Catching up part 1: Tool

I'd say the first big event that happened since last posting was the Tool concert.
Wow.
Seriously the best concert I have been to.
Amazing.
I came twice (just without the ejaculation). It was the same mental feeling as when I came. Twice. Once during Wings PtII, and once during the next song, Lateralus.
Wow.
Holy fucking shit.
Amazing.
Went with Mike S and Ross. Ben (from work) was there too, but not sitting with us.
Originally the tickets sold out in 35 minutes, and we didn't get any, but later they released 1000 extra tickets, but didn't advertise it, and it was from these 1000 tickets that we sourced ours. These 1000 tickets weren't released when the others went on sale, because they lay to the extreme side of the stage and Tool weren't sure if their stage show would permit viewing from that angle. Well, obviously it did. We were pretty far back, but the seats actually turned out to be freakin awesome. We could see every member, and even saw Danny and Maynard do a little play off for the final beat/scream on one of the songs (I don't remember what song though).
Fucken awesome.
Fucking, fucking, fucking awesome show.
Here is the setlist:

Stinkfist (standard live version with extended breakdown)
forty fix & 2
Jambi
Schism (with fast breakdown middle bit thingo)
Lost Keys (no dialogue/vocals)
Rosetta Stoned
Danny drum solo (sounded VERY much like Ticks & Leeches and Triad)
Swamp Song
Wings for Marie
10,000 Days
Lateralus
Vicarious
Aenima

Wow. Just wow.
Just. Wow.
Yeah. Best concert I've ever been to. Better than Nine Inch Nails, better than Massive Attack, better than the other Tool shows, better than Mogwai.
Best. Concert. Ever.
Speechless.

More to come soon.

Weekend

Not much to say really.
Well, I suppose there is.
I started applying for jobs last week, and will continue to do so this week.
Dad decided to come down to the Hunter on the weekend, using Peter's broken ankle as a reason.
I hadn't seen him for 4 years maybe. Crazy. It was really good to see him actually, and Tomasina (sp?) too. I also saw (for the first time) my half-sister Helen. She's lovely.
The top thing about seeing Dad, is that I did a fair bit of driving (he owns a manual), and he has given me enough money to get my licence, as well as help toward registering the EH! Hot shit! So I will be calling Ross this afternoon to see if he'll help me with some driving before I Go for my test (which I will be booking v. soon). I can't wait. It will certainly make getting a job easier.
Speaking of jobs, Michael KP is taking me to the Rural Fire Service GIS Centre today for a gander at how it all works. Neato! My good mate Levi actually works there, so maybe I'll see him. It's meant to be a very impressive place, and it is actually one of the places I would like to look for employment, but I don't think my skills are quite up to par at the moment. I'm still going to apply though.
So yeah, at the moment I'm just waiting for MKP to pick me up from Jon's.
Anyway, back to Dad. We went to the Zoo, Alex's baseball game, dinner a few times, lunch, and a cheese-based breakfast at the Hunter Valley Gardens. When I get my license, I'll probably start heading up more regularly.
I was meant to come back down to Sydney on Monday, but I stayed up at the Hunter to see Dad off on Monday, and on Tuesday, Mum didn't want Peter to come down (they've been fiting alot lately), so I had to stay up at the Hunter. So I'm finally down today. I don't think I missed anything too interesting...
Oh, and Tool have been confirmed to tour in January (RIGHT around Big Day Out, so I reckon it's pretty clear that they'll be playing there this year), and tickets go on sale this Friday... let's hope I have money by then.
Is that it?
I think so.

I should be inSydney for the rest of the week, but am helping with the move from Scotland Island this weekend, so I once again won't be available. Sucks.
Later gator,

Listening to: Melvins + Lustmord - Pigs of the Roman Empire. I like it. Very atmospheric.

More Tool Love

Hey, guess what. I'm once again in bed listening to Tool's 10 000 Days, and I thought I should tell you folk that I Love this album. LOVE IT!
--
This message was sent from my mobile.

10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)

Oh my God.
I'm just now listening to the Tool song "10,000 Days (wings Pt 2)" and I just had something close to a religious experience/orgasm.
Seriously.
I was reading the lyrics as the song was playing, and as I came to this point:

You're the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I have come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"

My eyes closed, my head fell back, my mouth opened, I got goosebumbs all down my face/neck/arms/chest, followed by a hot flush, and I couldn't breath properly. Wow.
Fuck man. I cannot believe this album. I Love you Tool. I fucking Love you.

If you want the lyrics, go here:
http://toolshed.down.net/lyrics/10kdayslyrics.php

Ok, back to the album now. Quiet please.

Tool

I'm currently lying in bed listening to 10,000 Days, and I am completely blown away. So much so in fact that I had to roll over, snatch up my phone and make a quick post to my blog. I just needed to let someone know. Tool blow my mind. 10,000 days is fucking brilliant.
Tool, I LOVE you! I really do. Please tour soon. Please.

10 000 Days

so I'm FINALLY listening to the new Tool album. I must say I'm impressed. I've just moved into what seems to be a second act (there was a brief interlude, and the music sounds different now). I think I preffered the first act, especially as the track Rosetta Stoned sounds very much like parts of Schism (I think it's Schism, it reminds me very strongly of a particular riff off of Lateralus anyway).
What's up with the Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) song? Well, not so much the song, but that weird Aussie-esque doctor's voice... not quite Australian, not quite English. Odd. I like the way it leads into Rosetta Stoned though. I quite like the transitions so far. I also like the way that the lyrics are slowing down as the song progresses... considering this was the song I found disappointing because of it sounding a little like Schism, I sure am pointing out alot of cool bits in it... maybe it's just because it's the song I'm listening to right now...
I'm not yet up to that epic, ejaculate-in-your-pants song that the guy at Infected Mushroom told me about... but it isn't 15 minutes long anyway; the last song is only 5 minutes or so. Maybe it's the one before the last track? I dunno. We'll see.
Anyway. The album is tops, and I can only seeing it becoming better with subsequent listens.
Tool: You guys rock my world!

Listening to: Did you read my post above?

Best Weekend Ever?

I'm currently sitting on the train from Newcastle, on my way to Hornsby to meet Jon; we're going to see V for Vendetta. Jon's not welcome home tonight because his brothers girlfriend is coming home tonight after being away for 3 months. 'nuff said.
But anyway... about my weekend.
Friday I spent with my dear friend Linden, whom I've not seen in a very long time. We watched The Proposition (the Nick Cave movie). It was pretty good. I'd like to see it again to think it over a bit more. I didn't think it was 5 star material...
Boggle and I also went over to Jon's to waste time for a bit when Linden went to dinner.
I stayed the night at Linden's because I was meeting Alex at Gordon station at 6am. We were heading to Newcastle for a job, and after that I was meeting Sophie there.
The job went well (despite Alex being drunk from a party the night before), and I met up with Sophie easily.
Ah, Sophie. I'm totally fucking smitten, as is she. We spent the rest of the weekend together at my Hunter Valley house. We even made sushi! We've both fallen for each other very hard and very fast. Yeah, so smitten.
So, if the weekend consisted of me just seeing Soph, it would have been fucking brilliant, but it didn't.
Tool also released their new album, and I picked it up on Saturday. I haven't listened to it yet (AH!), because of not being able to give it the attention it deserves with Sophie around (or was it not being able to Give Sophie the attention she deserves with the album around?). So I'm fucking keen to hear it. It's got a fucking cool cover, complete with a stereoscope! Fucken A.
But that's not all that happened.
I also received a letter from the Kentucky Consulate Center. I've been selected for the final round of diversity visas. There's a 50/50 chance of me getting a green card! Fucken A! I have to return some forms, then I'll be notified of an interview date, them, if approved, I pay the near $1000 fee, and then I can live, work and learn in the states! To say it again, Fucken A! I might have to go to the states within 6 months of it being issued though... better start saving.
So this weekend was dream-like; a beautiful woman I love, a new Tool album and the chance to get a Green Card.
Magic.

Listening to: The Proposition Soundtrack. Moody...