for the fact that I was damn near pressed into singularity by all the 
people trying to get to the front.  Brief comment: Melvins were 
actually very cool to listen to if you just let yourself do so and 
accepted the fact that TOOL /would/ come on eventually.  
Experimental.  Interesting.
This was the third time I had seen TOOL, and it was the longest set 
played by far.  I think they liked the lack of time restraints.  Good 
light show, but not as extensive as last year's Lollapalooza shows.  
The sigil which hung at OZZfest was present, further noting TOOL's 
interest in magick.  For those who care, the lettering around the 
sigil was Ph L Sh Ch in cursive Hebrew, read clockwise.  The word 
has roots in the word PhLSh which is to 'roll in the dust,' a form 
of abasement?  It enumerates to 418, a number closely related to the 
Aeon of Horus - the New Aeon announced in 1904. The yellow symbol is 
an angelic seal based upon the Rose Cross Lamen which denotes the 
word as written above.  It was by attempting to reconcile this sigil 
that I came upon the actual spelling.  (Their calligraphic Hebrew 
seems to be lacking.)  The green symbol in the middle, the more 
dominant of the two, I am uncertain of.  Basically, it seems to be a 
symbol to promote people to move toward the tenets of the New Aeon 
which holds fast to the concepts of free thought.  Maynard?  Adam?   
Justin? Danny?  Did I hit it close to the mark?  It would seem so, 
but these things by their nature are esoteric.
That's all I'll assault you with.  Oh, and for those of you putting 
down people from Maine... we could care less.  People are the same 
all over, whether you believe it or not.  Since when did you expect a 
gas attendant to have Ph.D.?  Given, Lewiston is NOT the jewel of the 
state by any means!
LUX.  NOX.  NULL.






Review written by: John McLean (jm1545@sjfc.edu)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 15:30:45

Well, where to begin?  First off I want to say that I feel privliged just
to have been able to see this astounding band in concert, even if I did
have to travel over 7 hours from my upstate New York home..  it was worth
it to be able to see Tool without the distractions of bands I didn't care
to see (ie Megadeath, Limp Bizkit, etc.)  As for the town, well, Lewiston
is actually nicer than most of Maine that i've seen, and driving through
what seemed like the great north woods to what looked like an old aircraft
hanger gave the show a sort of surreal feel...it was kinda cool.  Anyways,
after waiting in line for what seemed like forever, they finally let us in
where it seemed like we had to wait another hour for the Melvins to come
on.. Maynard did the honor of indroducing them, and told the crowd to
"open your hearts and your minds to the Melvins."  Much of the crowd
responded with shouts of "Get the fuck off the stage," "we want tool," and
many middle fingers.  However, there were a fair amount of people who gave
the Melvins a chance, and those who did heard a pretty good set, which I
really enjoyed.  The Melvins played songs that were not obvious, but
lingered (ten minute guitar cords morphing into grooves...i dug it)...and
had some thought-provoking lyrics from what I could hear.  The Melvins got
a round of applause from the fans who enjoyed them like me, and left the
stage after about 45 minutes.  Then the long wait began...it was another
hour until tool finally came out...it seemed that they were having trouble
with the lighting or something.  (I wanna take this opportunity to say
that tool really picked some killer pre-show cd's to play...Tricky and
Aphex Twin, two of my faves..the Aphex Twin in particutar sounded awesome
coming over the huge sound system)  Finally, the lights went down, and out
came Tool...Maynard was decked out in wind pants, black bra, white
facepaint, and shoulder length red hair...quite attrative i must say ;) 
Justin looked cool, no longer bald, and Adam looked the same, just like
one of the guys.  I coulden't see Danny from where I was, about 10 feet
from the stage on the left.  They opened up with a killer rendidtion of
Sweat, and followed it up with Hush...when Maynard yelled the opening FUCK
YOU! in Hush, the whole crowd, including me exploded.  A word about the
mosh pit here...the moshing at this concert was not nearly as bad as other
concerts i've recently been to, including when I saw tool last year at
Lolapalooza.  I was about 3 people deep away from the stage on the left,
and the people there knew when to go nuts, and when to stop and soak in
the music.  All in all, a very good crowd from what I saw.  Anyways, they
followed Hush with 46&2 and then Stinkfist, during which I almost dropped
of exhaustion from yelling the lyrics to every previous song at the top of
my lungs.  I am pretty sure they followed Stinkfist with Swamp Song, and
then Third Eye.  I had never seen this song before live, and i have to say
seeing it was one of the best experiences of my life!  The voice over
fading into noise at the beginning along with the pulsating lights, was, I
think, the closest I'll ever get to being high without using drugs ;) 
After that, Maynard went into a speech about the next song being about
changing perspectives, and how things dont look the same after you have
changed, and then started a slow, beautiful version of pushit.  As i
looked around the civic center to see everyone stopped in their tracks,
amazed by the beauty of the song, i thought that only tool could do
this...stop 5,000 or more moshers dead in their tracks with one song. 
Quite an amazing band. Next tool started playing ten minutes of what can
only be described as noise, that slowly morphed into sober...a great twist
on an old song.  Next Maynard explained that tool's purpose wasen't to
preach to anybody, but to get people to think for themselves....and
launched into opiate/flood.  They closed out the show with Aenima, which
rocked, as usual :)  Maynard left the stage by saying "come to ozzfest
tomorrow...we'll do new songs, i'll say new things, and i'll wear all
diffrent underwear." (Interesting that earlier in the show, the whole band
said that none of them would be going to ozzfest the next day!  I assumed
they showed up)  I walked out exhausted to the verge of passing out, but
euphoric.  I had just seen Tool, they played a killer set, every song was
infused with tons of energy.  Anyone who says that they were just going
through the motions is wrong, i think.  In fact, they seemed excited to be
doing their own show, without time constraints, and with a familiar
audience.  Btw, thanks Kabir for posting the dates on this site, cause
without you i wounden't have known about this show, and would have missed
out on one of the greatest experiences in my life. 






Review written by: T.J.F.T. (pigeonking2013@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 11:45:07

this was the first ever arena concert i have ever seen....and what a first
time it was.I will admit however that i am slightly sadened by this..i
wont feel nearly excited at any other big concert ( accept a tool
concert). i truly feel that no other band c an rival this. they played
with such emotion, intensity and raw feeling that (something i only found
lacking at the begining of the concert) i found myself lost in the music.
not only were they intense, but tight. anyone who questions the musical
ability
 of this band obviously has no musical backround of they're own ( forgive
my spelling ). this was truly something i can never forget. from the first
notes of sweat to the last of anema ( i forget the hot key ), it was
amazing. not only was the music sensa tional....but the lighting was
acceptionaly fitting. it seemed to gel with the beat of the music. take
for example in aenema at the "time to bring it down again part" the green
mlights flashig and swaing fit the drums almost to a T. Another example
was in
 pushit...when during the "staring down that hole again hands are on my
back agin" part the lights were crazy, red fast movinng ( very apropriate
i felt ) but then they stoped turned to the purest,brightest white
imaginable, maynard stood bolt up right in
 the traditional maynard stance and sang the rember i wil always love you
part. and this wasn't any normal pushit...it was the ' unplugged version.
when they started this song it was when it hit me. i remeber thinking omy
god this is tool and i'm 50 feet
 away from them" these thoughts combined with third eye ( one of the most
beatiful songfs ever)..the new pushit ( another scincerly beatiful song)
and the extenda sober as i call it had me on the verge of tears.  the band
was amzing the music was tight a nd thefeeling i got from them was one of
honesty. i felt this most prodominatly when before opiate ( which for once
got the reacion it deseved from the crowed ) maynard said that they aren't
trying to teach any thing but that if we did learn any thing fro m them he
hoped it was a positive thing for us. It was also very uplifiting for me
to see that a band like TOOL...who i consider to be very serious with a
very serious message.. have a sense of humour. for example ..just after
hush ( or "tell me waht you want what you reallyreally want " ) maynard
pointed out someone in the crowed and said " i 'd appreciate it if you'd
stop starring at my tits" or somthing along thoase lines.There was only
one thing that took away from my enjoyment of them night and that was the
crowd.. alot of people were ther not to see a great band at work but to
mosh and get stoned. i have one thing to say to thaose people... please
donm't waste valuble arena space. i felt like one of those little beetles
girls you see on t.v when i saw tool..i appreciated they're message and
they're music...as did the friend i was with...but a vastmajority of the
crowed were there becaus there was...and i quote " a rokin' concert in
town". get some respect assholes. i did find it very amusing when d uring
swamp song the pit went nuts....but what the assholes down there didn't
realize was that that song was aimed at them ( don't understand listen to
the lyrics ) these are the people maynard was talking about when prior to
the show's fianl song ( anem a ) he staed that alot of people veiw they're
lyrics as dark and synical, but those people are only looking at the
surface. i'm not about to fly into my interperitation of tool's
lyrics...but i consider them to be any thing but dark...and hardly
synical. open your mind and look deeper into what is being
said.anyway...amazing show.....great music...i could really see they
aren't a bunch of corpoate rock whores...but rather strongly belive in
what they talk about. if you scincerly like tool and aren't going
 to go to a showto mosh and smoke ( which i have no objection to , just
not at tool show ) i stronly recomend going to see a show if you
can...it's an experiance not to be missed...and i think you'll walk a way
with a better understanding of what they're about... i think i did.as for
how i felt..i can't hope to explain that...but if you're into tool as much
as i am...got o a show and i think you'll get a good idea of how i feel
now. farewell and goodnight. 






Review written by: Charles McKeen (ayuh69@aol.com)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 10:30:24


Moved from Texas to Maine in December of last year and wasn't sure I'd
ever see TOOL again. I've seen them 4 times previous. So here comes #5. 
First, all those who did not enjoy the trip to Maine, next time stay home.
Leave your money at the border and go away. Secondly, Lewiston is a shitty
town and even I'm not in a hurry to go back. The venue was very TOOL like
I thought. Hot, little ventilat ion, freaks everywhwere, that's the way
I've seen them the 4 times previous and hope they continue to play in such
places. For me it says TOOL. 

Now to the show.  NO BEER!  MELVINS MADE ME WISH THERE WAS BEER.  LONG
WAIT IN BETWEEN BANDS.  TOOL!!!!  Maynard came out and said hello to Maine
and then said there was a first time for everything. He was wearing a
black bra and a red wig. His face was painted white and he had on a pair
of running pants.  SWEAT Maynard said Tell me what to play and when to
play it.  HUSH Maynard picked an individual out of the audience and said
that he had caught this individual staring at his tits and that he thought
that it was not right to be doing so.  46&2 SWAMP SONG STINKFIST- during
this song there was an additional part that I had not heard before. Very
cool.  Maynard said that they were not there to preach, but he wanted to
say that if we got anything out of it, it's that we should think for
ourselves. Timothy Leary came on the big screen in back and was telling us
to depart from the norms of society and free our minds.....  THIRD EYE. 
Maynard said that this song will give us a new perspective on things. That
sometimes you have to look at somethings again for the first time. 
PUSHIT- it started out in an unplugged fashion. By the time they got to "
you put me somewhere I don't wanna be" Maynard was curled up in a ball at
the back of the stage. The song continues on it's original kick ass course
after that.  SOBER OPIATE AEMINA-which featured eye surgery on the screen
and led without break to FLOOD.  Maynard ended by asking us to go see them
at OzzFest. "We will be playing different songs and will say different
things. Promise." He dropped the mic on the stage and that was it.  Best
damn TOOL I've ever seen, except maybe Houston.  Hey KB.  I know I have
left some things out BUT........ 







Review written by: Dan Grelle (grelled@merrrimack.edu)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 08:53:24

Well I can officially say that I have been to the "Worst Fuckin Town
in the wirst fuckin state." Lewiston, ME a big dissapointment, TOOL,
The "greatest fuckin thing that ever happened to a shity town."

Now let's talk about the show. We showed up in Lewiston, and I
couldn't believe the sight of the venue. I mean I thought I was going 
to be square dancing. We get inside and it was the hottest fucking 
atmosphere I have ever been in. However, I got a good place to see  
the show. Since it was general admission, I stood infront of the 
sound board. I was about 50 ft from the stage. The opener was the 
Melvins. They really BLEW!!! All they were was a bunch of really
low end noise. They sounded like shit, and never to a break in 
between songs. It was like one long ear torturing song that never 
ended. After that awful, Mic-"Worst Fuckin Band Ever!!" the lights
came on and the waiting for Mic-"The Best Fuckin Band Ever!!"
began. 

During the wait something unfortunate for my personal suspense
happened. Since I was standing in front of the sound board, I 
caught a glimpse of the set list. It looked good. Here it is:

1) Sweat
2) Hush
3) 46/2
4) Stinkfist
5) Swamp Song
6) Sober
7) 3rd eye
8) Pushit
9) Aenema

To be honest with you, my memory sucks so what I just listed probably
isn't in correct order. Anyway the highlights of the night, Easy, 3rd eye
was the most unbelievable peice I have ever witnessed live. As soon as I
heard the whisping of the volume pedal at the beginning I knew I ws in for
it. Danny's drum tone filled the air as his heavy bass drum echoed
throughout the (The worlds shittiest arena) Chancellors Armageddon like
bass tone that followed Adam's Melodic guitar riff, nearly mangled my
whole existence. And of course previous to that the worlds scarriest sound
ever when JC lays down on his Digitech wammy pedal and creates a sound
known not to mankind. 3rd eye was fantastic, but the performance of the
night had to have been the slow version of PUSHIT.!  I was awestruck at
how beautiful and moving this sounded. It was nothing like I have ever
heard. That is why I love TOOL so much. They have the ability to really
lay down some heavy heavy stuff but then they turn around a play something
so light, melodic, and beautiful. They are the most diverse band around.

The rest of the show was nonetheless awesome. Hush was a plus,
and everything else was perfect. Maynard once again sounded
amazing. In my opinion Ihave TOOL as Mic-"The Best Fuckin Band
Ever"

Aaaaaahhh Fuck!!!

DPG









Review written by: traviscommeau (deadman_12@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/10/98 02:48:32

I don't even know.  Tool got me into music--sure, i listened to junk
before them, but they broke me through the firing wall and send me
screaming and writhing into something i will never fully comprehend.
something was different at lewiston though, actually a few things.
The set was beautiful, they played master-fully with minimal mishaps,
almost too good.  The screen behind them has evolved with them, and
that's great.  Hearing the 14min. Pushit was amazing, only the 
second time they've played it live, i feel amazingly privilaged.
to be able to hear flood, one of the few songs i haven't heard live,
i almost cried--during the extended sober as well.  The problem 
comes with the extreme amount of general disrespect at the venue.  I
want to say it's a sign of the times, but i don't want the times to 
do this.  In Fitchburg i had standing room during the melvins and 
even in the midst of the squeeze pit, i could breathe and hold my
own.  Not here. for whatever primitive reason the assholes that were
at this venue decided it was necessary to cut off all life support
by an amazingly tight pit.  Why can't people just enjoy the show?
I don't mean to say that i am weak about things either--a great many
of the big fuckers behind me and to the sides of me in the pit
that felt whatever phallic urge it is permeating their tiny little
brains had to be hoisted out of the pit as well.  I think i saw more
respect on a whole from the korn and Snoop dog fans at lollapalooza.
it really saddens me. Not only were these primates acting on some
unknown hormone, but most felt some sort of need to be real assholes
as well.  These aren't fans.  These are people who want to mosh. 
To them i say (if they can drag their knuckles to a computer screen)
go to your green day/korn/limp dick/metallica/megadeth shows.  But 
don't mess with something that has meaning. have some fucking 
respect. Not only this concert was this bad, at an Ani DiFranco 
concert in april at UNH the crowd was comletly appaling.  What can 
be done? The merchandise was a joke as well, which ironically, and
prehaps hypocritically irritates me.  Adam jones is a beautiful
artist, and maybe he doesn't have much time on his hands, but what
is the deal when a tool show supplies more melvins junk that tool
junk?  there was _one_ shirt and _three_ hats.  none of the posters,
no antenna balls, none of the old shirts--nothing.  And to top it
off, something that almost makes me wretch at the thought, they (not
necessarily Tool themselves) had the audacity to sell that simple
shirt, another unimpresive white T (the only good two being the 
medicine twins and opiate seclorum) with hardly striking art (sorry
adam, not that you care)for--get this-- 25$--what the hell is that?
On a more positive vein, adam and danny played beautifully.  I will
never be able to get enough of seeing the energy that the whole band
exhudes, but last night adam and danny were particular. nothing
flashy, just the show, just the music.  Justin--although looking 
completely awesome--looked like he was trying. He seemed to be
soaking in the crowd's reactions to his demonic (for lack of a
better word) churnings more than the beautiful noise he was making.
Maynard, one of the best lyricists of all time, revamped his lolla
suit (wig-bra-facepaint)and strutted around for the first half of
the show much like justin--seemingly more in tune with what he was
doing than what was being done to him (through the music that is)
which is exactly the opposite of his 'dancing' which he did 
surprisingly little of -- although the stage was incredibaly small.
I've played on bigger probably and i've never gotten paid for what
i do. Although MJK seemed to get into the music more near the end of
the show, it still felt strange. incredibaly sonically full, but
maybe something was lacking emotionaly at times.  They felt like
rock stars.  they've always vehemently denied being rock stars. some-
thing was wrong.  On the otherhand, much like most people at the
thoroughly amazing fitchburg show, there were a few respectful people
at the show, and 100% they made the show that much better.  knowing 
that people recognized my t.d.n. shirt, knowing that i could have an
intelligent conversation--humor and all-with someone i didn't even
know was great.  I can never thank tool enough for what they have 
done to my life.  they have performed most of the brunt work in 
making me who i am today--butsomething is changing.  maybe within 
the band, and maybe within the 'fan base'  but whatever is coming in 
the future is most certainly going to be a stinkfist situation.  i 
had a wonderful time, the band was amazing, but i also had a hideous
time-most certainly because of the crowd, but i'm not sure if the 
crowd had 100% to do with it. either way, next time you see Tool, 
try to have some fucking respect.  it doesn't take much. and try not
to write concert reviews _before_ you go to the concert. 
-sideshow






Review written by: Noel (TooLChickY@aol.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 17:50:45

Wow...  That is STill the first word I can think of when Describing a TOOL
show, No Matter how many others I have already Been to...  I drove up 6
hours or more from New York to See a "TOOL ONLY" concert, WITHOUT
TickEts... Maybe that is a Little bit NUTS... but I had to See it... I HAD
TO HEAR PUSHIT SLOW VERSion..  THat Song WAs MOre BEautiful LIVe than I
could HAVE EVER Imagined... The MP3's on this WEb site Do the Song No
jUstice...During the concert, Maynard did say such an important thing to
the crowd.. HE said, and i cant quote this word for word, but it was
something like:  Some people say our music has negative insinuations... I
just hope that if you get anything from this music, and I'm not telling
you what you should or shouldnt pick up, is that You have to learn to
Think for Yourself.  When Maynard said this, he almost was looking down at
the floor, and He was talking sincerely, and that just really touched me. 
I learn more about TOOL and what their music really is about by going to
Live Concerts and hearing Maynard's talk in between their songs then I
could EVER hope to learn by reading some Biography On the band..  The show
was very Spiritual for me.. This was my fourth Show but this show
definately got to me got in my head and got me going physically the most
out of them all... and that was just during the concert itself.. 
afterwards was an even more spiritual experience that i would like to
share with all of you as well I MEt MAynard.  Me and My BEST friend Stood
outside.. for any of you reading this that were there.. there's a side
Door on the LEFT if you ARE facing the Civic CEnter.. And the two tour
Buses were pulled up right along side the building... My friend and I
walked by cuz we were curious.. THen i see this bald head walking out of
the bus..  I was like NO WAY... I just Figured I wanted To see him so Bad
that I was SEeing THings in My HEAd but NOPE.. that was MAYnard..  HE took
some chick on the tour bus with him and The girl'rs friends were like
she's our ride.. blah blah..  so I talked to them for a bit and it was
obvious right then that my friend and I were NOT leaving without talking
to Maynard... So there were maybe 6 of us TOOL fans out there, the funny
part being that all of us were NOT From MAine but had to drive a LONG wAy
HOMe, But anyways.. we stood there in front of the two tour buses for an
hour or so... FINally, a security guard came out and handed me and my best
friend the TOOL Sticker that's white and has a Black Wrench on it..  The
guy goes "Maynard told me to give these to you"... I am very emotional and
am NEVRE calm, so I start flipping out, jumping up and down..  Its just so
hard for me to control myself, and there was NO WAY IN HELL that I Would
be able to control MYSelf WITh something to DO wiht TOOL.. so whatever, we
stick around.. WE get out our CD Cases and Pens and TIC STubs... and we
wait... and WHO COMES out of the bus BUT MAYnard.. At first he walks to
the other bus, But i was liike "MAYNard.. please come here"  all polite..
At this point he is wearing a gray T-shirt and a pair of pants.. I didnt
look at the shoes... HE is holding a beer and with that same hand holds up
his forefinger to me and tells me to "Yeah, hold on for just one minute".. 
AGain.. Noel drops to the ground and realizes that she cannot breathe..
LoL... so ANyways, I get up and he comes ove r to the handful of us.  We
crowd around him and he looks at all of us like we are nuts and the first
words out of his mouth are, "What the fuck is this?  What are you still
doing here?"...  My best friend and I were standing directly in front of
him.. ALL I Could SAY WAs "MAynard, thank you.  You dont know what your
music does to me"  I literally COULD NOT THINK of one fucking thing to say
to him.. its seriously the WORST feeling in your life.. later on i was
like I Should HAVE asked him this or that... but at the moment, its a
totally different story.... So someone asks him "WHat is 46n2 about""  I
ALMOST SMACKED THE KID upside his head... MAynard looked at him, rolled
his eyes and spat out saying "um, evolution"  I turned around to the kid
and was like "I could have fucking told you that, Dont WASTE your
questions."  HE had a marker and he signed my tic stub and The TOOL
sticker he had given to me before... HE was not a dick at ALLL not in the
LEAST.. I have heard people say that TOOL doesnt sign stuff anymore, that
they are rude in person, but that is really not the truth, atleast it
wasnt in my case last night..  So someone tells him, in other words, how
TOOl is doing such a great thing for Music nowadays and how much we
appreciate them.  TO this comment, Maynard looked up and was sincere when
he said "THank you, thank you very much."  Then anohter one asked him IF
EUlogy was about Christ.. I was so pissed that these people were there cuz
i was afriad Maynard would leave... Maynard just said "No".  Some guy we
had met while waiting for maynard held out his CD cover and asked Maynard
to sign it.. as Maynard was about to, he told the guy to "STop shaking" 
and he said back, "I'm trying not to"  it WAs the cutest thing.. So then
Maynard holds up the marker in front of all of us and asks us "AM i done
with this?"  My best friend asked him to sign her chest, but Maynard said
no right away, and the security guard standing right there said "Maynard
doesn't sign skin"  Maynard was actually pretty talkative, and funny
almost in a sarcastic, but not mean, way.  He shook all of our hands and
my best friend and i asked him for a hug, and he said "Sure."  When he
hugged me, he is only a little taller than me, not TALL at all, and he
pulled me into him a little so that our chests were touching (AHH)  and he
rubbed my back up and down with his hand.. It was probably one of the best
experiences in my life.. It wasnt like HUG and GO..  i Cant explain how
happy i felt if i tried to.. its just not possible to put into words how
great that hug felt to me.. He said goodbye to us and went back on the
tour bus.. A few left.. but it was definately not over by a long shot My
best friend and I, and two other guys who have been following TOOL during
all of the OZZFest shows so far, hung out and basically tailgated, waiting
for Maynard to come back out..  And he did, after a long time..  I had my
TOOL SLEep FOrever bootleg cd, and TOOL hat ready this time for him to
sign.. And he did... HE came out of the bus a while later and said.. "WHat
are you still doing here?"  WE just asked him nicely to come over again..
it was only four of us left I was offering him Twizzlers.. HE told me "No,
they're bad for you" as he rubbed his stomach... So he did come back over,
this time instead of being near his tour bus, he came over to our cars,
and he signed my hat and my cd case cover.. He signed my friend's
magazine, the official OZZFEST magazine.. he didnt even know he was in
it..He signed this one guy's cd case cover and the guy liked yelled in his
ear "WOo Hoo" and Maynard's face got so CUTE.. he liked looked over at me
and my friend and had this face on like "OOkkkk"  But, not mean, just
trying to make light of things almost..  then he finally said goodnite to
us For GOOD. he shook all of our hands once again and then he walked back
onto the bus.  of course we waited around till the buses left the parking
lot, but he never came back out again..  We caught glimpses of Adam and
Danny and Justin as well, but when we said Hi to them, they just waved
back or said nothing..  they obviously werent in a talking mood.  The two
guys that were waiting there with me and my best friend couldnt believe
how lucky we were that MAYnard came out to talk to us, and not even once
but twice.  As i always say, everything happens for a reason... 






Review written by: Habib (lmj@together.net)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 16:25:49

Well this was the second time i've seen Tool in concert and I must 
say that I liked this show better. The show started with me and my 
friends up front. I saw Maynard peak his head around the corner of 
the tv screens and I freaked out. Maynard and Buzz talked for about a 
min. while the other members of the melvins got ready. Then the man 
came out. A bunch of people up front screamed until maynard put his 
finger to his lips in a motion for silence. He said something like 
"Hello Maine." The crowd freaked out and again he motioned for 
silence. When the crowd became silent he said something like "There 
is one thing I can assure all of you. That is. In about an hour you 
will see Tool." Again the crowd cheers as he motions for silence. 
Then he said "But until then I would like all of you to open your 
hearts and minds to one hour with the Melvins." Once he was finished 
talking he quickly went backstage as the Melvins started their set. 
The Melvins I thought put on a pretty good show. Me being one of the 
few people there who actually likes the Melvins. I got a few strange 
looks when I got excited when they played "The Bit" (pretty cool 
song. No one probably has any idea what the hell i'm talking about 
but eh). When the Melvins were done it took a while for the tech. 
crew to get everything working right. Once tool came on though 
everyone screamed. The mosh pit started up before Tool even started 
playing, but hey, it was in maine. The entire show was awesome. I 
don't really remember the order too well except the first two songs 
sweat and hush. I did notice a screw up with the tech crew during the 
show. When maynard was making his lead up speech to aenema someone 
flashed the smokebox in the middle of his speech which kinda gave 
away what was coming next. I remember Adam Jones when he noticed it 
made a motion like to say "what the hell". Pushit fuckin' kicked ass. 
I wish that was the way they recorded it for the album. Pretty much 
everything was cool except for the time I spent on the floor. During 
the Melvins I decided I wanted to see Tool when they came on so I 
moved out of the floor area. On my way out I got kicked in the face 
by one of the thousands of crowds surfers. When the place stopped 
spinning I found some pretty damned good seats where I enjoyed 
watching and listening to Tool.

Habib

P.S. - Maine sucks.






Review written by: Master Reviewer (ChrisPITA@aol.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 16:07:04


Hello to all you Tool fans out there! I just saw Tool last night in my
home state of Maine. I'm serious when I say this, it was a religious
experience for me. HONESTLY. The message that Tool sends to their audience
touched every person that night. The sev en people I went with all said
that Tool touched them emotionally, spiritually, and PHYSICALLY. Their was
no room to move on the dance floor. One had no choice but to move with the
crowd. The Melvins opened for Tool, and quite honestly, their music was we
ll done, but they plain sucked. It was clearly a Tool crowd.  Tool came
out and rocked the place, then slowly but surely, lulled the crowd into a
trance. Maynard was clearly showing his pyscopath self this night,
convulsing, twisting and turning to the mu sic. The show gradually went
from slow, hypnotic beats and lyrics to grinding, churning chords that
only Tool can do. They ended the show with Aenimia, much to the delighjt
with the crowd. The only problem I had with the show was that there was no
encore and that they did not play euology. Other than that, an excellent
show. THE best show I have EVER seen in my life. If any of you fans out
there have a chance to see Tool live, I strongly suggest you check them
out. 






Review written by: px Stanley (pxreflex@empire.net)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 14:24:20

hmmm, ok.. minus my short term memory disorder, here's what i can recall
anout the whole ordeal...long ride...2 and something hours...weird town,
kinda spooky.. no ciggarettes for those without a maine issued i.d.(come
on, i know all of you little shit stored ahve the handbooks with every
state's i.d. in it) big fucking line to the doors, i guess we were a
little late, even we waited 45 minutes for the doors to open... if anyone
saw the polobra jot sign, or took it... i want it back!!!haha just
kidding..i just hope some people got to see it before it was burned or
mutilated or whatever... umm, managed to get rid of my extra
ticket..imagine that, they actually sold out... big thiing to happen in
maine i guess...  we managed to sneak in line with some other lake's
regioner's... inside.. boring wiat... soundcheck that took forever..
trying to find the poeople to avoid during the show..melvins finally come
on followed by manard.. ...we'll be on in an hour, blah but in the
meantime open your mind and your heart's to the melvins(don't wuote me on
that one..) hahah, yeah right.. maybe i hafta listen to one of their
albums to appreciate the whole melvin's experience..blahblahblah...many
flipped fingers at buzz, you suk, get off the stage..all that...they
finished up, and another hour plus wait...tool enters stage whatever, and
break into sweat...excellent opener, just the beginning of the no
breathing chest crushing bit... picked up some pointers for the song by
watching justin, which i may try to tab out and do away with all of the
wrong tabs..blash.. i won't even bother describing each song... just the
highlights, or low points... did anyone see that carrot top guy? my friend
and i got his shoe, i'm so sick of getting kicked in the head and pounced
on, so i just started violating the stupid fucks that were doing it... my
fucking neck still hurts..one big skinhead guy ended up on one of my other
friends, who was trying to protect his 5'5 girlfriend...who in return
started punching the guy..and the skin freaked out starting a fight with
the guy..so another friend restrained him, and there were 3 or 4 people
just blocking my friend and his girlfreind...and it was all a big fucking
mess..i don't know..i really dug that pushit version...and i liked the
opener to sober a lot more than in fitchburg last year, justing played
this time! umm, oh yeah, that girl in the suit, anyone see her? she was
doing some really fucked up dancing during enima, right in front of me and
a friend, we concluded that to much acid was ingested, and clapped our
asses off when the song was don, for the show she had preformed for
us...blahblahblah... i can't think of anything else worth while to write
about... oh yeah, we saw marylin manson!! hahaha..what a joke.. eyes with
the contacts..i contemplated buying a shirt, which was rather cool, but it
just wouldn't be the same with a hundred other people wearing the same
thing around my area...maybe another time, and for less than 25 bucks!
lots of bahhing for all the sheep as we left..damnit if i wasn't just
crucifying myself..hahaha.. cool show, i dug it alot more than fitchburg,
except for the asshole factor...need sleep...need sleep... 






Review written by: Homer Again (wslade61@maine.maine.edu)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 13:56:52

Well, as excited as I got, I still didn't shit my pants.  The setlist they
played was wonderful.  They sounded quite tight musically, as well.  I had
heard a boot of the dark and melodic PUSHIT, and when I heard them leading
in to that my heart melted.  It was so unreal.  Same thing with THIRD
EYE... it was unreal.  The funny thing is that there were so many people
there that didn't realize that TOOL is more than just music to get violent
to.  I was stuck between two moshpits, which is no big problem - I still
have all my limbs.  I know we were all there to have fun; but what gets me
is that the vast majority of people there didn't realize that it was
Maynard that came out to introduce the Melvins.  What an excellent show... 

-Homer







Review written by: Stardog (stardog@ultranet.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 13:11:15

Wow! Great show! But I'm not gonna talk about the concert, the others 
did great reviews already. I need to talk about this town, Lewiston. 
My friend and I drove up there from MA, and I mean, I've been to 
Maine before, but I had no idea how strange this place was! We got 
into town at about 5pm. As alway we stopped at the first gas 
station to get directions. The attendant, who took five minutes 
explaining that he was just released from the hospital and was "on 
medication", finally gave us a route that we decided to ignor due to 
his incestial appearance. Somehow, through all of the tripple and 
quad-decker housing we found ourselves outside an old abandoned 
warehouse where the concert goers had began to congregate. We then 
went up the street to a local corner market to get some food and I 
think that between the two employees they had about ten teeth. 
Numerous looks from all the locals made the whole experience freaky. 
Anyway the whole deal seemed like a strange documentary. Great place 
for a concert though. Makes it a total experience.






Review written by: Michael Brody (brody_1@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 12:57:54

Recently I attended a show of a band that has been close to my heart for a
long time, the band captures emotion and feelings like no other leaving
their music unsurpased in my mind.  Unfortunately, each Tool concert I go
to I have the misfortune of being stifiled by the ignorrence of people
around me most of which seemed like they're coming straight from the
OZZFEST stops.  Brandishing their Megadeth T's or Coal something or other,
Limp Dick or whatever and ruining my night. As the night progressed On a f
ew occasions I would ask one of these individuals If they had come to
"LISTEN" to the music and the response was I came here to see Tool and
mosh.  Obviously, they did not here the word "LISTEN" , "Oh, so you came
to HEAR the music get violent when gets h eavy", cause they certainly were
not moshing when the band played Within/Pushit.  If you want to hear music
on a primitive basis that's fine I am not going to shove my opinons down
your throut I just want to say there are 2 dates at OZZFEST is'nt that e
nough. Please, stay off my cloud that wraps up my cynical and bias review
of the fans, now on to the music.  Tool came out giving me the feeling
something had been changed andor rearranged, aside from Adam cutting his
hair Justin growing his out with hig hlights. The vibe was different,
don't get me wrong this band I will hold until the end, and keep in mind
opinions are like assholes everyone got one, but they seemed more like a
rock band than previous shows which sadened me.  Opening their set up with
a
 weird cut and paste version of Sweat and then gong into the ever angry
Hush.  After which Maynard points to some guy a couple of feet away from
me and says, " I could'nt help but notice as we played those two songs you
were staring at my tits" Maynard dr essed in a black bra with the silicone
fake tits and wearing a red wig and black boxer pants was quite the site
as usual.  This is were the order of the songs gets hairy for me, with me
getting beat up and squezzed against the fence I can't remember what came
next, so I'll just say what they played.  It was either 46 and 2 or
Stinkfist with the different bridge consruction, SwampSong and The
beautiful Within/Pushit, A sampled intro of a man talking about society
which was hard to hear led into Third Eye,
 the soothing long intro to Sober, Opiate/Flood which I think this is
where they carried over into Flood and Aenima were played, sorry my review
of the songs was'nt more in depth but it was pretty much the same except
for a few little things if you've se en them before, you know what mean on
how I described the songs.  It definitely did seem like a heavier show
than previous with their open splits and Justin leading in with a hevy
bass part, which was cool but like I said before the night was strange, fo
r me at least.  Please one last thing, during the concert Maynard said, "
If you get anything from us and our music, even though we are not the type
to force anything on you, if you learn anything it is to THINK FOR
YOURSELFS." Do me a favor people, the m ain word is think, think and
listen open your hearts and minds to the music and let surge through you
in apositive way not beating each other up like neandrathals maybe you'll
get something out of it maybe a little enlightenment.  That's all, take
care an d remember there are many way's of looking at things try looking
and LISTENING to TOOL differently please.  Mike







Review written by: Sara Leshin (sugardumpling@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 12:26:16

Ok, Lewiston was in the middle of nowhere, but that's what made it 
so god damned fun. It was in this small arena type place. And when I 
say small, I mean DAMN small. There was the floor, then the seats 
which were slanted, so it was like, everyone had a good view of the 
stage. As usual, the lead singer came out with a pair of black 
with red striped adidas pants, with a black bra, and a wig. It was 
some crazy shit. The concert itself was just so fucking awesome. I 
will never look at them the same. They played some awesome shit like 
Stinkfist and Sober, and I noticed they were doing alot of Undertow. 
I liked that alot. People were going fucking nuts on some of the 
songs, and that was when I was shoved into the metal grate that was 
protecting the sound board. That sucked dick, so I had to move like, 
10 feet back to stay away. They closed with Aenima, which was soo 
fucking cool. They built up the crowd soo much. If you weren't there, 
 you just won't understand how crazy everyone was going. They did not 
do an encore, which kinda sucked, but I don't think they were into 
that. What I liked also, was that he would talk to us, and it 
wouldn't sound all fake and superficial.. it would sound like a 
humanbeing with lots of knowhow. He was explaning to everyone how 
much people believed that his music was evil, and that it just wasn't 
true. He left me with a quote I'll never forget, "If you learn 
something from us, not that were trying to teach or anything, but if 
you  do learn anything, it's to think for yourself." And that was my 
FIRST Tool concert experience. Overall, IT FUCKING ROCKED!!!!






Review written by: kman (ksirois418@yahoo.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 09:13:27



WOW!

After a two hour ride up to Lewiston we pull up to what looked like 
an old abandon airport hanger that had been boarded up for ten years.
I was thinking what a nightmare.... untill we got in.  Once inside it 
only got worse WHAT A DUMP!  Just as we sat down the Melvins walked 
out with MJK right behind them.  As the Melvins strapped on thier 
gear MJK said something to the effect of "Hello Maine... In about an 
hour TOOL will be out here but for now here are the Melvins."  Half 
of the dipshits there didn't even Know who he was.  
After the Melvins were finished doing thier thing the stage crew 
seemed to be having some trouble with the lighting and the video 
screen which caused about a halfhour delay for Tool.  But damn, it 
was worth it!
Maynard came out in a shoulder length red wig, his white face and 
Tits a blazing!!! Some people around me didn't seem to appreciate his 
feminie side, what a bunch of dolts!

OK to the good stuff! First offering was Sweat followed by Hush MJK 
had a little trouble with Mic. Next up 46&2 into Swampsong which 
litteraly gave me goosebumps, the crowd seemed to frenzy with 
Stinkfist, but had little interest in 3rd eye which I thought was 
amazing!  What I heard next was heaven a slow version of Pushit GOD 
DAMN!!!!!! I NEED MORE!!! The rest of show went Sober, Opiate, Flood 
and Aenema. EUPHORIA!!! IT WAS MY NIRVANA!

Of the two shows I saw in the past two days this show by far was in 
it's own league.  The  Ozzfest show was great no doubt, but if you 
have a chance to see them on the non-Ozz dates GO!!!!

PS. Thanks Kabir for this fantastic site!


[No problem -- K.]






Review written by: Evan Michael West (Lhwest@mediaone.net)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 03:25:24

First of all, the setlist:
1. Sweat          
2. Hush          
3. Forty-six and Two  
4. Swamp Song       
5. Stinkfist (with middle jam)        
6. Third Eye
7. Pushit (Slow version)
8. Sober  (with intro)
9. Opiate
10.Flood
11.Aenema

Highlights in particular,(apart from everything), included:
1. Third Eye - with exception of the intro to Sober tonight, this is 
probably the scariest song I've ever heard, next to King Crimson's 
"21st Century Schizoid Man" and anything that involves Yoko Ono 
and the Plastic Ono Band, but Third Eye's beauty can't go unnoticed.
2. Pushit - I had heard about the slow version from all of your 
reviews of the mini-tour in March and didn't know what to expect. 
Since this is probably my favorite Tool opus, I didn't know if I'd 
want to hear a reworking of it. It was really gorgeous. The beginning 
guitar was so dark and beautiful, as was Maynard's vocal lines that 
followed it. Everything was different until the "Push me somewhere I 
don't wanna be....." section where it met up with the album version. 
I was hoping that they wouldn't change the "I must persuade you 
another waaaaaaaaaaaay...." section because it's so amazing and they 
didn't.
3. Sober - I mentioned last night on my review of the "Toolfest'98" 
show that I could do without hearing this tune for the gazillionth 
time, but it destroys consistently. The intro, made up of drums, 
feedback, electronics, and sounds of the apocalypse scared the 
D'Angelo's chicken caesar salad wrap out of me that I had earlier 
that evening and after changing into a fresh pair of boxers, I was 
once again touched by this angelic song. 
I've been baptised catholic once, and I've been baptised by Tool 
three times so I'm going to have to convert my religion from 
catholiscism to Toolianism because the three times I've seen these 
four geniuses, the only thing that enters my mind is a religious 
experience. And of all my religious experiences, witnessing Tool is 
probably the closest thing to God I'll ever see. Now I know what 
you're thinking, "This kid's a helmet! He only listens to Tool and 
nothing else. He has no fuckin' life! He probably never leaves the 
house (Doork-kuss!!!). He just sits around and listens to Tool 25 
hours a day/8 days a week!" But it's not like that at all. I am a 
musician. I have been playing drums for 15 of my 23 years and when it 
comes to bands, Tool is the only band out there that can deliver 
heavy music in a tear induced manner. Ask any musician or band out 
there what they think of Tool and the answer you'll most likely hear 
is how powerful they are, or how melodic they are for a "heavy metal" 
band, or how sincere their music is. It's usually the same answer 
because you've never heard anybody sound like them. Tool is the 
future of heavy music. There a thinking man's (and woman's) band. The 
60's had the Beatles, the 70's had Zeppelin, the 80's had...well, 
let's just try and forget about the 80's, shall we? And we, the 90's, 
have Tool. Can you think of anything better than that. I can't. And I 
still have tomorrow to look forward to. The second day of Toolfest'98
which Maynard said there will be all different songs. Stay tuned. 
Change is coming...

How much ya bench!
Ev






Review written by: Morgan "Psycho69" Albert (psychosis69@hotmail.com)
Review posted on: 07/09/98 01:26:43

I just got home from the show... I must say that is was the greatist 
thing I have ever witnessed. I was just blown away by the Rev. 
Maynerd's singing. But over all I have to say that the drumer kept me 
spellbounded. When I wasn't moshing my eyes were fixed on Danny 
Carey. You are the best man! The screen behind the band was also 
great. I am just at a loss for words. I must thank TOOL for coming to 
Lewiston.