i dont remember writing the above statement because i was drunk, but hey, i didnt make many spelling mistakes.

I am definately a Tool fan and i loved every bit of it. I thought the Melvins were alright, they seemed to be able to play really well but it just came out as a noise rather than having any meaning or depth to it, which i hated. Tool were amazing, right from the build up of tension as the circle of eyes came up to when they walked offstage. Their stage presence is amazing, and the whole thing was even bigger and better than the last one. Someone said afterwards that it seemed like the last one was a practise run for this one and thats about it, it was. Their songs were recognisable, but they still sounded different from the recorded versions which was awesome cos last time they sounded almost exacty alike. And Maynard just rocked, as always!

Stefan???

I think I need to listen to Tool CD's more. because I don't know the names of the songs at all well, and only have the Lateralus CD, don't think I've ever listened to Aenima, so I can't say well they did a real great version of X...

I got there very late - I got stuck in Real Groovy - $360 later I got to the gig to hear the last song from the Melvins - damn! I've been reading a bit about these guys and was interested to see what they'd be doing, since they're pretty influential and not stuck in any genre. I was hugely impressed by the big sound (and hair) they projected, so think I missed out. And I can't buy any CD's for a month, since I told the Reak Groovy guys not to let me back in the shop.

Tool - since I was late, I was nowhere near the front, was in that part of the crwod where people never seem to make up their mind whether they should go further forward or move backwards, so it was hard getting into the groove at parts, but I spent most of the time, eyes closed and blissing out to the quieter parts, doing the mad thing when they turned up the wick. I don't think that I'd say Tool is the best experience I've had even this year in terms of gig going - Hasselhoff Experience and Tomahawk in Auckland are going to take a lot of beating - but it was pretty damn good.

The toking up thing surprised me - don't think I have ever seen so much at that venue, have seen security keep a tight rein on it.

I think the one small point which I thought was a bit naff was his closing philosophical "thought" - take this experience whether good or bad and use it to give perspective on what your next experience is, or something like that. Dunno if he thought he was being profound, or whether the others saw it as profound, but it seemed to me to be a load of tosh, quite frankly.

I had to reserve some energy, since I had two hours of skanking to engage in after the event: yep Royal Rumble and the Offbeats @ Valve - man did they go off!! Perfectly timed to start just as I arrived and got a beer. I need to make/find a way to get these guys to Palmy, or even a bigger venue in Wellington: a packed Valve should be renamed the Sauna!

More comments on this on the How do we make NZ music great thread, as soon as I find it.

Now, where are all Auckland peeps? the show was due to finish 25 mins ago!
(can't you all tell how obsessed w/ tool I am?!?)

okay, tool beackoned welli-town april 19. my uselessness meant that the interislander i was on arrived in the capital at nine in the evening. i get to the queens wharf at 13 minutes past nine, people are still milling around but the band had just struck the opening chord. (some things you can tell straight away). my flatmate has my ticket but i have no way of contacting him. i had spoken to him earlier in the day and he lets me know a friend who works on these shows was trying to get hold of me. worst of all i have all my tools, possesions, backpacks and sleeping bags with me.
then, as if timing smiled upon me, i spot a neighbour, who sees me, i ask about my flatmate, who is low and behold walking right behind me. telling me my name is on the door, my other flatmate had my ticket, let us hurry the fuck up cos tool is the evening special. 'nuff said bro'.
after apprehensively giving over some worldly possesions to the front door, it's get checked, get upstairs.
it's the fullest sound i've ever heard in that place, not that i've the experience to know. it's a big sound which was designed to travel big for a long way. that's short for phat and loud. the rows of people hoot & howl their condolences every chance they get. creating the warm 'welcome back to the capital tool' atmosphere i'd would have hoped the band would recieve.
songs 'h' and 'lateralus' were standouts, not to mention all undertow tunes and the visuals which spoke tool in volumes.
the multi-media approach to the show was also a nice surprise. though it isn't new, it is something for the home-theatre junkies to digest. the naked lady and man were also great to see tho' i'm not going to try and interpret what they meant. the love is still strong for this band down here and it shows.
it is important to see your most respected bands in the flesh, live as it gets, any chance you have (that's if they're still together, or not dead & gone already). but i don't need to tell anyone of you guys that now do i?
had such a good one, the timing of the night was humbling and i managed to score a t-shirt and the bass players cool black towel... and yes i am going to wash it.
p.s. it's good to be back!!