2007.07.01 - Youngstown, OH, USA @ Chevrolet Center

Source A: DAT --- DPA 4061 > MPS6030 > Sony PCM-M1 (Oade Mod II) @ 48 kHz
Source B: DAT — Sony PCM-M1 / m
Transfer: DAT-M > Tascam DA-20 > Coaxial > Audiophile 24/96 > Goldwave (resample, EQ) > CD Wave
Location: Floor, Sec 102, Seat 1 (aisle) / Approx: 12 rows from dead center stage
Taper: Galen
Gen: collectiveunconscious.org Master Recording

2024 Notes: Retransferred this AUD source as I was convinced I could make it sound better than when it was transferred back almost two decades prior. I was sort of successful. This transfer and EQ brings out the vocals a bit more however they are still somewhat buried in the mix as this venue was basically a big hockey arena with lots of echo and low end due to the acoustics, or lack thereof. This is my opinion, I played some of this for my eldest son and he was like “yeah sounds good” so like many things in life, the quality is in the eye of the beholder.

2007 Notes: Located in the ultra-glamorous tourist destination known as Youngstown, OH the Chevrolet Centre (where Tool performed this evening) certainly is a sight to behold. Worth the collected 9 hour drive to/from my house? For Tool, perhaps. The staff were so endearing & charming throughout the evening. From the obese, bald-headed, moustache-sporting man riding on a golf cart (while eating a microwave cheeseburger - no, really, I asked him where he got it) who demanded $10 to park to the ever so charming middle-aged, power-hungry (lacking) security men (also with moustaches) yelling at people throughout the performance. Many, sadly, simply looked confused. Met up with a fellow taper friend, Nameloc, at this show for a frosty beverage. Not sure what was in that beer we had (or the zigz) as I must have been out of my mind like Dave (or at this show 'Tom') as in Rosetta Stoned as I swear we heard both Stinkfist + Jambi coming from the venue as we sat in my truck. It's amazing what a beer can do to your sense of space/time but thankfully I did not have to drive until hours later (and I just had 3 beers throughout the night) so it was all fine. After making it into the venue, setting up the equipment for taping, we had some time to reflect on the collected works of Nietzsche & the influence of nihilism in American society (while applying that to the masses in attendance) through the haze of anticipation of seeing the modern day Pink Floyd live, yet again. Good times, good times. This source turned out rather well, in my opinion. Had one of the better seats for a Tool show that I've had the chance to witness to this date. The mix was very well done during this performance & MJK's vocals are very clear in the mix. This is, basically, what a DPA 4961 > DAT recording should sound like. I'm not trying to blow myself or anything in regards to the quality of this recording nor am I trying to sound pompous, simply put, this is pretty much what a DAT + these mics are best at. You like it or you don't. All part of the musical taste. Of course there are the people that yip, the security people that stand looking like rent-a-cops from the 1980's & a drunk-dude who asks me (during Jambi) what aisle I'm in (instead of talking to him, I show him my ticket). As it is, it is what it is.

Notes: Security was very tight this evening. As such, I did not feel comfortable starting my M1 in my seat thus I chose to do it in a stall. Tool were supposed to be on the stage at 9:05pm, however, they did not come on until 9:15pm. Thus since the timing was an issue my Vicarious is incomplete due to running out of tape… Such was the issue with DDS 60m tapes. Ah well.

Time: 1:53:06

<bass drone>
Jambi

"Cincinnati got this right.  Let's see how smart you people are. Don't embarrass me. Don't embarrass me. Round on the end, high in the middle. Fucking embarrassing. Should be ashamed of yourselves. You get one more chance then Danny Carey is going to take a big, sticky dump right there in the middle of the stage. One chance. Round on the ends, high in the middle. Round on the ends & high in the middle! Jesus fucking Christ."

(-) ions
Stinkfist
46&2
The Pot
Schism
Lost Keys
Rosetta Stoned
Flood

"No flash cameras during this song, thank you. No flash cameras, please. Please, no flash cameras."

Wings For Marie
10,000 Days
Lateralus

"Thanks Cody. Make A Wish foundation runner-up, Cody. Thanks for coming down, buddy, hope that shit clears up. So, uh, I'm not really an authority on hockey, but uh, very, very sorry to hear that the Cavaliers did not make it all the way. I'm just kidding... sorry about that. We'll see you again very soon, swear to Bob. Peace Out."

Vicarious
(DPA 4061 source - incomplete)

Source C: Hi-Mini Disc --- Sound Professionals CMC4U (ATU853) > Nady CBM40 > Denecke PS-2 > Sony MZ-M100 (PCM mode)
Transfer: MD Master > Behringer 802 > Sony RCDW 500 CD Burner > CD (1) > CD(2) ((cu.org copy))
Location: Floor, Sec 101, Row N, Seat 2
Taper: Nameloc1 - We miss you, man.

Notes: Well I could explain to you that in comparison with some other recordings from this taper that this source seems a bit more bass-heavy than the other three Tool masters, that the vocals seem to be a bit buried (much more so than at the show) & I could discuss the fact that this source manages to blend the precision of Danny's drumming, the rhythm of Justin's bass & the dark, drop-d of Adam's distorted guitar into a recording that is not only blissful but powerful. I could also mention that the performance at this rather small-venue show in the middle of bum-fuck Ohio is quite possibly one of the better performances that I, for one, have ever experienced. The band was simply "on". But why do that when I could discuss having a couple beers with the taper prior to the show? Yeah. I enjoyed a couple delicious Budweisers & I believe Jason was quenched by the quality of Guinness as we watched the hordes of Tool-tee-shirt wearing "OGT's" careening to/fro. You know, there is nothing like hearing the band you are going to see as you listen to them in the parking lot - you know, those folks must share their love of the band by jamming to each CD at dB level 20 out of stock speakers? Yeah, them. But after a pleasant walk around the facility, talking about the 1960's counter-culture's influence over not only music, drug policy & the pursuit of happiness it was time to go into the venue. The security was not too insane & we both were able to secure a nice place to set up our equipment in style.

CD 1
Time: 67:52

CD 2
Time: 50:54

Source D: Solid State Recorder --- Edirol R-09 (built in mics)
Taper:      Nooc210 (TAPERATEN)

Notes: Although it is cool that the taper shared this recording with some people (note: he did not want it torrented), one could argue that this is at the most an "ok" recording as there are other more high quality sources available but if, at the stroke of 3am you suddenly were freaking out & just had to hear a random performance of a 2007 show & could not find anything else, then this would suit you well. As it is, to me, it sounds sort of like it was recorded in a pocket or something. A sock? I don't know. The overall feel is muddied. It is good that the R09 has the capability of recording with it's own internal mics, however, they are certainly not the best. By any stretch of the imagination. That said, I've had the internal's be a saving grace for me in a pinch because some source is better than no source.

Time: 1:58:02