Hey Kittaan and everyone else! My sincere apologies for not getting on here to post! I was just under the impression this thread was dead and haven't been looking for it. I haven't been coming much to fourtheye as I once did but it is still the best for Tool updates.
So the 4 shows I went to were of course AMAZING! I'm so glad I went to all four but especially his first stop in my current city, Madison WI. The sound was so good and VIP tickets had us in the front row. The two nights in Chicago were great as well as it was the debut of new material which was great. The first show I went to was in Chicago and the best of part of that show was being able to see one my favorite songs played live which I never thought I'd be lucky enough to see - TRAINS!!! He played it during the encore and it was brilliant. Some other specials he played was How Is Your Life Today? He also played Thank you which really wasn't my favorite but Lazarus was played as well and that was great. The Barrymore Theatre is Madison is a quaint theater where I was lucky enough to be standing right under Nick Beggs. I've been thinking about how I wish he'd keep the Porcupine Tree song strictly for when Richard, Colin and Gavin are on stage with him (the later ones least) just because there are other solo songs that I'd love to hear that could fill the set. Salvaging?
Most special of all (and this was very special, perhaps the best experience of my life) — we stayed in this hotel roughly a mile away from the Park West theatre in Chicago and only for one night as we planned on just driving home after the second show. So the morning after the second show, we were walking out of the hotel, with our hands FULL of bags. My shoulder was seriously hurting. We were about to reach this corner and my friends were a few feet behind me, when all of sudden right in front of me, crossing paths and turning left to cross the street was a familiar character. My mind buzzed, my heart raced, my hands shook - IT WAS STEVEN WILSON!!! There is Steven Wilson on his morning stroll, headphones on and newspaper in his hand. I was completely awe struck for seconds as I nudged my friend and asked if we should say anything or ask for a photo and we both agreed this was fate giving us a seriously precious opportunity to have a chat with the genius himself, so yes! A split second later here I am racing down the street like line backer with arms full of luggage shouting STEVEN!!!! (who had headphones on at the time). It felt like it took forever to catch up to him but when I did I was waving my hand to the side of him, trying to get his attention. He sees me out of the corner of his eyes and lifts one headphone speaker off his left ear and says "Sorry what?" I was like I AM A FAN! He sees my shirt and takes his headphones off, turns around and realizes we are fans.
I was seriously speechless. Never in my life did I ever imagine I'd have any opportunity to talk to the man himself ALONE! No other fans around besides a couple fans. I was saying a million things at once, he said something like "oh you're out of breath okay" and basically I asked for a photo and he said "of course" and gave us some of the best pictures ever, no people behind us, perfect lighting, pretty bushes in the background - just an awesome photo. So he ended up signing my Insurgentes 4 x 10 in silver and Grace for Drowning Deluxe in gold! I had markers with me, a vinyl bag with a bunch of deluxe editions in it and a book I've always wanted to give him because I think it's totally up his ally and reminds me so much of his style and interest plus his themes and elements in his music — my favorite book ever — House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. He looked at it for a few minutes and turned to me and said "it looks like a work of art!" In the first few pages, I had written a message to him about how much his music means to me, who I am, etc. I also told him how much I love his music and that it is an honor and shook his hand. I told him I'd be at the next three shows. After that, he waved and said goodbye.
WHAT WERE THE CHANCES OF THAT! We were so buzzed for the rest of the day and couldn't stop talking about it. It was like fate. I don't like posting photos of myself on the internet and I look pretty flustered in this great picture but here is the photo that we took during this encounter. I love how Steven looks with his headphones and new glasses!
What else? The Minneapolis show took place in a very small theatre and Steven Wilson commented it was the first standing show of the tour. I brought my mom! She had tears in her eyes during Happy Returns. I think many others did as well.
A lot of people were saying during the American tour how much they missed Guthrie and Marco but I really enjoyed Dave Kilminster and Craig Blundell. They were both awesome! I honestly thought Craig was more powerful then Marco from what I saw.
The best song I think was probably Index, it was a reworked version but I also got more chills during Ancestral.
There’s probably more but this puts it in a good summary. Ultimately, the cosmic coincidence of running into Steven Wilson was the best part of all. I’ll never forget what a kind, sweet, caring guy he is for the fans. Tool on the other hand, not so much. This is part of why I’ve made the decision not to get VIP. $500 for that is just too much. I’d rather find something on stub hub for half of that. Not to mention while I was in the middle of writing this, I just saw Steven Wilson is coming back to the USA and playing in Chicago two nights again! Not getting the VIPs will give me enough money to be set for those two nights! There’s no way I’d miss Steven Wilson 2 hours away!
They go on sale tomorrow (as well as the Tool tickets, LOL!), I’ll have enough money to buy both if I don’t get the VIPs which don’t even say if there is better seating included. It’s a much better decision. I saw Puscifer VIP style in 2012 I think and that was only $250! I’m very disappointed with a lot of things associated with the Tool world, everything that’s been associated with them lately isn’t showing any sort of genuine acknowledgement that they have fans who are human — just everything and I’m sure many people would agree with that. They’re still my favorite but it’s one of the reasons I haven’t been listening to Tool much and wondering if a new album will ever exist.
Anyone else going to anymore Tool shows or gone to any Steven Wilson shows? How have you been doing Kittaan and I apologize this took so long.
The Routine video is nothing short of genius. Reminds me of James and the Giant Peach. Maybe Ninet will be at shows.