Blogpost: Tool/Elder @ Toyota Arena 2/17/24

Posted by Aaron H • February 22, 2024

Posted by Aaron H • February 22, 2024

Tool: Photo Credit - AMH

Tool have just rounded out their US tour. The band has been on the road since mid-January (October if you count their first North American leg last year) and finally made their way to California. I was fortunate enough to catch them in Ontario at the Toyota Arena.

Elder: Photo Credit - AMH

Opening for the tour has been the Doom-Metal band, Elder. The four-tet did well to warm up the crowd with just 3 songs that spanned a 30-minute set. Tool took to the stage at 8:30 and walked out to the sound of "Third Eye" before opening with the title track from their latest album, Fear Inoculum. Behind them, a large LED screen projected a round table of imagery that had you feeling like you were traveling through quasars in space to the depths of hell.

The light show and video projections became more elaborate as the show progressed and they continued to play through notable tracks like "Jambi" from 2006's 10,000 Days and the second single from their latest album, "Pneuma." Lasers streamed across the arena, the lighting rig above the stage dropped to form new light displays, and a septagram that hung above the band rotated and swiveled with its own set of lights.

Tool: Photo Credit - AMH

Early on in the show, Maynard James Keenan made note of how the show almost didn't happen due to him having been sick, but his voice never faltered and he delivered a strong vocal performance despite being ill. When the time came for them to play their classic, "Schism," they accompanied the track with a projection of the song's haunting music video.

Following the performance was a brief intermission that allowed fans time to go to the bathroom, get drinks, or go on their phone (since the show had a strict no-phone policy that could result in removal from the show if caught taking photos or video). When the intermission came to a close and the lights blacked out, a spotlight hit Danny Carey standing next to a gong and wearing a leotard that displayed human muscle and flesh similar to the cover of Lateralus. He performed a solo on the gong before jumping onto his kit to give an awe-inspiring performance of "Chocolate Chip Drip." The projection now showed a first-person view of Danny playing the drums while adding a bit of psychedelia. Confetti fell during an intimate performance of "Culling Voices" and before announcing their last song of the night, "Stinkfist," Maynard permitted fans to pull out their phones to take pictures if they wanted but to ensure that they kept their lights off. If they couldn't figure out how to turn off their lights, then to "ask a 9-year-old next to you."

Tool: Photo Credit - AMH

I've never seen Tool before now, but they set a bar for an engrossing artful performance that left me very impressed and eager for more. The visuals were bizarre and beautiful and something I compared to watching the movie, The Cell with Jennifer Lopez. The work and art that went into the entire show made for a memorable show. Tool will be heading to Europe in late Spring, and I encourage you not to miss the show.

 

Gallery: Tool Toyota Arena 2/17/24 (24 photos)

Aaron H • February 22, 2024

More recent blogposts

Murder City Devils/Animal Self @ GHCH 7/12/25

Posted by Aaron H • July 17, 2025

Murder City Devils - Credit: AMH The Murder City Devils don't get out much anymore, so when the opportunity presented itself, I made my way down to Pomona to catch one of the 2 shows they had lined up in California. They brought along Animal Self, which features Kareem Karam and Coady Willis from Murder City Devils as well as … Read more

Daryl Gussin - A Year In Submission

Posted by Jiffy Marx • July 16, 2025

Can't say my review of it will be as well written or entertaining as this book of 50 poems by Daryl Gussin. Daryl is the managing editor of Razorcake. Daryl was in an awesome punk band called God Equals Genocide. Daryl is my friend but also possibly my spirit animal. Part of me wonders if the leather jacket that Daryl … Read more

Tripping Daisy North American Tour 2025

Posted by Mirela Z. • July 13, 2025

Tripping Daisy @ Lee's Palace Toronto, Canada July 11, 2025 Tripping Daisy brought us back to 1995 and sounded better than ever! When the crowd sings along 30 years later there’s no better feeling! Read more

Death from Above 1979

Posted by Mirela Z. • July 6, 2025

Death from Above 1979 @ SummerStage New York, USA July 2, 2025 "The boundary pushing Death From Above 1979 originated from Toronto with the uncompromising one-two punch of 2002’s fuzz-bomb EP Heads Up and 2004’s epochal debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. The band has made numerous appearances on the Billboard charts as well as on TV performing … Read more

Sum 41 @ Scotiabank Arena

Posted by Mirela Z. • June 19, 2025

Sum 41 final shows - day 1 of 2 Scotiabank Arena Toronto Canada Jan. 28, 2025 All photos by @front.row.fans   Read more

Play/Search/Repeat - May 2025

Posted by Loren • May 27, 2025

It's been a while since I put another playlist up. I actually had this 99% done a couple of months ago, but everything went haywire and the list went on hold. This edition of Search/Play/Repeat is a quick play, running about 30 minutes in total. Enjoy! Read more

Visual Learner / BlackDots / City Mouse

Posted by Loren • May 14, 2025

Visual Learner, BlackDots, City Mouse, Couch Potato Massacre Cloudland Theater Minneapolis, MN May 7, 2025 I’m embarrassed that I haven’t covered any shows at Cloudland for SPB previously. It’s a relatively new addition to the Minneapolis scene and a welcome addition that feels as much like a community space as a club. In other words, it’s clean instead of dingy, … Read more

HORSE the Band @ The Glass House 4/26/25

Posted by Aaron H • May 2, 2025

HORSE the Band - Credit: AMH HORSE the Band are on the road celebrating the 20th anniversary of their sophomore album, The Mechanical Hand. Joining them for the first leg of the tour was Pomona locals, Othiel, Flake from Wichita, Kansas, and LA's "melodic crust" quartet, Lagrimas. It's an odd feeling to remember being at the record release show for … Read more

The Linda Lindas/BYOP/Chicano Mosh @ GHCH 4/1/25

Posted by Aaron H • April 5, 2025

The Linda Lindas - Credit: AMH After spending the Summer playing stadiums opening for Green Day and The Rolling Stones, The Linda Lindas are out on the road supporting their new album, No Obligation. For their first major headlining tour since releasing their sophomore album last Fall, the young punk quartet brought along Garage-Punk veterans, Be Your Own Pet for … Read more

PJ Harvey @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Posted by T • March 14, 2025

PJ Harvey Sydney Opera House Forecourt 13 March 2025 Sydney, Australia photo courtesy of Daniel Boud and the Sydney Opera House.Caption Some artists perform. PJ Harvey transmutes. Like a figure walking between worlds, she never lingers too long in one place, never allows herself to fossilize into nostalgia. Instead, she reinvents - without ever severing the thread that binds her … Read more