by Andrew Calvio

Tool has been and will continue to be the soundtrack to my life. I had the pleasure of being present for their stop at Moody Center in Austin. I’ve attended multiple shows dating back thirty years but never as media. Truly a dream come true for this fanboy! I’ve covered so many great bands over the years, but this one takes the cake. 

Opening the night was Massachusetts based Elder. You never know what kind of opener you’ll get at a Tool concert. They’ve had some interesting choices in the past. This time around, Elder felt pretty solid. Playing songs that averaged over ten minutes each, their style was very compatible with the night’s headliners. 

Tool took the stage at 8:30 on the dot. If you know anything about this band, then you probably know that they are precise with their timing and are very well rehearsed. Their obsession to strive for perfection has led to gaps lasting years between albums. But every single time it has been worth the wait.  Danny Carey was first out wearing a throwback Kevin Durant University of Texas basketball jersey. He positioned himself behind the drum kit preparing to show the Austin crowd what the best drummer on the planet is capable of. To the front right of him was guitarist Adam Jones with bassist Justin Chancellor on the opposite side. Frontman Maynard James Keenan, wearing a leather Puscifer jacket and sporting a mohawk, took his place on an elevated platform towards the rear of the stage as is custom at all Tool shows. He has mentioned before that the emphasis should always be on the music, not a singular person that stands on the front of the stage. The band is famously strict with their cell phone policy as well, insisting that anyone caught recording will be removed from the venue. I’ve never seen this happen but I’m sure someone out there has a story. 

Listening to a Tool album and hearing all the different sounds and time signatures is pretty enjoyable. Seeing these musicians play their music live and cue off each other is amazing, it’s hard to remember that they are quickly approaching their sixth decade on this rock. Maynard’s vocal wizardry still has the power to make grown men cry. Starting the night with “Fear Inoculum,” the title track off their latest album, the band took the crowd on a ten minute journey filled with thought provoking lyrics and driving rhythms that forced the body to move uncontrollably. Pausing briefly to address the crowd for the first of only two times, Maynard told the crowd “Austin, you smell good.” Tonight’s set included crowd pleaser “The Pot” which was played with slight variations from the studio album. Nevertheless it was still undeniably masterful. The visuals on the screens and the light show was also top tier all night. The use of lasers was hypnotizing and really pulled everything together. “Rosetta Stoned” has always been a favorite of mine for several reasons. There’s so many rhythm changes and the words are just hilarious as the protagonist recalls a bad trip that involved aliens and being the chosen one. But the scream at 9:40 in this song, gah. Maynard nailed it. I was honestly shocked and blown away that he was still able to pull it off. 

The night rolled on only making brief stops between songs to change guitars or catch a drink. The highlight of the first set for me was “Intolerance” from the Undertow album. I have so many memories that live in that album. Getting the chance to soak it all in thirty years later is a feeling that will never get old. The first of two special guests of the night was local Austin musician Emily Wolfe. She joined the band onstage to play “The Grudge.” What an accomplishment, I can’t even imagine what that felt like! She held her own and even got to shred a solo with Tool as her backing band. Crazy! I can’t leave out a mention of the guttural scream 7 minutes into the song; my head nearly exploded. On the studio album, Maynard impressively holds a solid rock scream for 24 seconds. If you think that’s easy, try it. It is not. I didn’t have a stopwatch with me at this show but MJK was showing off. He pulled it off like it was a whole bunch of nothing.

After a ten minute intermission, Danny came back to the stage for his wicked cool solo “Chocolate Chip Trip”. The second guest, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson, joined him to provide some auxiliary percussion. Carey is a legendary drummer and can play some pretty detailed intricate beats that will change signature 14 times before you even realize. It’s mesmerizing watching him glide from drum to drum so effortlessly. Chancellor held the spotlight next as he played a heavily fuzzed out intro to “Flood”.  This song has always been a favorite driving song for me. There’s just something about it that makes me drive really well. Ha! Fortunately tonight I was stomping my right foot inside an arena listening live. An additional treat was the falling tour confetti that makes up a venue exclusive poster if you collect enough pieces. I was not lucky enough to be in the drop zone. When the song finished, the end was inevitable. Maynard addressed the crowd and let them know that it was ok to pull out their phones and record or snap photos. He joked: “no lights, no flash or we’ll have to sh*t in your mouth.” The night ended with “Schism” featuring an Adam Jones extended solo. Another powerful song that is so catchy to sing along to but holds such a deep meaning. “I know the pieces fit ‘cause I watched them fall away.”

I have waited more than half my life to get the opportunity to be in the photo pit for Tool. Tonight I checked off number one on my bucket list shows. What a privilege it was to stand in front of the stage and witness the musicianship of these four men up close and personal. All of them are masters of their respective instruments. Many bands have the ability to feel the music onstage but Tool really dives in and connects with every song. Seeing Maynard channel his emotions and just let the music move him is beautiful.

Check out all our photos from the show: https://austin101magazine.com/2024/02/02/tools-killer-austin-show-at-moody-center/

Set list

Fear Inoculum

The Pot

Rosetta Stoned

Pneuma

Intolerance

Descending

The Grudge (with Emily Wolfe)

Chocolate Chip Trip (with Pat Mastelotto)

Flood

Invincible

Schism