For most bands, playing a few of the same songs over multiple nights wouldn’t be a big deal. But when Tool, the progressive metal legends known for their intricate, decade-spanning discography, promised fans “two unique sets” at their exclusive Live in the Sand festival in Punta Cana, expectations were sky-high. Unfortunately, some attendees left feeling shortchanged when the band repeated four songs across both nights.
A Pricey Promise Broken?
Tool’s devoted fan base—many of whom have seen the band live more than a dozen times—flocked to the Dominican Republic for the weekend-long event. With a lineup featuring acts like Primus and Mastodon, and ticket packages ranging from $2,144 to $7,775 per person, expectations for a one-of-a-kind experience were justified.
Instead, some fans were met with déjà vu when Tool’s Saturday set included “Fear Inoculum,” “Rosetta Stoned,” “Pneuma,” and “Jambi”—all of which had been played the night before. Disappointed attendees weren’t shy about expressing their frustration. In fan-shot footage, you can hear scattered boos and even a few expletives hurled toward the stage.
Possible Class Action Lawsuit in the Works
One particularly upset attendee, lawyer Stasio French Rusek, is now considering legal action. A longtime Tool fan who has seen the band live more than 20 times, Rusek told Metal Hammer that he believes the festival failed to deliver on its advertised promise.
“What it boils down to is that purchasers of the festival package were promised ‘two unique sets’ by Tool,” Rusek explained. “The opportunity to see Tool play two unique sets—meaning no repeats—was the determining factor for most attendees to pull the trigger on spending thousands of dollars to attend.”
Fans Sound Off on Social Media
After the second night, Reddit and other social platforms were flooded with criticism from disappointed concertgoers. One Reddit user, who has attended 16 Tool shows, called the repeated songs “inexcusable” in a post that gained over 500 upvotes.
“They advertised unique setlists and played the same s—t they’ve been playing for six years now and had four duplicate songs between the two nights.”
However, not everyone was upset. Some fans still praised the experience, saying they would gladly attend again. In one YouTube video, after the initial boos, you can hear cheers from excited fans who were simply happy to see Tool perform.
“F—k yeah! Tool friggin’ rules!” one attendee can be heard shouting.
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen whether Rusek’s potential lawsuit will gain traction or if Tool will respond to the backlash. But one thing is clear—when you’re a band with one of the most devoted fan bases in rock, promising a unique experience means living up to it.