I guess I never gave perfect circle the chance it deserved. I caught them when they were touring with NIN in y2k, but whoever was working sound for them should have been shot twice and pissed upon.
Halfway through their first song,I swear it felt like the inside of my ears was being scoured out with steel wool. Tinny as fuck, harmonics, resonances not zeroed out, the works. It was as if some preschooler had come along and played 'shiny buttons' with the mix board before they came on stage.
NIN's sound, of course, was flawless... but reznor's a perfectionist like that. Apparently he'll set up the board himself pre-show and the mixer dude just compensates for what changes happen when the crowds come in.