Black and white are all I see (original) (raw)

this was only my 2nd time seeing them. they were absolutely amazing. aside from the minor mishaps (which didn't even bother me--some of which i didn't even notice until pointed out to me) this show was incredible. i know some people have seen sets of theirs that were just as good and they may say that they've seen the band play better, but i don't have the luxury of being a Dead Head for tool or anything like that. i simply don't have the time, nor the money. nor the resources to be a multi-tasker. such as a 2nd head or a 3rd and 4th arm. (or a 3rd eye. ;) hehe.)

i couldn't tell you what the highlight of this show was, because the whole thing was cohesively (is that a word?) 2 hour piece of amazing. also, i don't know what it is, but the fact that maynard still has his back to the crowd almost at every show still strikes me as awesome/hilarious, even though i thought this 6 years ago when i first saw them (when i was 16). i was a lot less mature back then. i can appreciate some of the aspects of their show and the band a little better now than i could before. even though i had an unusual respect for them, and for good music in general, when i was 16. yet when i saw his back turned to the crowd at last night's show, i still felt like a little kid who couldn't control his emotions or outbursts after spending 15 minutes in a candy store. it's always just been so different to me, and i love that. i thought that was an immaturity thing, but i think it's more than that, really.

"10,000 days" was easily the most awe inspiring moment for not only this show, but for my life. the emotions that bled through during this song, as well as much of the video footage on the backdrop, they are something i cannot describe. i'll even admit, i shed a few tears during "10,000 Days". especially when maynard got choked up while singing "you were the only one who could hold your head up high..."

i'll say this, though. i'm pretty relieved that they didn't play any of their "super hits", especially "the pot." that song is my least favorite tool song, just because of HOW tongue-in-cheek this song is. most of their songs have that element, to some degree, but this was kind of like "hey, we're drunk, let's fuck around and write a song about some asshole who may or may not have been wrong in a given situation or argument. let's also write an extended part in the middle of the song, so that it feels like a tool song." that song is just not very good, compared to what tool can do. (side note: i just thought of something. is this song in standard E? that may have something to do with it, to be honest with you.)

maynard didn't talk at all, the whole night. not one word. while that's not unusual, it made it feel even more real to me. this band still has what they always had, and that's true talent, without regard for the limelight, or gimmicks, or any sort of "in-your-face-ibility" except for the part that really counts: the music.