1993.08.29 - Dronten, The Netherlands @ The Lowlands Festival
Euro-Tour
Festival: The Lowlands
Source A: Sound Board > Analog Cables > Cassette-M > DAT-2 @ 32 KHZ
Taper: Sound Engineer
Gen: DAT-2
Notes: This is the most complete recording from Tool of this particular performance (already with SBD FM + video available -- both incomplete). There is something to be said about the intricate, nuanced & shockingly precise manner in which Tool went about delivering their art. Strong, forceful, aggressive but also subtle, vulnerable & measured in a mix of raw emotion and balanced professionalism. If you think about it, Tool were a very young band on their first International tour in Europe in the opening or one of the opening slots for Rage Against The Machine headlining club shows. Many, if not most, of the European audiences had not heard of them or had much exposure - let alone know what to expect. But, here it is, captured in time. Imagine that... Also, for reasons a little too confusing to mention here, this recording has commonly (or not so commonly) floated around as "01/31/1993 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Pumpehuset". That information was wrong. This mistake was discovered & verified in early 2009.
Time: 33:16
Setlist:
Intolerance
(incomplete/cut about 1:30 into song)
Paul: Thank You.
Hush
Paul: Wake Up! This song is called Sober
Sober
MJK: Are you awake yet?
Prison Sex(same opening guitar riff as the 2nd Prison Sex on Tales from the Darkside bootleg)<in distance, MJK saying "Opiate, Gregg said Opiate">MJK: Bahhh bhhaaaahh baaaah
Opiate
Bottom
Source B: SBD > FM > Cassette > CD
Notes - Galen 2023: This particular source, the actual and incomplete FM Broadcast, was widespread as it was aired from Prison Sex to Flood. It is in fact not the same as the SBD/DAT sourced recording which is complete. The sound has a subjective tinny vibe.
Notes - Galen 2002: One of the few soundboard recordings available for open trade - technicall not really a SBD in the case of a Tool SBD but a rare FM broadcast. Rare in regards that Tool simply does not or did not do many radio performances. However, the broadcast may not be the entire set by Tool. It is incomplete. Nonetheless, this is very, very cool & an updated recording reportedly came out in late 2003; that version was not broadcasted on the radio like the majority of copies floating around in trade are. As such, there are different versions with different track times & disc times. This was also released on MP3 a while back - recommend keeping rack of where your recording came from, if at all possible. . Also, has a DJ-woman speaking in Dutch after the first two tracks; then a cut as her part was cut....which makes me wonder if the guy who taped this off the radio kept the entire set, with commentary, I doubt that more of this show was broadcasted, am certain it was fully taped. Maybe one day we will know. Until then, interesting recording, the sound quality is just amazing. Definitely worth tracking down. There are some people that tell me that most AUD recordings are better quality than SBDs. As much as I enjoy the sound of a decent AUD recording, hearing SBD stuff is just a different experience & is a way for the listener to hear the music any real interruptions. But, to each his own - I would recommend this recording.
Notes: by - Ryan A: A rare FM broadcast of an early festival performance in Holland. Honestly, I just don't think they had the foresight or clout enough to bar this station from taping/broadcasting their performance, or else they would have. Good for us: Now we have part of their set that day!
Typical excellent FM sound. But (and this is a big but): while Tool is scorching their way through Bottom, right at the the climax toward the end of the song ("Hatred keeps me alive ..."), the DJ cuts in, talks over the song, and goes to commercial! AHHHHH! Horrendous. This could have been one of the classic performances of Bottom ever (MJ's voice was soaring this day), with stellar sound, but instead - ruined. This is yet another reason why Tool should not be played on the radio
Time: 26:27
Source: Professional Recording - MTV "Head Banger's Ball", Europe
Source: TV > 3rd Gen VHS > CD (transfer by Galen 2001)
Source: VHS > DVD (from CU.ORG VHS)
Notes: The sound & picture do quite a bit of jumping around, unfortunately. Have a feeling that the folks I received this item from had a bit of trouble with the PAL>NTSC-VHS transfer itself. The taper in question retired a few years ago. As it is, this is actually a relatively rare item. If you can overlook the issues associated with peaks in audio, then you will witness a rather interesting interview of MJK with a rather clueless MTV reporter. For those that are interested in the lachrymology of Tool & a complete line of 'bullshit' will definitely want to check this out. Seems rather talkative but also answers the questions in a relatively condescending manner. Classic. The host is the -classic- early '90's 'cool' woman VJ -- right up to the grunge clothing style. During the interview, Mr. Keenan was dressed in a sweatshirt whereas during the brief live shots on stage Maynard, in contrast, resembles a mental institution escapee from somewhere outside of Traverse City, MI, USA. MJK is sporting both a Mohawk & orange body-suit. How odd. Most importantly, there is a clip of "Bottom" from the Paradiso Festival - a pro shot. Which means, there is a complete recording, professional SBD audio + video out there somewhere. Imagine.
Notes: The DVD of this has 04.20.02 1G>DVD on it as well.
Maynardism: "We weren't really in the whole glam scene or anything like that.”
Time: 11:46
Setlist:
Interview <MJK>
Bottom <snippet>
Interview <MJK>
