Written by Cary Corral
ImageAttending a Tool concert is like taking your brain for a walk — it’s a trippy, mind-warping journey.  Their shows are raw and abrasive yet profound and paradoxically tender all at once. The band performed at Toyota Center March 25th, for the first time in two years. The show was their second to last performance on a 13-city mini-tour.

And although rumors of a new album have been circulating for years, the two hour show was an ode to some of their better-known hits. But fans didn’t seem to mind; the house was packed. The energy was electrifying. Fans were rabid, rebellious and, at times, delirious. As soon as the lights went out, the crescendo of energy intensified even more as the band casually sauntered over to their spots.

As usual, lead singer Maynard James Keenan cloaked himself in darkness and lurked in the shadows throughout the show; his silhouette barely visible as the stage was illuminated by blinding blasts of light. Laser beams reached to the very back crevices of the Toyota Center coating people’s eyeballs in stroke-inducing light. Meanwhile, massive, mobile LED screens bore birth to gruesome, psychedelic visuals.

And with a seat fifth row from the front — it was RIVETING!

Maynard’s sonorous growl makes the crowd roar for more as the night kicks off with “Hooker With a Penis.” Out of the 10 songs they play all night, half of them are from Ænima, an album that’s nearly 18 years old. “Schism,” “Pushit,” “Intension,” and “Lateralus” round out the first half followed by a 13 minute intermission.

ImageAfter the break, drummer Danny Carey (who was decked out in a Tracy McGrady Rockets uniform) kicked things back on track with an extended drum solo before transitioning into “Jambi.”

The last three songs sealed the night with back-to-back-to-back favorites: “46 & 2,” “Aenema,” and “Stinkfist.” Bursts of gold confetti shoot out of cannons entirely encapsulating the front row and signaling the end of the show. Maynard does a quick bow and swiftly exits stage right. Guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, and Danny wane in the spotlight a little longer throwing out guitar picks and drumsticks to an exhilarated, pumped up crowd.

The lights come back on and everyone gets kicked out. Not bad for a band whose last release was 8 years ago.