Tool Headlined Excel Energy Center
Progressive Metal Band Tool Played for a Mass Crowd in St. Paul
Tool rocked out with a stellar performance and stunning optical light show in front of a stadium-packed crowd in St. Paul's Excell Energy Center Sunday June 22.
Tool drew a crowd of enthusiastic fans of their progressive style of rock music who gazed at the mystic optical sights that accompanied their majestic sounds.
Most of the music that they played that night were songs from more recent albums "Lateralus" and "10,000 Days," with a couple of songs from "Aenema" such as "Stinkfist." The songs from these albums are a bit epic, lasting sometimes about 10 minutes or longer. At one point it seemed the venue was lit by cigarette lighters from nostagic fans from the floor to the nosebleeds. Maynard James Keenan, vocalist/keyboardist, was in good harmony with the music played by drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones and Bassist Justin Chancellor.
The visuals at the show were a combination of aesthetic, artistic video, laser lights and other visual astonishments. There were screens behind the band that displayed an array of imagery that Tool is accustomed to. Images of static, water, bodys of pale figures, eyes, and the like were displayed. Much of the art from the latest album shone through. If you've ever seen a Tool video, then imagine the imagery as similar. Three large discuses lined with lights above the band shot blue light from their centers into the venue. Lasers that danced to the tunes of the band's music were racing about the room as well. The light show that encompasses a Tool show seems to complement the band's style and artistic mood. The tones of both the sonic and the visual clash well to create an intreaguing experience for the spectator. Word of the visual experience was all about after the performance. But word was about regarding the band's performance on stage too.
Unlike a typical metal concert, crazy antics by the vocalist and other members were a minimum. The crowd however, was a different scene. There were groups that moshed at heavier parts of the music, which was to be aniticipated.
The opening band was called Big Business. Their drummer played alongside Carey on Tool's set.
Tool has been around for some time now. Keenan played for other projects including A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. Their albums include: Opiate, Undertow, Aenema, Salival, Lateralus and 10,000 Days. The band is from the Los Angeles area. They have toured extensively throughout their existance as a band, and it doesn't appear that that will change for some time to come.
This is not the first time Tool has played the Excel Center in St. Paul. They have come this way on past tours, including one that followed the release of Lateralus shortly after the Mellenium.
