Saw Maiden and TOOL in the span of 5 days....

Geddyfleaharris · #1 07-05-2010, 11:00 AM

I had a busy past 5 days. Sort of a long weekend up here depending on how nice your place of work was in honour of Canada Day on July 1.

On June 30 I saw Iron Maiden on their Final Frontier tour. I am a huge Maiden fan so you won't get any negatives from me. Some people complained that it wasn't another greatest hits tour but I loved hearing the newer stuff. It's not like they completely forgot their past but they certainly made the statement that "we are not a nostalgia act". I love their new stuff so all was good with me. The band rocked, the sound and stage were ridiculously good and the light show was very cool. Steve's bass was right up in the mix and you could hear his tell tale clank. All too often as most of you know the bass becomes sludge-like at big arena shows and gets lost. The band is just so on and so tight. Loved the show and would go see it again tomorrow if I could.

TOOL was also ridiculously good. I have to admit I am not a huge fan; just never got into them. This was the first time in our city so I figured I better go. The stage, lights, video screens and lasers all combined for a trully impressive visual show unlike anything I have ever seen before. This was the only concert I have ever attended that truly seemed to be designed for hallucinogenics. I knew about 1/2 the songs so that was cool. The music was intense as was the visual experience. My only complaint was that Justin Chancellor's bass got lost in the mix. The guitar and drums seemed to overwhelm it. Only when everything else dropped out did you truly hear his sound. Maybe that is how TOOL's sound is designed with a heavy sonic assault in mind. Very impressive show and I am glad I went.

In between those 2 concerts my band played a very cool, fun outdoor street festival on July 1 as part of the Canada Day celebrations so all in all it was pretty spectacular weekend.

plangentmusic · #2 07-05-2010, 11:02 AM

Ever since Maiden added that 3 rd guitar player their feel hasn't been the same -- and either has Harris's bass. And the guy's a poser. Worst decision ever made to ruin a great band.

gregoire1 · #3 07-05-2010, 11:29 AM

Seeing Iron Maiden is on my list of "things to do before I die". I disagree about the third guitar. He allows them to get closer to the guitar harmonies heard on the albums.

If I remember corectly, Adrian briefly quit the band and Ger (is that his name?) replaced him then talked him back into rejoining. Iron Maiden is a guitar band. He adds that third part to the dual (and triple) solos which define this great band.

And no, they are not a nostalgic act. Every live video I've ever seen is about the new material.

plangentmusic · #4 07-05-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregoire1

Seeing Iron Maiden is on my list of "things to do before I die". I disagree about the third guitar. He allows them to get closer to the guitar harmonies heard on the albums.

If I remember corectly, Adrian briefly quit the band and Ger (is that his name?) replaced him then talked him back into rejoining. Iron Maiden is a guitar band. He adds that third part to the dual (and triple) solos which define this great band.

And no, they are not a nostalgic act. Every live video I've ever seen is about the new material.

The harmonies were always 2 parts. How does using 3 guitarists duplicate that better?

That was the thing about Maiden. They utilized the 2 guitars so well and almost never overdubbed a 3rd part. That's why the BASS is so prominent. It was an act of arranging genius. And they ruined it.

I think it's a loyalty thing. When Adrian returned, they didn;t want to fire Jans. But nobody uses 3guitars and there's a reason for that. it's one too many.

Geddyfleaharris · #5 07-05-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Ever since Maiden added that 3 rd guitar player their feel hasn't been the same -- and either has Harris's bass. And the guy's a poser. Worst decision ever made to ruin a great band.

Hey everyone is entitled to their opinion. Janick is a bit of a poseur but when he plays he is a very good guitar player. I think the new stuff really makes use of the 3rd guitar. Lots of little bits and pieces going on. When Adrian and Bruce decided to come back in the fold one of the deals was that Janick didn't get booted out. I think Adrian might have been pushing for that but everybody knows that Steve runs the band. If he wasn't on side then it wouldn't have happened.

As far as ruining the band I will have to disagree with you there. Globally they are among the biggest bands in the world so someone must like what they are doing.

plangentmusic · #6 07-05-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

Hey everyone is entitled to their opinion. Janick is a bit of a poseur but when he plays he is a very good guitar player. I think the new stuff really makes use of the 3rd guitar. Lots of little bits and pieces going on. When Adrian and Bruce decided to come back in the fold one of the deals was that Janick didn't get booted out. I think Adrian might have been pushing for that but everybody knows that Steve runs the band. If he wasn't on side then it wouldn't have happened.

As far as ruining the band I will have to disagree with you there. Globally they are among the biggest bands in the world so someone must like what they are doing.

Well, "ruined" in terms of their musicality. The newer stuff isn't as good IMO and even when they do the old stuff, the bass seems to get buried. Most people go to see them for the classic stuff, which was great.

bstringkyle · #7 07-05-2010, 01:52 PM

Honestly I think that Janic is a great guitar player. I do not think He is a poser, I just think he is having fun up there doing what he loves to do. I think the 3 guitar thing is actually pretty cool. just my 2 cents

That sounds like a great weekend!!!! I wish I could see maiden but they aren't coming anywhere near here.

Sartori · #8 07-06-2010, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Well, "ruined" in terms of their musicality. The newer stuff isn't as good IMO and even when they do the old stuff, the bass seems to get buried. Most people go to see them for the classic stuff, which was great.

I couldn't disagree more.

I like the three guitar sound. And on the last three albums, Harris' bass sound is that nice clank I would expect.

Also, I prefer the newer albums over anything they did in the 80's. There are great songs on the older albums, but as whole albums, the newer ones are stronger, I think. Listening to them straight through is great.

infamusblkdeath · #9 07-06-2010, 10:12 PM

that's unusual for tool.. they obviously are a very bass oriented band in their recordings. maybe it was just an off night???

Muaguana · #10 07-06-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infamusblkdeath

that's unusual for tool.. they obviously are a very bass oriented band in their recordings. maybe it was just an off night???

I'd say more "rhythm-oriented." Adam, Justin, and Danny are pretty much working as a unit while still going off and doing their own thing. When I saw them 3 or 4 years ago, it was a bit difficult to hear Justin, but then again, I didn't know many of their songs to notice (now I'm a rabid fan.) He generally has a lot of midrange and top-end to his tone, which can get lost in a live situation. But on tunes like Jambi and Rosetta Stoned... oh yeah, I definitely heard him.

Turlu · #11 07-07-2010, 11:11 AM

I saw Maiden lst evening in Ottawa at an outdoor concert. I am not big fan of Maiden to start with but I can tell you that Stev Harris Tone really cut through in the mix and his tone was absolutely delicious !!! How he does that with flatwound is something that blows me away !!!! He played great too !

pedroims · #12 07-07-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Ever since Maiden added that 3 rd guitar player their feel hasn't been the same -- and either has Harris's bass. And the guy's a poser. Worst decision ever made to ruin a great band.

+10000000 I dont get it, why Iron Maiden hired that dumbass ? add nothing to the music and his on stage act is pretty lame IMO

Greevus · #13 07-07-2010, 04:13 PM

Great for Maiden playing the newer stuff. Nostalgia is dull and overdone these days. However, the '80s Maiden is the real Maiden! Crazy to compare the current to the old.
TOOL is definitely geared towards Hallucinogens! Ever hear of Skinny Puppy? Maybe even Pink Floyd??

Muaguana · #14 07-07-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greevus

TOOL is definitely geared towards Hallucinogens! Ever hear of Skinny Puppy? Maybe even Pink Floyd??

I've actually heard a few people say that Tool are the present-day Pink Floyd. And honestly, I can't disagree with that.

Just as an aside...
Skinny Puppy is awesome. Nivek Ogre's latest solo album, Devils In My Details, is a lot closer to those roots than his past 2 albums. Trippy-as-hell stuff.

StingrayDerek · #15 07-07-2010, 04:26 PM

Saw Maiden on the 26th and I'm seeing TOOL tonight!

Psyched!!!

Ayliffe · #16 07-07-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayDerek

Saw Maiden on the 26th and I'm seeing TOOL tonight!

Psyched!!!

Have fun, they put on one of the best show's i've ever seen.

onlyclave · #17 07-07-2010, 04:42 PM

I always thought Tool was more like King Crimson and Porcupine Tree was Pink Floyd.

Marco A. Mayer · #18 07-07-2010, 05:04 PM

Porcupine Tree is more like a mix of the both. If you've heard Porcupine Tree's Deadwing, Fear of a Blank Planet and Nil Recurring you can tell there's a pretty strong Crimso influence.

Randall · #19 07-08-2010, 09:39 AM

Saw Tool last night and Iron Maiden on June 26.
Iron Maiden was great and the crowd was wild all night long. One of the loudest crowds I have heard in a long while.

Tool started out kinda slow and the sound was just ok for the first few songs then they got the mix down and the sound was awesome.

Second time I have seen Tool and what a weird show they put on. The opposite of the "rock star show". Justin frequently turned his back on the crowd to look at Carey, he also kneeled down a lot in front of his pedal setup looking back at the rest of the band.

Maynard hid beside the drummers monitor setup for the whole show-If you sat on the opposite side of the arena you would have never seen him the entire show. He stood with his back to the audience most of the show looking back at the video screen. Almost as weird as when I saw A Perfect Circle and he was inside this giant rubber ball/condom thingie dancing and posing and pushing out the rubber ball with his hands and feet.

Very refreshing to see a band who does it their way and does not follow the cookie cutter rock show formula.

The guitar/bass/drummer techs dressed in white lab coats just added to the atmosphere.

Geddyfleaharris · #20 07-08-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muaguana

I've actually heard a few people say that Tool are the present-day Pink Floyd. And honestly, I can't disagree with that.

No neither can I. I said to the guy I was with that it seemed like a Pink Floyd/Rush concert combined with a political rally against the backdrop of aliens landing. It was bizarre but full kudos to them for not just being just another rock band. My other comment to my friend was that it was more an art performance than a rock concert. One that I am glad I saw.