The Audio Perv

By Keeyahtay Lewis

I think it is safe to say that there are not a lot of bands with fans more ravenous than Tool. Maybe it is the fact that they don’t tour often. Or maybe it is because they continue to push the envelope with every album they come out with. Or maybe it is Maynard James Keenan. There is a buzz around pretty much anything he does and Tool was his first project. In any event when I heard Tool was coming to town, I was super pumped to check them out. It has been at least 5 years since I have seen them play and I remembered the show being pretty epic. This past Sunday, I headed down to Susquehanna Bank Arts Center in Camden to catch the show.

They took the stage one at a time in front of a huge backdrop bathed in blue light. First drummer Danny Carey headed behind the kit, all smiles and waves. Then bassist Justin Chancellor walked across the stage with a wave. Guitar player Adam Jones came out next and then up from the back Manyard James Keenan walked out. He didn’t really walk out. He came out from behind the drums to take his place on the drum riser next to Carey, where he stayed the whole night. The lights stayed low for a bit and all you could see was Maynard’s sohilouette. Eventually the lights came up and everyone erupted. Maynard looked like someone out of “Taxi Driver”: sides of his head shaved, Mohawk on top, aviators on, with a megaphone at his side.

They started the set with “Hooker With A Penis”, a song everyone knew. Live, Tool sounds so much bigger than the 4 guys creating the music. Even seeing it happen in front of your eyes you can’t figure out how they can play these songs, spot on, with just three instruments and Maynard’s vocals. It’s pretty impressive. “Jambi” and “Stinkfist” were up next. Maynard doesn’t speak much, but before their next song he said: “Some of the songs we’re playing tonight we haven’t done since many of you were sperm.” Then they launched into “Pushit”.

Every song sounded incredible live. It is strange seeing Tool play because there is no real “front man.” Maynard hangs out on the platform next to Carey on the drums, and Chancellor and Jones pretty much stayed where they were. What they may lack in audience interaction they make up for in sheer power. Beyond that,being at a Tool show is how people must have felt at a Pink Floyd concert 30 years ago, or a Michael Jackson video from the 80s. The laser lights and visuals are incredible.At times there is so much going on that you don’t even know where to look. Looking around at the audience I knew I wasn’t alone, everyone just kinda swayed in front of their seats, some with heads down, some with eyes closed, completely lost in all of it. The whole back drop of the stage were screens where images from their music videos and other craziness played. I know that me describing this isn’t really doing it justice. I just can’t find the words to describe how incredible it really was.

Before their next song, “Schism” Maynard spoke to the crowd for the second time: “Merry Christmas” he said right before the familiar bass lined kicked in and the theater exploded with red and green laser lights. “Intension”, “46 and 2″, and “Lateralus” were the next songs. Every single song sounded pretty much exactly like it does on the album, which is no easy feat when it comes to Tool. They closed out the night with what is probably their biggest hit, “AEnema.”

Only 10 songs but with Tool 10 songs is plenty. A lot of their songs run over the 7 minute mark and every one is powerful to hear. Again I cannot really find the words to explain how it feels to see them play live. Someone posted this about them once: “tool is mystery , wraped in a riddle , smotherd in secret sauce.”

I think that pretty much sums it up. Tool is one of those bands everyone should see at least once, if not several times.

All photos courtesy of Keeyahtay Lewis. See more of his photos at DeadBoltPhotos.com