The last time I heard a Tool song was over ten years ago, when I was in high school and played the drums in a garage band. I was obsessed with learning how to play the odd time signature songs. It is also the last time anyone has heard a new Tool album.
But the loyal fans come out for every show, as I would discover as I walked into the already hazy auditorium about 20 minutes before the opening act would hit the stage. Circles of strangers around me were recounting their past experiences seeing Tool, talking about Maynard James Keenan’s influence on their lives. I often make it a point not to watch fan-shot video of shows before heading to see a band I haven’t seen live before so I can experience the presentation without preconceived notions, and for this show I was very glad I did.
The lights dimmed and a seven-sided star rose above the middle of the stage. An unusual setup with the drums and bass set on the right third of the stage and guitar far left with Maynard’s mic in the shadows instinctively showcased the equality each band member finds in creating their art, as no one member receives more of the spotlight.
The band opens with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” before Maynard emerges briefly from the shadows to say hello to the city. Wearing what looked like a Batman costume to some fans next to me (It was actually a military paratrooper-like getup), Maynard did a great job hiding in the dark parts of the stage, rarely facing the audience. Apparently, this is because he pours himself into each word of the song and the lights distract him.
What I wasn’t quite expecting was the fantastic audio visual display that accompanied each track. Songs early on the setlist featured minimal lighting on the stage. As the show continued on the display continued to build, adding elements onto the enormous video wall, projections extending past the stage wings, and lasers. The quality in each element was orchestrated so perfectly to match the feeling of the song – even highlighting clips from the visually stunning music videos. I was reminded that Tool isn’t just a group of technically skilled musicians; they view themselves as artists of all mediums.
After plowing through the 13 song setlist which included such Tool staples as “Schism,” “Ænema,” and “Forty-Six and 2,” the band closed the nearly two-hour set with the powerful “Stinkfist.”
Opener 3TEETH, and Industrial band from LA, prepared the audience by loosening their eardrums with their bass-heavy moody music. I’m not much into industrial, and I thought they weren’t bad.
Overall, I can see why Tool fans are so eagerly awaiting that fifth studio album, 10 years later.
