TOOL AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY
Every day we live, we experience change. There are times we wish we could go back to, and experiences from the past we wish we could have been a part of. One thing I never thought would be possible was to not only see Tool live in concert, but shoot them as well. That changed when it was announce and shortly made official that Tool would be touring in 2019. On November 22, 2019, Tool performed at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Once a thought of the past, and a wish to come true, finally become a reality.
The lineup of Maynard James Keenan (lead vocals), Danny Carey (drums & percussion), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass) were all present. The show started with not only a huge roar of excitement from the crowd, but with one of the latest hits “Fear Inoculum”. The stage was covered from side to side with a see-through, string type curtain which would feature some amazing lighting effects and features throughout the entire song, and then several times during the rest of the show. The entire lighting setup was unlike anything I have seen live before. Floodlights, soft lamps, broad lights, fixed-focus lighting, spotlights, attachment apparatuses, lasers; you name it they had it! Huge screens showed amazing visuals to watch, whether parts of previous Tool videos, or new visuals. It was simply spectacular. A huge Pentagram with its own lighting would float from the back to front, and would lower and rise during and in-between songs. Maynard dressed with his taste of fashion, with 3 different rows of Mohawk type spikes for his hairstyle for the night, and would switch from 2 different platforms with Danny in between. As many previous tours, he stays to the back behind his band, with Adam and Justin leading the front of the stage evenly on each side of the stage. He has his unique dance steps and his creepy style of hovering back and forth in between his vocal parts. The entire stage presence, lighting, and all visuals included were simply brilliant. Of course we can’t forget about the sound. The sound of Tool, for my ears, is such a unique style of its own. It is a style-transcending act with the mix of the amazing visual arts. It’s a power package of progressive metal mixed with psychedelic rock and what some call “art rock”. Simply put, you have 4 extremely talented and gifted individuals that combine their super powers to form the unique sound that is Tool. You need to see it to believe it, and you need to hear it to understand it.
The set list included new songs from their latest album Fear Inoculum, and of course a long list of the classics back from the start of Tool in 1990. “Aenima”, “Schism”, “Vicarious”, and “Forty Six & 2” were played, to name a few from the first half. This led to a unique intermission if you would like to call it that. As intermission came about after an extended instrumental jam, the ones that make up this masterpiece of a band Tool, stood in silence and as if they were frozen in time. A classic and respectful way to salute their fans and pay gratitude to the love and dedication from their loyal fans over the past few decades. They literally stood there for several minutes and gave me a feeling of accomplishment and success for all. I felt empowered and privileged to have been a part of this night. Never in my life have I heard sounds and cheers that easily could be heard across the world. It is a moment I will never forget.
The show ended with a song that I happen to absolutely love, “Invincible”, and then closed with the amazingly popular and well-presented song “Stinkfist”. There is not much more to be said with ending a show like that. As always, keep rocking and thank you Tool for coming back stronger than ever and make a dream become a reality!