Tool
June 26, 2007
Xcel Energy Center
Saint Paul, MN
Kicking off with “Jambi,” the second track from their newest album (10,000 Days), Los Angeles-based band Tool snatched up the 14,000 fans jammed into the acoustic marvel known as St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and didn’t stop pounding on us for nearly two hours.
Frontman Maynard James Keenan took his familiar place towards the back of the stage, sharing drummer Danny Carey’s riser. Guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor flanked stage left and right with aplomb.
This is the third time we’ve seen Tool — yet the first in nearly three years. The lauded prog-metal group continues to get tighter and more outrageous in their live performance. With six digital projection screens spewing Chet Zar creations and larger graphics projected onto the whited-out stage and backdrop, the group painted an eerie portrait into the mind of a twisted soul set to drawn out prog jams that reverberate something deep inside.
Guitarist Adam Jones shines most during his solos — exemplified straight out of the gate on his talk box solo on “Jambi.” Bassist Justin Chancellor did some fancy pick-work on the lonely wails of “Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman)” leading into “Rosetta Stoned.”
And that leaves Keenan as the ringleader. Most comfortable at the back of the stage, Maynard is content to showcase his vocal dexterity and grandiose performance skills 10 yards from the writhing moshpit — a voice and delivery unrivaled by today’s cookie monster screamo rockers or feathered hair wannabes.
And thankfully “Schism” was our only flashback to the Lateralus tour’s Cedar Rapids, IA gig, when Maynard never once faced the crowd – keeping his back to the audience for the duration of the entire set.
While it may have been more of the same for the group — who’s celebrating 15 years and still regurgitating some of the same songs and video — Tool fans are a rabid, dedicated bunch still willing to shell out $50 for a ticket, $43 for a t-shirt and $8 for a beer in the name of rock. Can’t argue with that.
June 26 Setlist:
- Jambi
- Stinkfist
- Forty Six & 2
- Schism
- Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman)
- Rosetta Stoned
- (Vicarious Jam)
- Flood
- Wings for Marie
- Lateralus
- Kung Fu Fighting
- Vicarious
