Sorry not to have met up with anybody
I was over in London from Monday and so didn't have access to emails and also had to try and convince the guy I was going with to get down earlier than 8pm!
Thoughts on the 13th
The sound wasn't perfect on the 13th but I'd say the performance was a lot more atmospheric. In about the 15 minutes before the band came on there was a real electricity in the air and a sense of anticipation.
When the curtain dropped it really reminded me of the 'Disap...pear' moment when I saw APC
I thought 'Rosetta Stoned' was a slightly weird option to start with as it takes a while to get going but the 'Overwhelmed as one might be' bit was great and gave me goosebumps. 'Stinkfist' was awesome as well. 'Jambi' and 'Schism' were both really good but I kind of felt a bit distanced from the whole thing, not like I was really seeing Tool. I'd been waiting five years for my first Tool show so it was probably overhyped in my mind a fair bit and they didn't seem as into it or as tight as I was expecting. The atmosphere was kind of more informal than APC or NIN as well.
'Right in Two' really disappointed me live, as it's one of my favourite songs on the album, but I kind of felt myself getting bored with it live. 'Sober' with the visuals was awesome but then to me the show really hit high gear. 'Lateralus' was the kind of awe inspiring almost spiritual experience I've heard people describe in the past about Tool live shows. It's one of my favourite Tool songs, and I really wasn't expecting them to play it. The lyrics also took on more significance seeing Maynard perform them and there was one point mid way through the song where the music and visuals really blended together and it was a beautiful moment.
'Vicarious' was probably the most intense song of the night for me. They blasted through it like the world was ending around them and again the lyrics were sung with such conviction and anger that the song was taken to a new level.
'AENima' was a great ending moment with the 'Praying for rain' bit giving me shivers again. Justin's run down the fretboard in Jambi before the Meshuggah-esque break and Danny's drum solo in 46&2 also had me grinning ear to ear.
Overall it was a great night and one I won't forget, but I guess I was expecting it to top NIN in Brixton which it unfortunately didn't. I'm more of a Tool fan so probably went in with too high expectations, but I kind of wasn't expecting the drum fluffs etc.
I really hope some boots of the shows surface, but with the no bags rule that might be unlikely
Thoughts on the 14th
I have to say compared to the Tuesday night I was a bit disappointed with the second night.
I thought the crowd was a lot less atmospheric (but that could have been where I was standing (left hand side on one of the barrier things about 50yds back from the stage). There wasn't the same electricity in the air before the band started and the venue seemed to take a lot longer to fill up, despite the fact the Hammersmith line had been ****** the day before. I also had a bunch of people in front of me who were talking during practically all the songs - quiet and loud parts, and a couple of girls who obviously had no idea who Tool were and looked extremely bored/confused during anything pre-10,000 Days. That group also included a blonde female behemoth who spent about 45% of the gig checking to see what time it was on her phone. This was really not what I was expecting from Tool fans.
I'd say the sound mix was a lot clearer than on the first night - Maynard's vocals were a lot higher in the mix and they'd eliminated the bass feedback issues of the night before.
It was great to hear 'The Pot' live and I think the performances of 'Sober' and 'AEnima' just topped the performances of the night before for intensity.
Overall it was a tighter and better sounding show (less of a fall out of time after the gong hit in 'Lateralus' and other timing mess ups) but it lacked a lot of the energy and intensity from the first night. Whether that was the crowd, the band or me I don't know but the first night was a more fulfilling experience for me.
I was just a bit surprised at how static and informal the band were on stage. the gig on the 13th was my first Tool concert, but I'd seen APC on the 'Our First Step' tour and was absolutely blown away by how angry/aggressive and into it they seemed. I found it hard to reconcile the MJK I'd seen stamping his foot on the stage and screaming vocals in such anger with the surfer/round-em-up dancing guy I saw on stage last night. Adam was also very rooted to the spot which made him seem a bit disinterested.
I know it's a warm up tour etc. but for my £32 I was hoping they'd change the setlists a little more between the two nights - especially when Maynard mentioned people coming a second night. I really wanted to hear 'Pushit'. 'Prison Sex', 'Parabol/Parabola' or maybe even 'Wings'. The set did flow a lot better tonight with 'Rosetta' in the middle as it didn't really work as an opener on the first night.
I think part of the problem is that the show was very sterile and not as tight as I was expecting. I've got fairly high expectations to compare it with having seen APC and NIN - both of who had a great lights/stage show and sound production, but also went absolutely ape**** without missing a beat.
I feel really disappointed in myself that it wasn't the amazing experience I was hoping for.
.
