Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bibbitybop]

I just got back from the Tool and Metallica concert. I thought I would brag and let everyone know it rocked, for the most part.

Tool got onstage at 6:40 and played the setlist they have been playing on this leg of their tour. I was lucky enought to be up front for the entire set. I was drenched in sweat (not Pocari) by the end of it, it was great. I love Tool, more than Metallica, but I have to say, Metallica out played Tool by far. Tool was the supporting band and their set was only and hour. Maynard barely interacted with the crowd. All the band members stayed in the same spot throughout the set. The vocals could've been turned up a bit to be on par with the guitars and drums. Tool's visuals were crap. I've seen Tool twice in the U.S. and each time their visuals were half the show. They used to have contortionists, multiple video screens with new visual effect, and paint. Maynard at one time was painted white with orange hair, wearing a women's bikini, and had the chest of a woman. Maybe a show of that caliber is too expensive to carry overseas, but at the Seoul show, they had none of it. The two screens showed either the original video for the song they played, or a lackluster video for songs without videos. It was Tool's first time in Korea. They could have done better to make a lasting first impression. Maynard looked tired compared to his past performances. Maybe he is sick of touring already. Maybe he is getting old (he is over 40, but James Hatfield rocked much harder and he is old). Maybe the crowd, which was largely unfamiliar with Tool's music, didn't hype him enough. I went into the show expecting more than I got. I still love Tool, but tonight's show did not live up to the reputation of their live acts. Finally, they needed to play: Wings for Marie (1 and 2), Rosetta Stoned, Pushit, Hooker with a P#N!$, Parabola, The Patient, 4 Degrees, Prison S#x and Opiate. I guess with only one hour, though, they can't play them all. Thank goodness they did play Jambi, The Pot, Sober and Stinkfist.

Now the good news: Metallica beat all my expectations. They rocked for two solid hours, playing multiple encores and playing past the one hour set mentioned on the Internet. It was their last show of their tour and they gave it their all. The crowd, who was very familiar with their songs and lyrics, was excellent, too. James Hetfield and other members interacted with the crowd throughout the show. They moved around the stage and had great camera men showing closeups of their performance on the big screens. They played "One," their best song, along with multiple old songs: Seek and Destroy, Master of Puppets, Unforgiven, Sad But True, Whereever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman and many more, including solos. Their sound techs did a great job. Except for cheaper ticket prices, I don't think Metallica could have improved.

A coulple of notes about the crowd. Many people were upset the crowd was pushing to the front of the show. YOU ARE AT THE FRONT OF THE SHOW! EXPECT IT! Security was laughable at trying to get the who crowd to move back, although they were organized and were taking care of people who needed out of the crowd. Also, the Koreans were very cool to me, a white guy. Many offered me free water, free tissues to wipe my soaking face and wanted to know about the bands' performances in the U.S. The love for the music was mutual and that showed in their behavior. The only dip$h!t$ I saw looked to be American soldiers shoving their way around without regard for who they hit.

Does anyone else who saw the show have anything to say?

It's late and I'm not proofing this...deal with the errors.

[philthy]

Nice review Bibbitybop!

I was there also and thought it was awesome!! I'm not familiar at all with Tool, but from what you said about their other concerts in the past this one seemed to be a little dull in comparison. However I did enjoy their show.

Given the heat and the crowd up front, Metallica took too long to take to the stage but when they did they delivered. They were awesome with the crowd and stuck around after to play several more songs and interact. I was impressed by that as some other bands would just walk off the stage and dissappear.

It was my first time seeing either band, but I actually went just for Metallica as I was 15 when they put out "Kill 'em All" so I HAD to see them.

As for the crowd, I only experienced some d1ckheads during the first song, but after that I moved and it was great.

[pidgin]

I was the guy who jumped the fence in the front row twice!!

Security was not happy.

Rockin show

[nater]

the concert was wild.. my only complaint was that the muck heads organizing the event still had thousands of people outside, including me, when Tool had started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i missed the first two songs because i was still in line...

hate to bash on korea, but i can't see a large event like this getting that twisted and mixed up back home.. i mean they only had 2 bands to deal with, how hard is it to get everyone in by 6.30 when they start lining up at 5? 100$ is a lot to pay for a ticket and needless to say i expected to catch the entire show...

[Kyrei]

I second most of what was said here. Tool did nothing for me whatsoever. I thought they were bored and boring. I am not familiar with their stuff and based on that show will need to be convinced to listen to it again. As I said to friends after the show, I could have missed all of Tool and been that much happier.

Metallica bloody rocked! I have seen them three times now and that was by far the best show. My wife and I moved back out of the press and had a great time about 3 metres back from where we had planted ourselves. As for the crowd, I am not a huge fan of being in the crush, and for the most part people were cool. There were some losers (both foreign and domestic) that got into bottle throwing and outrageous moshing but that is to be expected unfortunately.

I really enjoyed the show, very glad I went, and very very glad I did not go at 3pm like my other buddies who nearly passed out from heat exhaustion. I showed up at 5, got in line and got in to see it all.

[baldrick]

Jesus, of course Metallica rocked. I didn't even see Tool. Here is Metallicas set list from the concert.

Creeping Death
Fuel
Wherever I may Roam
Harvester of Sorrow
Sanitarium
Frantic ?
Unforgiven
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Orion (AWESOME!)
Master of Puppets
Fade To Black
Battery
Sad But True
Nothing Else Matters
One
Enter Sandman
Curse?
Seek and Destroy

[Bibbitybop]

Kyrei and Phylthy: I'm sorry your introduction to Tool was during this subpar performance. Tool is very intricate. Their lyrics are deep in meaning and their sound is even deeper. Each album should be listened to from front to back, it is pretty progressive. I recommend a pair of good headphones and the album Aenima for a proper introduction.

[Benicio]

For the unitiated, seeing Tool in this setting can seem like a let down.
Sadly, the only 2 times I have been able to see them- the other time being Lollapalooza '93- they were playing outside, in the day time and they were not headlining, so a short set.
Truthfully, this is totally out of their element. They have very strong visual shows that incorporate screens and lights that truly add to the experience of the music. They just were not able to do that here.
Honestly, I was surprised they were playing with Metallica. They are two very different bands. Metallica, being very energetic and into revving up the crowd. Tool, being very introspective and into creating mood soundscapes. The guitarist, Adam Jones, is well-known for being a "shoe gazer" on stage. Some people come to a rock show and feel that this kind of thing is boring. I'm a huge tool fan, so I don't feel the same.
They are an incredibly intricate and rhythmically tight band with a connected groove that seems to defy human fallability. They simply do not screw up on stage. They are so in with each other, it just baffles me.
I loved seeing them again, but this was not the environment where they truly shine.
Maynard, the singer, I'm sure sensed the vibe that most were there to see Metallica, not Tool. He didn't seem interested in interacting with the crowd. They can be mercurial like that.
It's like when I saw Alice in Chains open up for Van Halen in '92. They had a bad show because they were out of their element. The crowd was not into them and they just didn't feel it. I got to meet them afterwards and they said that they hoped I could see them again on a good night. Well, I did the next year at Lollapalooza. They were in their element there and they so rocked it! It was a great show.
Tool played that festival, but much earlier in the day because they were still relatively unkown. Rage Against the Machine followed them and they were also new on the scene.
Anyway, don't just judge Tool on this show. Give them a chance and maybe try to catch them in a different environment where they could totally blow your mind.

[Benicio]

Also, huge thumbs down to the organizers and their completely disorganized entry procedure- only one small gate open for the entire floor crowd to get in. I couldn't get in until Tool were into their 4th or 5th song. I'm very surprised there was not a trampling incident. I'm sure there will be one if they keep this crap up.

[Benicio]

More review:
This was also my second time seeing Metallica- last time was in '92 and I was a huge fan then. I've sort of outgrown them now, but they still put on a great show and it was a great headbanging stroll down memory lane.
They played some of the old great tunes that I loved- Fade to Black, Battery, For Whom the Bell Tolls- and they still had that energy. Just great!
I think the new bass player, Robert Trujillo, has injected some new gusto into them. It showed. He's awesome. I just love how they did Orion from Master of Puppets. That was always one of my favorites. I don't think they have played it live since Cliff Burton died, but this is the 20th anniversary of Master of Puppets. I heard that earlier in the tour they were playing the album in its entirety. That would have been too awesome!
Well, I'm still a Metallica fan at heart. I don't think they will ever let you down live.
I heard some sound problems, though. The engineer turned everything up too loud and it sounded muddy at times. A few times, you could barely hear Kirk solo.
Sound engineers in the rock field here are well known for just turning everything up to 11. They've got a lot to learn.

[baldrick]

I agree - Kirk's guitar wasn't at the right level most of the show.