Level 3 - Talker
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: it's round on the ends and hi in the middle
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Re: 2006/09/26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Petersen Events Center
well suppose it's time I put my two cents into the mix. I rarely post reviews for shows, think last one was Tool back in 2001/2002 or something. Also because my reviews aren't so much reviews as keen observations filled thoughtful insights and run on sentences. Anywho, this was my 10th time seeing them in the past 10 years. First was Agora in Cleveland way back when. So is that merit me for a prize? Perhaps a little gold star I can proudly sport, kind of like the ones you get at your job after working ten years. No? Damn.....it's ok I'll survive. Somehow, someway.
First on the agenda, Isis. I love them. Have been reading brief reviews for the whole tour and noone seems to mention them at all. Then again now that I think about it, noone really mentions any of the opening acts really though. Tool does an amazing job of getting openers though I must say, keep it up fellows. Isis played a good mix of stuff from a few of the records and sounded great as well. If you never seen Isis, missed them opening this show, I suggest next time they tour that you go see them. Mainly instrumental with little vocals but it's good. In fact it's great. Think of an apocalyptic ending where the earth splits in two, molting lava is spewing on the land and huge tidal waves are crashing along the shoreline devouring cities. That's Isis.
Now that leads me to my second agenda, Tool. As I said this is my 10th time seeing them and with every passing time they progress more and more. The one thing that really stood out at this show, compared to past, was the lack of visuals and backdrops. Now before anyone thinks of this as me beign negative, oh no my friend I think just the opposite. With the lack of a huge backdrop and huge screens behind the band, it brought more attention to them. You were more focused on the band this time then seeing what kind of crazy stuff was going on behind them or around them. I must admit though, I did watch the screen at times (Rosetta Stoned quite a bit) and come on....the laser stuff was pretty fucking sweet. As the lasers shot all around the arena I first thought it was very reminiscent of a Floyd show, then my second thought was what if one of the lasers got misguided and hit someone in the face? Would they become blind? Would the laser shot right through them and everyone else? Oh what could of been, but didn't. Questions that may never be answered, but will always remain a thought for me.
Now I had amazing seats (FLR 1, Row B, Seat 1) and Justin was about 10-12 feet from me, thus giving me the best view no doubt. What was even better was the two seats in front of me were empty. The people must of got to drunk, stoned or something I guess. Maybe while en route to the show a UFO flew over and zapped them up, lucky fuckers. That never happens to me dammit. Set up was the same, Adam stage left, Justin stage right, Maynard and Danny in the back. I enjoy that actually, doesn't put all the focus on one particular person or individual rather a whole. The setlist was great, not amazing but great. I'm not gonna be one of those people that bitch and moan about them not playing anything off Opiate or anything off Undertow, honestly I could care less if they do or don't. Like to see them play Hush though one of these days, hopefully before I die and/or I'm 60 and my balls are dangling down to my knees. Just one time guys, all I ask. Thanks in advance. So yes, the setlist has been pretty much the same, like every tour they do, but it flowed very well the entire set. Plus you got to think that in order to do the kind of stage set up and performance they do (visuals and all) that they kind of sort of have to do the same setlist. I mean it probally takes them a good time to get the videos and visuals set up, not like it's a next day sort of deal you know? Cool.
So what else? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm let me think, oh yes highlights of the show. Well as I said, lasers were pretty sweet. Loved Wings of Marie/10,000 Days, made me think about my cat that died back in July (yeah yeah feel in cheesy, emo induced gesture here). Liked the faster part oh Schism, thought maybe a bunch of pyros might explode and they start playing Raining Blood or something. 46&2 and Lateralus are always pleasures to hear live to. Visuals, though I was on the floor and so close I couldn't see much, were awesome as usual (esp. Rosetta Stoned's).
So to now comes the conclusion to this review, if you want to even call it that. I've bored or enlightened or confused many of you now so I swear I'll keep this short. Thanks again for the band for putting on another epic journey both musically, conciously and spiritually for me. It was a wonderful ride and look foward to seeing them again. See. told you I'd keep it short.
Later.
Chris
*contact me if you'd like. IM dysthemia6669 or drop me a email.
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"The Tree of Life has got to be learnt by heart; you must know it backwards, forwards, sideways, and upside down; it must become the automatic background of all your thinking. You must keep on hanging everything that comes your way upon its proper bough."[
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