Coachella 2006: Tool - Andy Reitz (blog)

After a long, hot, and tiring day at Coachella, it was finally time for Tool, to send the crowd home happy. The started about 20 minutes later than their scheduled start time, due to what appeared to be techincal difficulties. Thankfully, once the show got under way, Tool didn't seem to experience any other technical difficulties (as opposed to a lot of the other bands playing at Cochella).

In typical Tool fashion, the band commandeered the large displays on either side of the Coachella main stage, in order to display Tools' graphics and videos. Given the lack of magnification (that the big displays provided for the other bands), this means that, because I was so incredibly far away from the stage, there is no way that I could see the band.

The Setlist:

Stinkfist
The Pot
Forty-Six & 2
Jambi
Schism
The Patient
Sober
Lateralus
Vicarious
ænema

In all, they played just a bit under 80 minutes. My impression of the setlist is that it provided a pretty even balance between Ænima, Lateralus, and 10,000 Days (3 songs a piece), which was nice. I was worried that it would be crazy-10,000 days heavy. Worried, because I hadn't heard the album yet at that time (I actually restrained myself from downloading it -- shocking, I know). I was somewhat surprised that they played "Sober" - I was hoping that they would be able to put that song to bed. But I guess it is still a crowd pleaser, and we all know that Tool loves pleasing its crowds. Overall, I think that I was happiest during "The Patient". That song is just so amazing, especially when played loud (which the Cochella PA certainly was). I also liked ænema as a closer, especially considering the fact that the concert was right around where the hypothetical "Arizona Bay" would be.

The video displays continue to complement the music well. Overall, a lot of the material was similar to what I saw on the last Lateralus tour. For example, the corresponding video was played for each song that has one. The differences for the Coachella show included more of Alex Grey's artwork (particularly the cover head from 10,000 days), as well as more female images. I believe that during "The Patient", there was a shot of a woman looking into camera, much as if she were in a photo booth. The image was cast in a green tint, and looping up and down - like when the vertical hold is messed up on your TV.

Maynard was reasonably chatty, with his latest batch of Maynardisms:

"Welcome hippies. I smell patchouli!"
"Welcome to our first show in many years. We wanted to take it down a notch, keep it small and intimate, invite a few friends. Welcome. But you dude - you can put your fuckin' clothes back on, you're bummin' me out. Got lost on the way to Burning Man."
"New album comes out tomorrow at midnight. I know you fuckers all downloaded it already. [crowd cheers]. Do me a favor, I'm trying to buy this, gold nugget shaped like a piece of popcorn for a ring. So I need you to buy a bunch of records so I can afford that. Big 'ole gold nugget. That's four of 'em. Then when I hit you in the face for taking my photo, it'll look like someone hit you with a bowl of popcorn. Help me out, willya? I'm destitute."
"Had enough? [crowd yells "No!"] Good. We've come to paper, scissors, rock you. I wrote that."
Before playing "Vicarious", he said "Single".
"Hope you all enjoyed yourslves. Hope you all got a chance to go in the VIP tent. 'course you all did right? It's fuckin' L.A., right? Everybody's fuckin' VIP. Can I get a witness?"

Overall, it was another great performance from Tool. I would say that Tool's live show is relatively mature at this point - as evidenced from how little things have changed from Lateralus to 10,000 Days. I expect that they will make some minor tweaks for the subsequent 10,000 Days touring, but I think that the basic format will remain the same. Which is totally fine - Tool has evolved into a comfortable place, and there is nothing wrong with that.

All it leaves for me to do is continue to hope (in vain, most-likely) for something from Undertow other than "Sober". :)

-Andy.

Technorati Tags: Tool, Coachella

\n\nIn typical Tool fashion, the band commandeered the large displays on either side of the Coachella main stage, in order to display Tools' graphics and videos. Given the lack of magnification (that the big displays provided for the other bands), this means that, because I was so incredibly far away from the stage, there is no way that I could see the band.\n\n

\n\nThe Setlist:\n

\n
Stinkfist\n
The Pot\n
Forty-Six & 2\n
Jambi\n
Schism\n
The Patient\n
Sober\n
Lateralus\n
Vicarious\n
ænema\n

\n\nIn all, they played just a bit under 80 minutes. My impression of the setlist is that it provided a pretty even balance between Ænima, Lateralus, and 10,000 Days (3 songs a piece), which was nice. I was worried that it would be crazy-10,000 days heavy. Worried, because I hadn't heard the album yet at that time (I actually restrained myself from downloading it -- shocking, I know). I was somewhat surprised that they played \"Sober\" - I was hoping that they would be able to put that song to bed. But I guess it is still a crowd pleaser, and we all know that Tool loves pleasing its crowds. Overall, I think that I was happiest during \"The Patient\". That song is just so amazing, especially when played loud (which the Cochella PA certainly was). I also liked ænema as a closer, especially considering the fact that the concert was right around where the hypothetical \"Arizona Bay\" would be.\n\n

\n\nThe video displays continue to complement the music well. Overall, a lot of the material was similar to what I saw on the last Lateralus tour. For example, the corresponding video was played for each song that has one. The differences for the Coachella show included more of Alex Grey's artwork (particularly the cover head from 10,000 days), as well as more female images. I believe that during \"The Patient\", there was a shot of a woman looking into camera, much as if she were in a photo booth. The image was cast in a green tint, and looping up and down - like when the vertical hold is messed up on your TV.\n\n

\n\nMaynard was reasonably chatty, with his latest batch of Maynardisms:\n

\"Welcome hippies. I smell patchouli!\"
\"Welcome to our first show in many years. We wanted to take it down a notch, keep it small and intimate, invite a few friends. Welcome. But you dude - you can put your fuckin' clothes back on, you're bummin' me out. Got lost on the way to Burning Man.\"
\"New album comes out tomorrow at midnight. I know you fuckers all downloaded it already. [crowd cheers]. Do me a favor, I'm trying to buy this, gold nugget shaped like a piece of popcorn for a ring. So I need you to buy a bunch of records so I can afford that. Big 'ole gold nugget. That's four of 'em. Then when I hit you in the face for taking my photo, it'll look like someone hit you with a bowl of popcorn. Help me out, willya? I'm destitute.\"
\"Had enough? [crowd yells \"No!\"] Good. We've come to paper, scissors, rock you. I wrote that.\"
Before playing \"Vicarious\", he said \"Single\".
\"Hope you all enjoyed yourslves. Hope you all got a chance to go in the VIP tent. 'course you all did right? It's fuckin' L.A., right? Everybody's fuckin' VIP. Can I get a witness?\"

\n\nOverall, it was another great performance from Tool. I would say that Tool's live show is relatively mature at this point - as evidenced from how little things have changed from Lateralus to 10,000 Days. I expect that they will make some minor tweaks for the subsequent 10,000 Days touring, but I think that the basic format will remain the same. Which is totally fine - Tool has evolved into a comfortable place, and there is nothing wrong with that.\n\n

\n\nAll it leaves for me to do is continue to hope (in vain, most-likely) for something from Undertow other than \"Sober\". :)\n\n

\n\n-Andy.\n\n\n

Technorati Tags:\nTool, Coachella\n