Combine that with the shared experience of screaming along with thousands of new friends, and Tool becomes an entirely different band to the one you hear on CD. Where some of the more extensive jams can feel somewhat longwinded and repetitive on the album, they absolutely thrive in a live environment where your engagement extends beyond auditory senses. New tracks from Fear Inoculum captured this perfectly. Sure, the songs sound fantastic on an album, but bring that into a live setting where you can feel the music, and throw an intense, inescapable visual experience on top and suddenly the songs make a lot more sense. Where other bands use lights, screens, smoke and so on to enhance the experience, Tool uses it to create something bigger, and more significant, than themselves. The surprise addition of “Part of Me” from the Opiate EP had comparatively little production, a perfect match for a song written before the Tool show became a visual spectacular. “The Pot” peaked with laser lighting projected on the curtains, “Pneuma,” another new cut, gradually added more lights and lasers that erupted violently and chaotically around the musicians as the song built up to its explosive conclusion. The ever evolving and alternating stage show shifted to craft the mood of each moment.
Credit where credit’s due, age is seemingly just a number because the guys nailed every song from across their discography. It kicked off an evening that combined the somewhat longer, slower, introspective Tool tracks against the harsher, angrier alternatives from their younger days. “Huh, I thought this was Melbourne?” That cheeky remark meant jovial Tool were in town and the usual stoic stares were replaced with a group much more relaxed and willing to play around with the fans.Īfter showing off a new song, Maynard’s pig squeals tore through the stadium signalling the start of “Ænema,” much to Sydney’s delight. “Supposedly Sydney,” Maynard said after the song. The otherworldly images on screen and atmospheric lighting drew everyone’s attention away from the world while Kenan exuded extensive tomes ala “exhale, expel!” And yet, they do have a reputation for being something of a reserved out, though it seemed Sydney was getting something special. The adoration for Tool is infectious, electric, and deeply engaging. He was quickly drowned out by a deafening roar. Everyone was locked in to Adam, Justin and Danny, that is until the lilting tones of Maynard James Kenan floated from a shadowy mic towards the back. A strict smartphone ban meant Sydney did not have to look through a sea of floating screens to catch a glimpse of their heavy metal heroes, and the impact was immediate. Tool’s music attracts that kind of dedication.ĭraped in gargantuan screens, lasers, smoke machines and a semi-transparent curtain, all four members quietly strolled on stage to the tune of “Fear Inoculum” opener. The old school fans in faded black shirts reminiscing about Tool tours in the 90s outweighed the rest, but there were more than enough young twenty-somethings to prove that long-term listeners were doing the lords work by passing records through the generations. Though the Tool fanbase skews older, the sold-out crowd at Qudos Arena still showcased the bands longevity. Author & Punisher (Image credit: Peter Zaluzny)
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