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I can’t even begin to describe the experience I had last week. Actually, I guess that was the beginning. I ended up going to both Tool shows in Los Angeles at the Staples Center (2006-09-07 and 2006-09-08) and I’m definitely glad that I did. They were my fifth and sixth Tool experiences respectively and I’d say first Staples show is tied for the best of the bunch with Long Beach 2002-11-24 when I got to see Third Eye and the beginning of Wings for Marie live (although no one knew Wings for Marie would exist yet at that point until four years later). I have been following the setlists of this tour’s shows pretty closely and they have been alternating between two different setlists with maybe some very minor changes here and there. Everyone has been waiting for them to play Wings for Marie and 10,000 Days off of the new album and it just happened to be that they played it for the first time at the first Staples show. Amazing and emotional experience. Played like the true musicians that they are. The second day we had a lot of time to kill so we were hanging out on the bridge that goes over where the stage exits from the Center and Adam Jones (the guitarist for those unfamiliar with Tool) came walking out to his bus with his wife Camella. We (my friend Matt who came with me and I) were too stunned to say anything so we just stared. When he was waiting for Camella to get the door open, he looked over at us, just staring back for a few seconds. It was as if he was wondering why we weren’t screaming like most idiots would have. The only thing I could think to do was wave and he smiled and waved back and with that, got onto the bus. Unreal.

I could go on forever about it but those were the highlights. Had a great time walking around downtown LA for two days, took lots of pictures on my phone. Hope to do it again next time they come around.

See the Phone Pics Gallery and the Digital Cam Photo Gallery for more pictures.