A PERFECT CIRCLE: THIRTEENTH STEP 2003-2004
TILBURG, NL [013 CLUB]
1.30.04
By citizeninsane
I went with a friend who wasn't into the band, but he was the one to get me on a guest list, since I didn't manage to get the ticket (the show sold out within an hour!!). Originally I was gonna go with my best friend, but something came up and she couldn't come. We decided with my other friend that we will try and tape the show. We managed to get the mini disc in, but unfortunately didn't get a good recording. We are still noobs in this business.
I have met Lilah, which was awesome. We found a good spot just to the right of a soundboard. 013 is actually a club, very small and intimate, with great acoustics and great view anywhere you stand. We had a great view on the entire band, except for a “cousin IT” in front of us, she did get in a way sometimes.
The show was absolutely amazing and I can't even compare it to that gig back in September, when APC supported Deftones. Maynard was being his witty self from the very beginning. After Magdalena he introduced the band: "Billy Howerdel, put your hands in the air like you just don't care. Throw your hands in the air like you kinda care. Let's raise the roof, yeah. Now, give me your wallet." "The man, picking his nose, oh, his eye, whatever, picking something, Jeordie White". "Ladies and gentleman, Vince Neil.……..James Iha". "In the back up Josh Freese". "Oh also, in the back, you can't see him, Mr. T himself". At that moment a big group of people sang the A team theme song, which was rather amusing.
Maynard's voice was really good that night, Jeordie was being as intense as usual, cracking up some funny moves too. But the person who really caught my attention was Mr. Josh. Man, was he intense!!! That man wasn't just drumming, he was performing. I was incredibly impressed. Billy did wonderfully and the band sounded very, very tight. They're getting better and better, definitely. The absolute highlight for me was The Package, the most intense song of the whole show. Josh just killed me and Maynard went all psycho on his little platform, I don't know how he managed not to fall!!
Mr. T was with us the whole time, a source of some great jokes throughout the whole show. The crowd was very attentive and very polite - there was no flash photography and as far as I know, no one even smoked. There was no time to think about that. The show took all of our attention. I was ever so glad to hear Orestes, with a breath taking solo by Billy. Also Thinking of You - the "thinking of you" part was insane, and the part in Thomas: "hoping to reconnect with you" repetition was incredibly hypnotic. The Nurse Who Loved Me was the sexiest song that night and had me melting!
Fred's Got Slacks was hilarious, since I've never heard the new verses!! "James wears jeans" had me rolling on the floor...
James did his Backstreet boys thing, that guy looks sweet and kinda numb, but I think he's totally fucked up in his head.
Towards the end, Maynard said: "Thank you for coming down to share this time with us. Look out for each other on your way home, cuz after all, each other is all you've got. Be good to your people."
After the show Lilah literally dragged me backstage, that was worth the few good laughs I had.
I’m very much hoping that the band will be back in Summer, since they mentioned that in couple of other shows. I wish I lived in UK, these bastards are getting 6 shows this time around!
To sum up my sorry ass excuse for a review, the experience was enchanting. They’re one of the best bands live, that’s for sure. And, above all, you can see they’re really enjoying themselves on the stage and are happy with each other. That really shows and makes every show unique, I bet. I’m glad I’m an APC fan, they’ve got my heart, that's for sure.