The band is in peak form supporting their latest smash hit album
After cancelling the remainder 2020 shows due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tool are back in the road supporting their latest album Fear Inoculum. The record arrived in 2019 following more than a decade of anticipation. It debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the band’s third consecutive LP to top the chart. It shattered sales and radio records while also earning widespread critical acclaim.
Last night, Tool turned in another stellar performance at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Tool have become an enigma. There are few music acts, if any, that are more captivating than Tool right now. It’s a rock spectacle that must be experienced. They’re selling out arenas around the globe. Gig posters and vinyl sell out in mere minutes. Some merchandise re-sells for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.
Most fans at a Tool show know exactly why they are there. Some don’t, but they just know they have to be.
The Acid Helps are serving as special guests fo the second half of the tour. The alt-metal outfit emerged last September with their single “This Thing Will Not Die.” A month later, they debut a second song “Sink Pisser.” The trio is reminiscent of acts like Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon, Melvins, and more. In addition to grabbing some Tool merch, fans should also arrive early to see these guys. Their debut EP is slated to arrive imminently.
“Jersey,” Maynard whispered eerily into the mic after the band’s mesmerizing opening number.
Apparently, he thought he received was a lukewarm response.
“Don’t fucking embarrass me – JERSEY,'” he said sternly.
The arena erupted.
After starting with their most current piece of material, the group went all the way back to their first EP with “Opiate.”
Then, they ripped into “The Pot” – one of the finest cuts in their entire catalog.
Other highlights included “The Patient, “Pushit,” and “Eon Blue Apocalypse.” They dusted off “Hooker with a Penis,” which hadn’t seen the light of day since 2014. The jackhammer riffs from “The Grudge” were a treat for the eardrums.
This run has also seen the live debut of “Culling Voices” from the band’s latest release.
At this point in their career, Tool could easily rely on their greatest hits. However, the band remains focused on showcasing their latest GRAMMY® Award-winning record. Missing from the setlist this time around is “7empest,” the track that actually garnered them the award for Best Metal Performance. While many are disappointed in the track’s absence, changing things up gives fans more and also keeps them coming back.
The Fear Inoculum Tour is another reminder that big production isn’t just for pop music. Epic visuals accompany each song. Some are projected on a shredded tapestry that surrounds entire stage. It’s glorious to see Tool bringing artful showmanship to hard rock music at an arena level.
Guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, and drummer Danny Carey are some of the best musicians in popular music. Each show is a technical clinic. Vocalist Maynard James Keenan’s outfits and antics compliment his dynamic live performance. He’s certainly on pace to go down as one of the greatest frontmen in rock history.
In addition to the capacity crowd, famed actor Chris Meloni was grooving side stage during the show. Meloni headlines the NBC crime drama Law & Order: Organized Crime, That’s right, Stabler’s a Tool fan.
Tool may very well be the most sought-after headliners in heavy rock today. While the mighty Metallica are still going strong, bands like Aerosmith, KISS, and Mötley Crüe are closing in on retirement. Other keystones like Pantera, Linkin Park, and Soungarden are sadly gone for good. Tool are now the torchbearers of rock music, and their fire is burning brighter than ever.
The North American leg of Tool’s 2022 tour wraps up on March 20 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. From there, the band will head overseas for a full European run. The trek kicks off on April 23 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Tool: Live Photo Gallery
The Acid Helps: Live Photo Gallery
