Tool
Charleston (WV) Coliseum
November 4th.
by Michelle Waters
Tool, an iconic band who has filled stadiums for decades, with their intelligent and entrancing mixes of prog rock
and metal, played to a sold out show at the Charleston. (WV) Coliseum Saturday, November 4th.
It’s not often that I encourage folks to get a seat further back from the stage. But with the mesmerizing light and multimedia show that takes place throughout the whole set, it’s really helpful to take it all in. Plus, frontman Maynard ends up staying on a platform far away from front stage (except for a brief acoustic performance toward the end of the show), so there’s little chance for interaction with him, if that’s your goal.
With Maynard (James Keenan) being known for being a bit…difficult, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder, heading into concert. But truthfully, his silly banter with the crowd, and the love the rest of the band had for each other won me over. Tool has
spent a long time building their fanbase, and their fanbase returns those efforts with unstoppable loyalty. The otherworldly video and light show, the meditative trance of the music, it swept the whole crowd into a trance that no one wanted to end.
Tool songs are often long, and sometimes spiral into brand new jams. So when Isay they played a full 12 song set (8 songs a 12 minute intermission, and a 4 song “finale”), it felt full. Fans from each decade of fandom heard something to their liking, with songs ranging from debut album Undertow’s opening track, “Intolerance”, to songs from their most recent studio album, Fear Innoculum:
Pneuma, title track Fear Innoculum, and Invincible, and the confetti-inducing Chocolate Chip Trip (by the way, if you see the confetti drop, make sure to grab some of it up. The confetti is a puzzle, and they have different designs).
Other highlights during the set included comedian Rory Scovel joining the band for a performance of Intolerance, Danny Carey drumming our faces off, tight performances all-around, and an acoustic breakdown during the latter part of the set. The full set list follows:
Fear Innoculum
Jambi
The Pot
Rosetta Stoned
Pneuma
Descending
Intolerance
The Grudge
Chocolate Chip Trip
Culling Voices
Invincible
Stinkfist
Opening act was one man band, Steel Beans, from Washington.
