[KENNEDY FELTON]

Rock band Tool is facing backlash from fans—and possibly a class action lawsuit—after their music festival Friday and Saturday left some attendees feeling shortchanged.

Imagine your favorite band announces “Tool Live in the Sand”… a luxury festival in the Dominican Republic promising an all-inclusive experience with what fans say included “two unique sets.” You spend thousands to attend… but when the second show begins, something seems off. Four songs repeated across both nights of the shows despite being promised two distinct performances. Fans took notice, with reports of audible booing from the crowd—and now, some are even considering legal action.

“Most Tool fans, like me, have attended multiple shows on the same tour, and we know that, due to the spectacular and complex nature of their show, most songs will be repeated. However, this is not what festival attendees were promised.” Stas Rusek | Fan of Tool A Tool fan and lawyer based in Augusta, Georgia believes attendees may be entitled to compensation. Speaking to LouderSound, he argues that the lawsuit would be directed at the event promoters—not the band—for failing to deliver on their promise of “two unique sets.” He says, “Most Tool fans, like me, have attended multiple shows on the same tour, and we know that, due to the spectacular and complex nature of their show, most songs will be repeated. However, this is not what festival attendees were promised.”

However, as of Wednesday, the festival’s website simply states “two performances”… with no mention of the word “unique.”

“I went and had a fantastic time. The sound checks ruled both days; you could watch from the fence. CCT was a surprise. I didn’t think we’d get one this weekend, but I’m happy we did. I can see why people were unhappy, but the booing was garbage. Honestly, it messed the vibe up for people who were just trying to enjoy the show for people who could get past the repeats.” Not everyone left unhappy. Some attendees defended the festival, saying they still had a great time—and the booing actually ruined the experience for those who weren’t bothered by the repeated songs.

For context, package festivals ranged from $2,300 to $7,700, including all-inclusive food, drinks, and even transportation to and from the airport. Admission to other music events was also included, as other musicians performed at the festival.

As of now, it’s unclear if a class action lawsuit will gain any traction, but one thing is for certain—Tool fans aren’t shy about making their voices heard.