Tool Deliver Genre Defying Live Spectacle In Allentown

Tool Fear Inoculum Tour 2023

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Maynard James Keenan is one of the hardest working frontmen in music. Why? Well let’s see, this year he’s performed tours with Tool and Puscifer, made a ton of wine, ran a restaurant, performed double duty at festivals and next up a tour recently announced between Puscifer, A Perfect Circle and Primus to celebrate his 60th birthday, yes 60th this man is kicking absolute ass quite literally as he also frequently does jiu jitsu!!!

So it’s November and Tool is embarking on their Fear Inoculum 2023 tour which expands into 2024 with shows headlining the world’s most famous arena Madison Square Garden. I headed out to Allentown, Pennsylvania’s PPL Center for a night of music and visuals courtesy of Maynard, Adam, Justin and Danny. 

As always fans arrived early because like everything with Tool, it’s a spectacle. Die Hard fans arrived hours before doors to get in line for a chance at the limited edition signed event posters, signed deluxe edition cd’s for the 30th Anniversary of Undertow and even one of a kind show coins for the show. As fans packed the PPL Center, the lights went low as the opening act kicked off the night.

The tour’s opener is Steel Beans, a one man band himself. He plays guitar, sings and play’s drums. Great musicianship and humor galore when he’s not self fronting the band he’s a bit of a comedian himself. Surrounded by manikin head props, basked under the stage lights he delivered an entertaining set, make no mistake Steel Bean’s is the real deal.

Musically it’s a little trippy, a little circus vibe, and moments of good old rock and roll. It feels like something from the brain of Mike Patton or Les Claypool but done with its own twist and the sold out Pennsylvania crowd enjoyed every minute of it. He plants some Ol Dirty Bastard in the set with a cover of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” as well as a cover of Nirvana’s “aneurysm” but where he really shines is with his original material like his 2022 single “Molotov Cocktail Lounge”. What’s impressive most and no easy feat is he kept the Tool crowd happy and entertained throughout the entire set. Something surely not everyone who has had the honor of opening has been able to do. 

By around 8:30 pm it was about time for Tool to hit the stage, The set kicks off as it has the past few years with the latest albums title track “Fear Inoculum” Danny first making his way to the drum kit to start the intro and then Bassist Justin Chancellor and guitarist Adam Jones following nearby. As per usual Tool’s thunderous guitar and bass tones shook the arena as Maynard took to his perch to stage left above Danny to start his enchanting vocals. 

As colorful visuals and bursts of bright white filled the back screams, fans headbanged entranced by both the visual and sonic pleasure and this was only song one. Tool also broke out fan favorites “Jambi” and “The Pot” both letting Adam Jones guitar riffs shake the floor.

Maynard at almost 60 sounds great and the band is just so tight and perfectly composed, it’s incredible to see how in sync with one another they still are. It’s art just watching how they move amongst one another and structure these songs for the live atmosphere. 

Tool just barreled through song after song ripping through the heavy “Rosetta Stoned” then continuing into fan favorite “Pneuma”. A mix of heavy bass, hypnotic riffs and Maynards at times incredibly soothing vocals all filled in by Danny Carey’s superb drumming, Tool really could do no wrong. The setlist though a diverse mix flowed perfectly through the evening. 

Of course we can’t talk about a Tool show without mentioning visuals. Lights hang above the stage and move in UFO like patterns, large screens showcase skulls, aliens, color patterns, fetuses and more through the nearly 2 and a half hour setlist. Lasers shoot across the arena and colorful patterns grace the arena’s roof.

The band takes a brief intermission for about 10 or so minutes just enough time for fans to check their phones. As with every Maynard show, there is a strict no phone, filming or photo policy and I must say the Allentown crowd was respectful of the rule. 

When the band returns, we’re first treated by a Danny Carey Drum extravaganza including the track “Chocolate Chip Trip” before going into “Culling Voices” where the band as a four piece sits center stage on their stools as lights hang low and shiny confetti falls all along the arena make a unique and fitting glimmer throughout. The band finishes strong with “Invincible” and “Forty Six & 2”. Tool completes the set and takes a final bow. 

It’s incredible to see Tool still doing this and to a level very few can achieve. I’ve seen a lot of Tool shows over the years and still this was one of my favorites. They were completely on, they seemed to be enjoying themselves and letting themselves have the moment and it certainly translated into the live performance.

The band will be touring for quite a bit still and if you can make it out to a show, I highly recommend you do and for the Pennsylvania people who missed out on the Allentown show the band will be performing at The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on November 16th. 

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

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