A Perfect Circle / Auf Der Maur
3 February 2004
Hammersmith Apollo, London

After a break which seems like an eternity, 2004`s gigging year didn`t blast off, but commenced in a no less intense fashion than the usual gigs to grace our website. I was certainly expecting something quite arty and the notice on the actual gig advert stating strictly no cameras reinforced this. It also meant Johan starts this year as he ended last with a night off!

Auf Der Maur open tonight`s gig, being essentially the vehicle for Melissa Auf der Maur`s solo career. Melissa`s career has seen stints in both Hole and Smashing Pumpkins and, given this, there is an apparent level of interest tonight, also no doubt due to her solo album collaborations with the likes of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age / Kyuss), Brandt Bjork (Kyuss), Chris Goss (Masters Of Reality), Eric Erlandson (Hole) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins / A Perfect Circle).

Following a short comical intro of various voices saying Auf Der Maur (I get the impression throughout that she`s trying to ensure it`s pronounced correctly!), things start promisingly with Lightning Is My Way. Immediately the Queens Of The Stone Age connection is evident, musically at least, whereas Melissa`s vocals are more in the Hole / Babes In Toyland territory. Now admittedly, although her vocals aren`t as coarse as the aforementioned female fronted acts, they certainly are of the type that grates for my own personal taste.

Things go downhill for me from second track Beast of Honor. This track had found its way on to a number of magazine promo cd`s and hence sparks a glimmer of recognition amongst a small minority in the crowd, for which for the most the reaction remains pretty flat during songs.

The problem for me, other than the vocals, is that the material harks back to the early 90s alternative scene and would have probably been sub-standard then. I`ve seen numerous unsigned bands with better material that haven`t made it on to a major tour like this, probably as they weren`t able to surround themselves with their music celebrity friends nor possess an alternative pin-up look.

Apparently James Iha joined them onstage to add some ebow to Head Unbound, though I`d wandered off to the loo so I missed him!

Safe to say Auf Der Maur just don`t do it for me, until they shock with a surprisingly good closing number in new single Followed The Waves.

Auf Der Maur Set List:
Intro / Lightning Is My Girl / Beast of Honor / Real A Lie / My Foggy Notion / Head Unbound / I Need I Want I Will / Skin Receiver / I`ll Be Anything You Want / Followed The Waves

In case we had forgotten we are once again reminded over the PA that anyone taking photos would be ejected and were also asked to refrain from smoking due to band illness, which was met with a mixture of jeers and cheers.

Maynard Keenan insists that A Perfect Circle and Tool are two distinct full-time bands, neither being his side project, though the success of Tool has often seen A Perfect Circle as the poorer relation. I read in an interview that Keenan sees Tool as masculine and A Perfect Circle as feminine and this is certainly reflected in tonight`s entrancing live performance.

We had been curious of a raised square tented area on stage where you would usually find the drum kit, which revealed itself to be Maynard`s base for the entire performance. The drapes remain up around him for opener Vanishing, with a very effective circle of light at the front hosting his shadow from various angles creating a visual representation of the song.

To Maynard`s left is Josh Freese`s drum riser and symmetrically to the right is a similar sized riser for James Iha, complete with keyboard. Jeordie White, looking very different to his Marilyn Manson days, in a geography teacher`s suit roams the area on stage below Iha with Billy Howerdel occupying the space to his left. The band remain in this formation throughout with little movement, though the fantastic simplistic yet moody lighting means much movement isn`t required and would have distracted from the hypnotic effect.

Maynard`s drapes fall at the start of Pet, however he remains in the shadows throughout, hiding behind his long wig whilst rocking on the spot. His voice, as ever, is flawless throughout with a resonance which is unrivalled.

Just as I had become fully entranced by the performance the gig took an unusual turn with James Iha "proving American`s weren`t funny" by telling some jokes! "Where do penguins keep their money?", "A snow bank!". Very odd and the band break from their serious presentation on a few other occasions including allowing Jeordie to sing a song which appeared to be called 'Fred`s Got Slacks".

There was a slight lull for me mid-set with Thinking Of You & Thomas, though I think this was mainly to do with the draining heat of the venue which for a gig with no crowd movement was incredibly claustrophobic. However, The Package followed by Three Libras was an awesome pairing and, in line with the whole performance, the playing was incredibly tightly whilst remaining fluid.

Dispensing with leaving the stage, Maynard asks us to imagine they have actually gone off and come back on before 13th Step stand out track The Outsider pushed the set into heavier territory. Josh Freese`s drum work was particularly impressive and you can see why he seems to be in so much demand by so many bands.

Again, Maynard asks us to imagine the band have gone off again to return Barbara Streisand like with feather boa and different coloured wig for a final, final encore of Judith which incites the most movement from an audience who have remained politely transfixed for the most part. The song also features some excellent slide work from Billy Howerdrel.

It`s difficult not to draw comparison to Tool as similarly to their gigs this was almost more of spiritual experience than any ordinary gig and the presentation was similar to. My own personal tastes lean towards Tool, but I`m glad to have the benefit of being able to enjoy both. Although Maynard may have remained in the shadows tonight, the turn-out and reception tonight ensured A Perfect Circle certainly stepped out from the long shadow Tool has cast over them.

A Perfect Circle Set List:
Vanishing / Pet / The Hollow / Magdalena / Weak And Powerless / Orestes / Blue / Fred`s Got Slacks / Thinking Of You / Thomas / The Package / Three Libras / The Nurse Who Loved Me / Gravity / James` Velvet Underground tune / The Outsider / The Noose / Judith