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Tool Captivates with an Incredibly Visual Performance

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Last updated on March 16th, 2022 at 08:56 am

Progressive metal legends Tool brought their Fear Inoculum tour to the Target Center. Touring behind their acclaimed album of the same name, the multi-time Grammy award winners captivated fans with an incredibly visual show.

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Beginning the show with a woven curtain around them, projections of surreal imagery and fractals overtook the stage. Shooting underneath this curtain and seeing what the band looks at was an incredibly cool once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Rising to prominence in the early 90s, Maynard James Keenan and company have incredible staying power and a loyal fanbase. Fans keep returning to the group because of their bold innovation. Each time Tool releases an album it’s a total game changer.

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

“Tool has a uniquely profound ability to recreate intense feelings through music while lyrically exploring subjects that everybody else is too afraid to touch,” exclaimed super-fan Ryan Skille.

Their live performances take on an intense life of their own. Weaving through their detailed and lengthy tracks, the band performs as if they’re classical composers – but with heavy metal and progressive rock.

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

My first exposure to the group came in 2012 when they headlined the short-lived River’s Edge Festival in St. Paul. Additionally, my brother-in-law is a huge fan of the group and has shown me some of their best songs.

I was completely engrossed by the music and visuals throughout the night. This was partly thanks to their controversial no cell phone rule.

Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.
Tool performing at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Fans of the band are used to this cell phone policy. Regardless, its enforcement resulted in some frustrated individuals being ejected from the show – something I’ve never actually seen done before.

The-Acid-Helps at the Target Center.
The Acid Helps. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

The Acid Helps opened the night. Despite having strong musicianship, the performers really felt like a warmup band, as the crowd was rowdy and eager for Tool.

The highlight of the night was seeing the breadth of fans Tool has earned over the years. It reminds me of something I read about their recent album.

While the themes of Fear Inoculum are heavily debated by fans, one that stands out is the idea of growing older and the passage of time. Based on their live performance, Tool has aged well over the years and only gotten better.

Tool at the Target Center
Tool at the Target Center. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

The exploration of their complex themes and big ideas in a live space was an incredible, can’t miss experience.

Setlist:

  1. Fear Inoculum
  2. Opiate
  3. The Pot
  4. Pushit
  5. Pneuma
  6. The Grudge
  7. Undertow
  8. Descending
  9. Hooker With a Penis
  10. Chocolate Chip Trip
  11. Culling Voices
  12. Invincible

Written by Dylan Novacek

Photographer, graphic designer, and multimedia storyteller from St. Paul. Most likely listening to CHVRCHES, Of Monsters and Men or Fall Out Boy. Once featured in the New York Times for using the bathroom during Avengers: Endgame.

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