The pedestal that I place TOOL on, has them elevated to heavenly proportions. They are masterful musicians that create songs with intricate layers that others couldn’t even try to emulate.
To see them live is such a privilege because they are geniuses beyond their years. Every time I have seen them has been monumental and I have walked out yearning for more.
I know what to expect from them. I know Maynard is going to stand in the corner and do judo style dance moves and barely acknowledge that 12000 people are in the room with him. I know that there’s going to be a laser light show that will put the audience in a trance. There will be visuals on the screen that are not for the weak and faint hearted. In fact if you’re epileptic, a live TOOL show should have a warning printed on the ticket.
That’s the thing about TOOL that makes seeing them live so grand. The fact they can replicate such complex song structures so precisely on stage is a testament to the level of skill each member holds. Add to this the hypnotising presence Maynard commands and you are left in awe of what you are witnessing.
The star tonight was guitarist Adam Jones. Not only with the visual art he creates for the backdrops but his playing was faultless. Drummer Danny Carey stratospheres to a whole new level every time and age does not weary him. To watch them live, along with bassist Justin Chancellor, is being in a room with craftsmen.
For a band that hasn’t released any new material in well over 7 years, it makes no difference to their fans, made more evident by them being able to sell out Arena’s in minutes and although rumours surfaced that new songs would be showcased on this tour, this was not the case. They stuck to material from their last four albums. Live staples, Sober and Stinkfist were present and surprises like Pushit and Intension made it a refreshingly different set from their last visit to Australia in 2011.
Now we can only hope we don’t have to wait much longer for their much anticipated next album so they can return and wow us once again.
Setlist:
01. Hooker With A Penis
02. Vicarious
03. Sober
04. Schism
05. Pushit
06. Intension
07. Lateralus
Encore:
08. Jambi
09. Forty Six & 2
10. AEnema
11. Stinkfist
