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My Massive Tool Post (tee hee)
This was my first Tool gig. I’d told myself that it was the last of the ‘big’ bands that I would bother to travel long distance to see (about 100 miles). After the gig I told myself that I would happily do it again to see these ultra talented bastards!
I’d read about the previous day’s gig and the tight security when it came to bags. I found out that Euston had a left luggage place where I could leave my bag so I decided to risk it (you need magazines/book/mp3 player for nearly 4 hours of travel). But I forgot that Euston is in London and the robbing twunts wanted £6 to look after my very small rucksack for about 3 hours. They also closed at 11 (even though the website says 11:30) which would have made time tight so the bag came along.
We found the Hammersmith Apollo dead easy after a tube journey sat in the same carriage as a girl who played possibly the world’s most annoying song over and over on her mobile phone. I hope she gets the pox.
Outside the venue there seemed to be one huge slow moving queue and one easy flowing and quick queue and I realised with dread that the whopper was the ‘bag’ queue.
What a total farce. Have you ever been in a bag queue at a gig before? I haven’t. Forty minutes later, I got in. I thought that there would be separate staff to check bags to those frisking people but no, all the staff did each task making the bag queue idea totally redundant. Not a great start.
The Hammersmith Apollo looks identical to about ten other theatre venues I’ve already been in, so nothing much else can be said on that front. Though I did like the huge earth drill style chandeliers!
We got to our seats after my mate managed to battle to the bar (the one and only drink we got whilst there). We sat down for 2 minutes and then on they came. Great timing though I’m sure many people with bags missed at least the opening song.
Stinkfist! What an opener! Totally unexpected. Followed by the Pot, a firm fan favourite on the new album and it sounded absolutely top drawer. In fact, the sound through the whole gig was great. We were sat in the circle near the front and I was really stunned with the quality of the sound. The problem with most of these huge cavernous theatre venues is that they tend to echo a lot but I had no complaints on the sound front and I’m notoriously picky on the subject.
I don’t believe in God. I don’t pray to any idols. I will from now on for I have enrolled in the religion of Careyism, where Danny Carey is the god of drums. Trust me when I tell you that he is the best live drummer ever. It’s not an opinion, it’s fact so don’t even bother offering me your Pearts, Lombardos, Palmers, Bonhams and Richs cos you’re wrong. I’ll stick my fingers in my ears and go LA LA LA LA. Danny Carey is the best drummer ever.
My only negative on the set would be Rosetta Stoned and that’s just down to me not really making up my mind on the track itself. It’s a long track where very little happens. The time could have been better filled with Eulogy but I’m not gonna start complaining about the song choices cos they could pretty much play anything of the last 3 albums and I would have been happy.
Ending with Ænema was perfect. One of my favourite songs and quite possibly the best gig closer I’ve seen. Heh heh heh heh heh.
So that’s it. Utterly awesome and one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. Drooled a little when Maynard signed off with ‘see you in November’.
Stinkfist
The Pot
Forty Six & 2
Jambi
Schism
Right In Two
Rosetta Stoned
Sober
Lateralus
Vicarious
Ænema