It was my first Tool concert and I have never seen anything like it. The laser lights, the visuals, the fog and most of all, the band! They sounded so good. I don't know if Key Arena, the space itself, had anything to do with it but the sound was excellent. It was loud enough that you could sing along and not annoy your neighbors but not too loud to give you a case of 36-hour-tinnitus.
It was close to 8pm when we got to our seats. And already, this shirtless blond guy who I now think of fondly as, well, kind of the mascot for our section of seats, kept standing, throwing his hands up and going, F**K YEAH repeatedly.
A band called Rajas opened for Tool. I was sitting in a state of sushi-digestion (shout out to Sushiland, holler) and excitement so I am ashamed to admit that I only partially absorbed their playing which sounded heavy, with a touch of far eastern influences and wow, the guitarist/singer can really throw his body around. Fast forward. We're Rajas. Lights go down. Lab coats out. Danny's drums unveiled. More fast forward. The mascot strikes again, crowd goes wild along with him. And then bam! The question authority, think for yourself video starts and everyone screams.
On a side note, I am so impressed with how punctual and prompt the whole production was. Rajas started at exactly 8 and Tool was onstage by 9, on the dot. Also, at least in our section, camera phones weren't really a problem, probably because security was busy with ah, certain people smoking certain somethings. Whatever, do what you want but why risk getting kicked out of a show you probably have been waiting for and paid good money for?
And this next paragraph is dedicated to the group in the row in front of us. Hey, that dance you guys were doing, part sign language with the arms and part martial arts, that was pretty amusing. And eventually, your energy was infectious. But the part where your lady friend flashed her boobs? No. Just, no.
The threat of eye disease from said flasher was just a tiny blip because the whole concert was so overwhelmingly good. It was a blast singing, I'll keep digging/ 'til I feel something, with an arena full of people. The dueling drums between a grinning Danny Carey and the Rajas drummer during Lateralus (GONG HIT!) was one of the higlights. And Maynard's dancing/unexplainable movements outlined against the video screens was kind of mesmerizing. It was also very nice to see the fairly lengthy acknowledgment that Adam, Justin and Danny gave the audience at the end of the show (Maynard did give a big wave before leaving the stage).
The shouting and crazy energy spilled out onto the exits. Hey, even the Seattle Center buskers were still at their instruments. One guy with his guitar was like, yeah, this song I'm playing is early Tool. More screaming at the crosswalks and at the McDonald's across the street. All in all, I rate this concert with two thumbs up, all my toes pointed, 12 plates at Sushiland, a 2-cheeseburger meal and a hot fudge sundae. SPIRAL OOOOUUUUTTTT!!!!
* photo by IP
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