Tool, Auckland NZ, 2020

Tool

28th February 2020
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.

After the release of their last album Fear Inoculum, Tool fans of New Zealand have been patiently laying in wait for the superlative quartet to make their way back to our shores in order to bear witness to their new material in the live setting. Last night the first opportunity of two in which to anoint themselves.

To begin the evening, a pulverising support set from Author & Punisher, aka Tristan Shone, a mechanical engineer and artist who uses drone and dub machines that he has fabricated from raw materials and open source electronic circuitry. Ensconced behind his fortress of metal, he rained down upon those who had arrived early the very epitome of industrial white noise, the occasional distorted vocals riding a wave of discordance that assaulted as much as it soothed the patterns within the anarchy.

When Tool emerged, a mere thirty minutes later and decidedly punctual it was to a euphoria reserved only for a band of their calibre, their strict and enforced cell phone ban allowing for the stage to be the one and only focal point within the darkened arena. A semicircle curtain of long black strings hung in front of the band, the view not obstructed but slightly distorted, providing the effect of a shimmer as the giant screen behind them came to life, a skull lazily turning over and over.

Known for their visuals, the majority of which are created by visionary artist Alex Grey, opening track ‘Fear Inoculum’ is an opus that live, transcends any conceivable expectations. Maynard’s vocals which emerge from the riser beside drummer Danny Carey upon which he throws silhouette shapes, refined in both range and tone. The track itself knits together both ambience and crescendos of emotive notes, its form shifting and evolving as a giant eye flits over the band members and writhing bodies before them. Their latest album from which their opener is the title track has seen both Carey and guitarist Adam Jones take to the forefront, and live is no different; their precision and synchronisation allowing the track to become in itself an entity.

‘Ænema’ from Tool’s sophomore album understandably draws guttural howls of joy from the audience; for many this was the album through which Tool was discovered, the connection to one’s past as well as most formative years the foundation in which memories are anchored. With the official music video playing behind them it was an acknowledgement of their history, of what came before to lead into what is now today. The seven-pointed star that hung centre stage again reflecting this, many believing that it represents the seven rays of manifestation of the higher self as well as the seven chakras of the human form.

Undeniably this is one of Tool’s most theatrical shows to date, the meticulous lighting and lasers providing an absolute visual feast upon which to dine from, prisms turning the shards of white light cast upon the ceiling into sparkling spectrums of colour. Occasionally Jones would be spotlighted as he slowly moved about the stage, but for the most part the band remained unlit, the focus always on the music and visuals that speak for them. ‘7empest’ a labyrinth of time signatures through which to navigate, and arguably some of Jones’s best work to date; bassist Justin Chancellor – who spends much of the evening furiously hunched over his instrument – and Carey providing the backbone to Jones’s greatest oeuvre.

Conversation has never been a feature of a Tool show; however, Maynard did find a moment or two to illustrate to his fans that his dry wit and sharp tongue has not yet mellowed with age as he mused that central Otago was louder than Auckland. Dressed in red plaid pants and a black jacket emblazoned with the Puscifer emblem, his spiked mohawk standing to attention, Maynard cut an imposing figure when he could be seen. Crouching, sometimes hovering in a wide-legged stance, he moved from side to side, radiating from within an intensity that was palpable.

Exploring pieces of the gamut of their discography, ‘Jambi’ from 10,000 Days, fed into ‘Merkaba’ from their live album Salival, once again the visuals feeding ones cerebral pathways; at times many attendees would close their eyes, not in unappreciation of what was presented before them, but in order to truly partake of the music itself, examination of the intricacies within their work where the pleasure lies.

Never a band to do things by half, Tool provided a countdown clock of twelve minutes following the atmospheric and prog infused ‘Descending’, structuring their encore and therefore eliminating the usual cliché game of the crowd calling for one. Upon their return, Carey took centre stage for ‘Chocolate Chip Trip’ which began on a large golden gong, before moving to the drumkit, the song’s almost alien like sounds a palate cleanser for the mighty ‘Invincible’ whose lyrics speak of a warrior struggling to remain consequential.

It was at the conclusion of the aforementioned song that Maynard once again addressed the crowd, informing them that should they wish to they could use their phones, the sarcasm within his comments about updating one’s Facebook status and Instagram biting considering the words he had just poured from his very soul. The irony of the band closing on ‘Stinkfist’ where Maynard spits the lines “Nothing seems to satisfy, I don’t want it, I just need it; To breathe, to feel, to know I’m alive” with venom, not lost on the faithful, hundreds of whom left their phones in their pockets where they belonged.

Many have pondered if this will be the final battle cry of Tool, both album and tour wise, the answer only one the band themselves can know. But if it is, they undoubtedly leave triumphant.

Were you there at Spark Arena for this mind blowing alternative prog metal gig? Or have you seen Tool perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Fear Inoculum
2. Ænema
3. 7empest
4. Pneuma
5. Schism
6. Jambi
7. Merkaba
8. Vicarious
9. Descending
10. Chocolate Chip Trip [encore]
11. Invincible [encore]
12. Stinkfist [encore]

If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by visiting our PressPatron page.