2002.11.24 - Long Beach, CA, USA @ Long Beach Arena
Source A: Mini Disc --- Core Sound Binaurals > Denecke AD-20 > Sony MZ R-700
Taper: Armen <Zh'ian Osatch>
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes:
This is, IMO, the best of Armen's recordings - the sweet spot was found, if you know what I mean. The recording is just loud enough but not to the point of brickwall or distortion. Hold that, actually, on disc #2, the bass overpowers the mics a bit as it has been said that it was turned up by the soundman, but I have no way to prove or disprove that. As for disc #1, the sound is one of the best MD's I've heard from this leg of the tour. Fresh, crisp & rather professional...with the exception of someone saying "where's the lemonade guy when you need him" as Eon Blue Apocalypse is being performed - not the taper but some random dumb-ass hanging around... he talks a bit during the show. But such is a live recording. This is the last show of the Lateralus tour &, really, I think Tool has been looking forward to it. Time to rest & spend time at home, I assume. Also, this show & this particular recording has one of the best versions I've ever heard of Third Eye. 'Nuff said. Quality, all around.
Maynardism:
"Good evening Long Beach. We assume you've come to have fun. We assume you've come to have fun. If you don't mind, we're gonna specify what kind of fun we've had in mind. Not the, uh, not the WWF, MTV dry-hump, dipshits gone wild on crack kind of fun. And of course not the dick-Durst, Kid-cock, big-time Monster Truck Rally kind of fun either. Because we aren't going to underestimate your intelligence. The kind of fun we have in mind tonight is intelligent fun, compassionate fun, psychedelic & introspective fun. Hopefully, kind of fun that leaves you inspired, not just on a physical/sensual level but also on a mental/spiritual & emotional level. The kind of fun that scares the fuck out of religious fanatics & Republicans. In other words, dangerous fun. So, are you ready for that? Ok...where were we?"
CD 1
Time: 79:06
Fripp
Tuva
Sober
The Grudge
(-) Ions
Stinkfist
Eon Blue Apocalypse
The Patient
Schism
Parabol
Parabola
Third Eye
(Noise > Hicks > Leary)
CD 2
Time: 57:59
Intermission
Disposition
Reflection
Triad
Lateralus
Source B: Sony ECM-717 > Sony MZ-R700 (Mic-In LP2, Loge seats Right stack)
Taper: Distortion
Notes: Last show of the Lateralus tour. Real nice recording. Usually, the sound of Sony ECM mics sort of drives me nuts but they really are not so bad on this recording. Although the bass may slightly brickwall & distort when a deep high end hits, really, that is not a very terrible aspect, all things considered. There is also an ever-so-slight high end distortion such as when a cymbal really crashes. Pleasant recording. It is funny that during a rather slower part of the performance, someone next to the taper is screaming, the taper says "shut the hell up". Interesting. Is this the best sounding source for this performance? No. It is an interesting capture, regardless. There are alternative transfers of this show in the trade-pool, please pay attention to what you attain. The following information was provided by taper: Transfer: DIGITAL - Sony MDS-E10 (SPDIF Out) > M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496 (SPDIF In) > Sound Forge 7.0 w/ Waves Masters Tools (EQ and Level) > CDWave (Tracking) > .WAV > .FLAC / Generation: 0 (Direct Digital Transfer) / Transferred Digitally / 12/2005…
Notes: Armen, if you look up past few shows, told me that he heard one of his friends yell his own name on Distortions’ recording. I cannot say I have heard that but I bet if someone listened to the post-show closely, you would hear that. Enjoy that Easter Egg.
CD 1
Time: 62:10
CD 2
Time: 73:52
CD 3
Time: 12:07
Source C: Mini Disc --- Sony ECM-MS907 > Sony MZ-R37
Source: MS907 > Sony MZ-R37 > Line Out > Unknown Sound Card > Nero Wave Editor > CD WAVE > Nero Burning Rom 5.0 > CDR
Taper: Daskrabs / Matt C.
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: Of the sources that have surfaced thus far, this recording is probably the lowest in 'quality', although it is rather decent by most standards. That said, there are some very, very good sounding sources out there... this is definitely a pleasant listen. There is a slight brickwall when the bass really sort of hits/crunches & that detracts from the overall enjoyment - even though it is rather slight. I think the main issue is that the crowd is louder than average. But, hard to really find any sort of faults or anything like that. So, all in all, a nice enough capture. This particular recording may float around with source info or without source info + may float around with various disc times. All known copies are SHN based.
CD 1
Time: 79:56
CD 2
Time: 52:48
Source D: Mini Disc --- Sony ECM-MS908 > Sony MZ R-700
Taper: Sean <Omar Osatch>
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: Ok. Honestly, this recording should not, I repeat not, sound as good as it does. What, with the $85 Sony mics & a basic MD recorder, I was expecting nothing which was -nearly- as good as Omar pulled off. It is my opinion that, for the average listener, you pit this up against a taper with equipment twice as much & most people could not tell the difference. I do not say this lightly. It should be noted that there are a few people standing by the taper that make a bit of noise every now & then. But, such is a live recording, only adds to the interest. Oh, and I could be wrong, but on disc #1, track #7 @ 11:18, I swear to God I hear my name being spoken. I know these guys, so, maybe it is, maybe not. Anyway, this is a very nice capture of Tool live. Something to be proud about.
CD 1
Time: 78:28
CD 2
Time: 69:43
Source E: Mini-DV --- Panasonic Canon ZR50MC
Source E: Master > DVD
Taper: Pr1ck
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: Filmed from the left side of the venue, up, this is a very nice capture of the last night of the Lateralus tour. There are a couple of moves as well. Although the video is a little shaky at times, is moved a couple & there are a couple quick drop-outs, these are hardly major issues or concerns. All in all, I doubt many other people could do much better. Interesting, the taper did some real nice mixing/editing job with the screens & the performance by the band. Speaking of which, there are some real nice screen-shots and also some very interesting close-ups. The sound is real nice, especially for using Min-DV & all. You will be hard-pressed to find a better recording, audio + visual than this. This is, if nothing else, a good way for Tool to go out in 2002... even though the back-drop does not fall during the opening of the Grudge, leaving MJK standing there with his arms up looking silly.
Time: 2:00:12
Source F: DAT --- Core Sound Binaurals > Sony PCM-M1 (Oade Bros Mod II) @ 48 KHZ
Position: Floor / Front of Stack
Taper: Smagmapig
Gen: 1
Notes: Without a doubt, this is THE penultimate source for this performance. Well, it would be a second by a close margin if Tool ever released a SBD of this performance like that would happen; that's how good this taper's creation is. Other than a slight blurb at the beginning of Third Eye this is virtually flawless. Telling you, this taper had (maybe still has, I do not know) some amazing Tool-taping-mojo. Not only is this the last performance from 2002 but it is also the last known performance of Third Eye &, man, it is one psychadelic journey. Definitely the best performance of this tour & in the contention for most interesting, overall. Beautiful front of stack recording that without a doubt captured the vibe, spirit & music of Tool in the most accurate of ways. Very impressive; I do not think I have pulled an AUD of Tool that I could put up against this one - hell, few people have! Highly recommended.
DAT
Time: 2:21:57