LIVE AT PNC BANK ARTS CENTER
Rob and Lisa from Paragon Music Magazine checked out A PERFECT CIRCLE at the PNC BANK Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on Saturday May 1st. They both wrote glowing reviews, so rather than picking ONE, we'll post both of them for your rubbing pleasure.
(The reviews will also appear in the new issue of
Paragon Music Magainze)
Lisa:
Maynard James Keenan is an incredible artist with spectacular stage presence. I’ve seen him perform live twice now, and of course, it’s never enough. Whether he is putting on a show for Tool or A Perfect Circle, the experience is cathartic and mesmerizing. My eyes become fixated on him alone for most of the show. He sounds amazing live; just as good and, at times, even better than on the CDs. You find yourself moving to the rhythm of every song along with Maynard, getting engulfed by the music as much as he does. As a lyricist, Maynard is a genius, but nothing tops him when you see him live, when he is at his absolute best.
The May 1 show at PNC was the first time I got to experience APC live, and as soon as they hit the stage, I wished that the concert would never end. They played most of their songs from both Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step for an hour and a half straight. The band surprised us with some nice variations of some of our favorite songs, and in between songs, Maynard cracked a few jokes. Aside from a handful, the band played just about every song from their two albums. But two tracks I would’ve loved to hear live that they didn’t play were "Rose" and "Sleeping Beauty."
I’ll leave here with the advice that if you haven’t seen APC live yet and you’re a fan, definitely check them out the next time they come around.
Shitfuck!
and now here's one from
Rob:
Wow…May 1 at the PNC Bank Arts Center was the night of one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen many concerts. A Perfect Circle was dead on with every note of every song. There isn’t enough to say about how great that show was. They opened up with "Vanishing" which I half expected just because that song seemed like something obscure, and knowing how Maynard is you half expect something obscure. The best part of that song was that he stayed behind a giant curtain that surrounded him on all sides as his image was projected onto the cloth using the lights they had set up behind him. It was a very cool way to start the concert, especially using a song as creepy as that one. They blasted through everyone’s favorites, never skipping a beat. Between some songs Maynard took time to address the nation’s current problem with nipples and foul language. He made everyone say "Shitfuck" after a 3 count and then instructed everyone to observe his or her neighbor to see if it did any harm. He was right, no one went into convulsions or seizures.
APC is one of the few bands out there that can play live and sound exactly how they do on the album. If you closed your eyes you could almost swear you were listening to a CD. There are of course, exceptions to this…they played an incredible extended version of "The Nurse Who Loved Me" that was heavier than the album version, added extended endings to some songs, and even changed the lyrics to "Orestes." Even more incredible is that the drummer was playing with a broken foot.
APC is one of those bands that really connect with the audience, whether it’s through the music itself or just by talking to them between songs. If you ever get the chance to see them (if you haven’t already) I suggest you run and grab the best seats you can, this is a show you won’t want to miss! The live show is something that you have to experience to really appreciate; no amount of words can describe it on paper.
(Once again, these reviews will appear in the new issue of
Paragon Music Magainze)
