Decades into their trailblazing, multi-platinum career, alternative metal innovators Tool regularly face accusations of resting on their laurels. While any band this deep into their years is bound to generate some pushback from their fanbase, the main criticisms directed against Tool can usually be distilled down to two gripes: their infamously glacial creative process that has slowed the release of their sonic output to the crawl, and their lack of setlist diversity.
When it comes to the latter, this year was particularly divisive for fans of the group. After performing a slightly varied setlist during two nights of their first-ever ‘Tool Live In The Sand‘ destination festival in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic this past March, the band were threatened with a class action lawsuit.
Age has obviously played a role in Tool being more selective about their earlier catalog. Maynard James Keenan, the group’s 61-year-old enigmatic vocalist, has been upfront about his diminished capabilities when it comes to sustained performances of the more aggressive output of the band’s youthful days.
That said, fans who attended last night’s (November 22nd) kickoff of Tool‘s run across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii were likely ecstatic at the relative diversity of what was played. In a surprising turn, the “Undertow” track “Crawl Away” was aired for the first time since 1998.
“H.” from their 1996 sophomore album “Ænima” also returned to the stage for the first time since 2002, as did the “Lateralus” cut “Disposition“. As an added bonus, Tool also rolled out their cover of Black Sabbath‘s “Hand Of Doom“.
They first debuted that tribute during their appearance at their previous live stop, the ‘Back To The Beginning‘ festival in Birmingham, UK this past July. That concert of course served as the farewell live performance for Black Sabbath and the now departed Ozzy Osbourne.
Last night’s setlist ran as follows:
“The Grudge“
“Fear Inoculum“
“Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann)“
“Rosetta Stoned“
“Disposition“
“Jambi“
“Pneuma“
“Crawl Away“
“Vicarious“
“Intolerance“
Encore:
“Chocolate Chip Trip“
“Hand Of Doom” (Black Sabbath cover)
“Invincible“
Continuing with the surprising string of developments, despite Tool‘s notorious no-filming policy, fan-filmed footage from last night’s show has cropped up. See below for that. Tool‘s immediate live plans include:
11/23 Auckland, NZ – Spark Arena
11/28 Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Headsend)
11/29 Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Headsend)
12/01 Perth, AUS – RAC Arena (feat. Headsend)
12/04 Melbourne, AUS – Flemington Racecourse (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/05 Sydney, AUS – Sydney Showground (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/06 Brisbane, AUS – Brisbane Showground (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/11 Kanagawa, JPN – K-Arena Yokohama
12/13 Hyogo, JPN – Glion Arena Kobe
12/19 Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
12/20 Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
