Live Review: T O O L - North American Fall Tour 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - November 1, 2023

Such a treat that you know Tool is still out on the road touring, both October and November, with some festival dates, and mostly arenas and covering secondary markets.

I bring this up right off the bat in regards to fandom, and the reactions thereof, in regards to the band Tool and especially anything merch related.
I travelled north to Milwaukee to catch the show, and made sure I arrived there early, like around 2pm, a few hours before doors opened.

On the southeast corner of where the Fiserv Forum is located- that's where the set up the outdoor hookup trailer for all things merch- and that line....must've been a minimum 100 to 120 people deep.

For all things- mostly if any limited posters were available, and of course the wide assortment of T shirts available, both long sleeve and short sleeve.
And it was Milwaukee mid fall cold out- around 35 degrees or so, with a wind chill.
Didn't matter.
It's Tool baby- have to represent.

I love this about the band and their fans, bordering on fanatical.
And of course set wise, Tool didn't disappoint- from the opening salvo from Danny's drum kit for "Fear Inoculum"- and the chimed bells before the synth string arrangements proceed with the tabla drums, all done spiritual style, christening the proceedings.
Gives you chills thinking back on it, how methodical the proceedings to start the show.

So yes, as always, everything's so well though out, stage positions set with Adam stage right, Justin stage left, Danny front and center to the back, and of course Maynard perched in the back to the left and right of Danny on his rail platforms.

Maynard's trademark mohawk configurations are evident as always lately, this time a bright yellow adorned and styled mix, and more conservative with the dress up, long sleeves rolled up white button down shirt with wide white collars, black vest, black pants, and- the raccoon and tight black burglar eye makeup.

A look that transcends, and also is meant to add some wickedness to the proceedings.
Having said all of that- it's still about the music, the glorious full on immersed into the wormhole and don't ever get out of dodge music, and of course the sophisticated visuals and sophisticated lasers to sink you into the wormhole even more.
The setlist with break - some eleven songs.
But don't let that fool you.

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Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Tool - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

These songs, some are twelve, fourteen minutes in length, with some breaks in the instrumentals to catch your breath before your ears burn for more technical prowess.
It's audio might that's clean and unforgiving.

And they as a band have to be spot on to attempt this kind of setlist show, from opener "Fear Inoculum" all the way to the end with "Forty Six & 2".

And hearing "Rosetta Stoned" once again, and the vicious drum rolls from Danny knocking in the fierce lyric and bite from Maynard with "Holy Fucking Shit!", some eight times or so- yes- you feel like there's an alien in the room making advances, and proof exists, all the way down to the truth of a flaming melt banana that just split open the sky...that - and the poor guy who witnessed all this hasn't even graduated from high school.

Leta alone the L. Ron Hubbard stiff upper lip thingy.

All of this is my version of a Star Trek Spock mind meld- with comical purpose to ring out the bath soap that's in your ears.
All the way home, a two hour drive, I'm occasionally breaking the speed limit on 94, just humming that refrain from the song, all smiles and giggles, and just how powerful it is, let alone the fucking alien, and finding the chosen one, even though he's obviously not a bright guy, and he shits the bed.
I know right?

Laugh out loud funny/ awesome- on repeat in my head.

Have already mapped out an explanation god forbid I get pulled over on 94 for speeding- I want the officer to hear this song as an explanation, the pulverizing nature of it all- speeding ticket can wait a bit.
And so it goes with the mighty Tool, emjoying their ride while they're still good and healthy.

It's not like the writing's on the wall with this kind of monumental juggernaut touring- but they're getting up there in age folks.
It's not like they're the band "America" with "A Horse with No Name", or the band "Bread" from back in the day- lighthearted singing / songwriting from the easy going seventies.
No no no.

They're the exact opposite of that, with bull horn/ megaphone stories to tell, protest style, demanding your attention with lit up lighter fluid statements to pass judgement on individualism and the occasional bite of simply being.

Always a lot to take in, with nary a romantic heartbreak lyric in sight.
The purpose- it's evolved meaningfully, psychologically, menacingly for a show that packs a wallop, with songwriting and a back catalog that doesn't get old, doesn't get stale.

Man, these guys..I so wish I got pulled over on 94 traveling at 85 miles an hour just to explain everything to a strange officer, not that I recommend that sorta thing.
But it's Tool baby...strangers and oddballs and serious folk of all shapes and sizes need to know about this band Tool, if they don't know already.
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Hope the images provided are worthy of your applause as well, to get the gist of the whole presentation and show of might.

Some ten or so dates remain on their North American Tour, up to November 21st.
Try not to miss out as they head east up to the end in Toronto Canada.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Tool, Tool (Band), Maynard James Keenan, Justin Chancellor, Danny Carey, Adam Jones, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine