Enthralling live set from one of the biggest American bands around at the moment.
Having got to the gig bang on time, it was disappointing to find out that there was no support band on tonight. I remember reading somewhere that Isis might be playing on the European tour, but I guess that teaches me not to believe stuff I read on the Internet!
So after a couple of beers and a bit of a wait, Justin and Adam finally took to the stage. The stage set looked great, and at the back were four large video screens interspersed by columns of lights. It almost looked like the interior of an alien space craft. Silhouetted in front of the right hand screen was Justin holding his bass against his squealing amp getting the feedback for 'Lost Keys'. Then on came the rest of the band with Maynard carrying a loud hailer over his shoulder, signalling the beginning to the epic 'Rosetta Stoned'. Then came a slightly extended version of 'Stinkfist' that prompted the first bout of pogoing from the crowd. After that was a great 'Forty Six & 2', definitely one of my favourites from 'AEnima'.
The weird thing was the contrast between the new stuff and their older material. I guess it shows how the arrangements have progressed since Tool's early days. Seeing their songs live and in a theatre rather than a giant festival ground really makes you appreciate the effort that the band puts into performing, and just how bloody tight they are too! The two tracks that stood out the most for me were 'Schism', and 'Lateralus'. They just sounded so powerful and were executed brilliantly. If only they'd played longer than 1 hour 40 minutes, and if only they'd played 'Wings of Marie' parts 1 and 2, 'Bottom' and 'Third Eye', then I'd be ecstatic but I think I'll just have to settle with it being one of the best gigs I've ever been to! Damn! Why didn't I get a ticket for the 14th as well?? Maybe then I'd get to see part two of the set!
Setlist was: 'Lost Keys'
'Rosetta Stoned'
'Stinkfist'
'Forty Six & 2'
'Jambi'
'Schism'
'Right in two'
Instrumental
'Sober'
'Lateralus'
Instrumental
'Vicarious'
'AEnima'
billyK
10/10
Mon, January 05, 2009