Kicking off a run of 26 fall shows across North America, Tool bestowed the Louder Than Life crowd with their unequivocal blend of sonic supremacy and visual transcendence.
The Los Angeles, California rockers closed out Day #2 of the four-day festival in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, September 22, 2023.
After performing their opening two songs, 2001’s ‘The Grudge’ and 1996’s ‘Forty Six & Two’, vocalist Maynard James Keenan addressed the crowd for the first time.
“Louisville, Kentucky… rumor has it, ya’ll make bourbon?” the singer asked, while he was perched in his traditional spot at the back of the stage, amongst the shadows.
“Do you, or don’t you? Did you bring any? Next time.”
On top of the tight, pounding progressive rock sound Tool brings to all of their live performances, the artwork and graphic displays on the screens flanking the band, gives the crowd the illusion of entering a new dimension.
It was no different at Louder Than Life.
Some of the mesmerizing graphics appear to come straight out of the dreams at asylums, or from the visions of a psychosis, or possibly, a continuous mushroom trip.
While others appear to paint the picture of the journey between the various realms of reality the audience is experiencing. The twisting, colorful and interconnected cells and vibrations are perfectly in sync with the band’s music.
While Keenan delivered his enchanting vocals throughout their set in relative darkness, the spotlight in Louisville was often shone upon the musical throne in the centre of the stage.
If planet earth had to gather a handful of drummers from around the globe and send them on an intergalactic journey to battle some otherworldly percussionists, Danny Carey would be riding shotgun on the ship.
The Kansas native’s intense musical prowess and intricate drumming abilities were on full display for the entire show, particularly on the hard-hitting song ‘Jambi,’ from their 2006 album 10,000 Days.
The guitar chops of Adam Jones stood out all set as well, and even more so on ‘Pneuma’.
Coordinating with Carey’s thunderous drums, and while performing the second track off of their latest album, 2019’s Fear Inoculum, Jones’ piercing riffs appeared to give the half moon illuminating the Kentucky sky a musical offering.
The complete musical mastery of the band culminated with their second to last song, the epic, 12-minute long masterpiece, ‘Invincible’, also from Fear Inoculum.
The powerful song showcased the back-and-forth synchronization of Jones and Carey, the under-the-radar brilliance of bass guitarist Justin Chancellor and the on-point lyrics by Keenan, who autobiographically sings about getting older, carrying on with one’s craft and mortality.
The fact that Tool can pull off the sophisticated arrangements in the song in a live setting, and to a tee, is a true testament to their talent and musicianship.
There were no shortcuts by Tool during their Louder Than life set.
Every note, every detail, every song, all night long.
“You guys are great,” Keenan told the Louisville crowd.
“I gotta go squash some grapes… let’s do it,” he added, before the band tore into their final song of the set, ‘Stinkfist’, one of their hits from their 1996 album Aenima.
On a side note, Keenan’s reference to grapes was clearly speaking about Caduceus Cellars, the small, family owned and operated winery he runs in Arizona. Learn more about his venture, and order some wine while you’re at it, here.
Here is the full setlist from TOOL’s Louder Than Life headinging gig:
1. The Grudge
2. Forty Six & 2
3. Fear Inoculum
4. Eon Blue Apocalypse
5. The Patient
6. The Pot
7. Pushit
8. Pneuma
9. Jambi
10. Invincible
11. Stinkfist
Here are some photographs from their performance by Steve Thrasher:
More details about Tool, and their current tour, can be found on their official website https://www.toolband.com/.