Tool @ Capital One Arena [DC] - 11/25/19
In a punishing set at Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena, prog/metal gods Tool (singer Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, and drummer Danny Carey) delivered two-and-a-half hours of churning, polyrhythmic insanity. Touring behind this year's long-awaited Fear Innoculum, the all-inclusive setlist highlighted how complementary the new songs are with the back catalog. "Fear Innoculum" the song was paired with "Aenema" to kick things off, and things just got heavier from there.
Maynard spent much of the set perched atop two raised platforms flanking the drum riser. In dark eye makeup and a spiked mohawk, he resembled a reclusive and mischievous lemur. The singer didn't engage in much banter throughout the set, but couldn't resist the pull of political commentary in the nation's capital: "This town needs an enema."
Later in the set, "Pneuma," a standout from Fear Inoculum, was paired with "Schism" from the 2001 album Lateralus. Both songs opened with strummed bass lines from Chancellor in odd time signatures that that Tool has become known for. Another thing the band is known for is their intense visuals. Jones' creepy music video creatures were interlaced with living versions of Alex Grey's album art to often dizzying effect.
Tool’s Maynard James Keenan performing at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joel Richard / @joelscottrichard)
After a superhuman drum solo in "Forty Six & 2" Danny Carey doubled down and delivered the "Chocolate Chip Trip" solo that been a mainstay in live shows for years. As he rotated around his 360 drum, tabla, and electronic pad his movements were fractalized on a giant screen above him. The kaleidoscope effect was entirely unnecessary though, as it already sounded as though he had ten arms.
The long wait for a full tour in support of new music explains part of the crowd's excitement, but a perfectly curated setlist that highlighted Tool's entire body of music and showcased the technical expertise of all four members showed that whether they ever release new music again, Tool will keep their cultish fans happy on the road.
