Tool’s “Tool in the Sand” music festival in the Dominican Republic turned into a disaster for fans who traveled thousands of miles only to hear the same songs over and over.
Originally, the festival promised two “unique sets” from the Grammy-winning rock band, but fans were left disappointed after Tool repeated four songs during their two-night performance.
Attendees who shelled out up to $7,500 for tickets are now calling for a class-action lawsuit against the festival’s promoters. “Why pay so much to hear the same songs from the night before?
This was a total letdown,” one fan posted on Reddit, a sentiment that garnered nearly 3,000 upvotes.
The festival, held from March 7–9 at the Hard Rock and Royalton resorts in Punta Cana, featured a star-studded lineup with bands like Primus, Mastodon, and Coheed and Cambria.
But the biggest disappointment came from Tool’s setlist, which included a mix of fan favorites such as “Stinkfist” and “Schism,” with a disappointing repeat of four tracks the second night.
In videos posted to Reddit and YouTube, the crowd’s frustration was evident, with boos filling the air throughout the set. One fan, who claimed to have seen Tool 16 times, called the repeated songs “inexcusable,” pointing out that the band promised “unique sets” but ended up delivering the same material fans had seen for years.
Georgia-based lawyer and die-hard Tool fan Stas Rusek is exploring a potential class-action lawsuit. “The sense of betrayal was palpable,” he told Louder Sound.
“Tool fans expect a grand, complex show, and they didn’t deliver on their promises. It’s a classic bait and switch.”
While some festivalgoers defended the experience, with one fan writing that they “loved the event” despite the lack of new songs, the overall consensus leaned toward dissatisfaction.
The event’s all-inclusive packages, which included accommodations and transportation, were priced between $2,358 and $7,775, but fans left questioning if the experience was worth it.
As of now, Tool’s representatives have yet to comment on the backlash or the possibility of legal action.
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