Tool took Phoenix fans on 'a little journey' of hypnotic intensity on 'Fear Inoculum' tour

It was a night of hypnotic intensity, musical excellence and art-rock ambition when Tool returned to downtown Phoenix for the first of two performances in continued support of "Fear Inoculum," an 87-minute suite of deeply psychedelic modern prog that hit the charts at No. 1 in 2019 as their first release in 13 years.

They set the tone for the sold-out show, as they do on the album, with the mesmerizing "Fear Inoculum," a 12-minute version that built to a headbanging climax while allowing ample room for guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor and drummer Danny Carey to stretch out on their instruments.

Maynard James Keenan fronted the band from the back of the stage, as he does, in his signature mohawk and a smart black vest over a short-sleeve dress shirt, weaving his allegorical elegy as he sang on "Fear Inoculum" from his position on a riser next to Carey's massive drum kit.

At the song's conclusion, Keenan welcomed fans to the arena, getting them to shout when he said "Arizona" before laying down some ground rules with regard to how the night would work.

Maynard set some ground rules

"You guys ready to take a trip, a little journey with us?" Keenan asked. "Stay with us? Stay connected? A little journey together? Presence? Put your (expletive) phone in your pocket and leave it. Phone in pocket. Leave it. Two hours. Just two hours. If you can't leave your (expletive) phone in your pocket for two hours, you have a (expletive) problem and you need to see someone about it."

He said he'd consider letting us take out our phones to document the last song, "if you're good."

Then, it was back to the musical journey with the metallic riffing of "Jambi," which was followed by a second song from 2006's "10,000 Days" — "Rosetta Stoned," which featured Keenan filtering his vocals through a bullhorn.

Much of the set was drawn from "Fear Inoculum." "Pneuma" and "Descending" in the first act to "Chocolate Chip Trip," an extended solo from Carey on drums and trigger pads that started with him standing at a gong, "Culling Voices" and "Invincible" when they returned from intermission.

If you went in hoping to relive your favorite Tool songs of the '90s, you got "Sweat," the song that opens "Opiate," the 1992 album that introduced them to the world and an electrifying encore closing "Stinkfist," a cathartic rock-radio hit from their second full-length effort, the 1996 release, "?nima."

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The Tool concert was an immersive experience

It was every bit the "little" journey Keenan promised, an immersive art-rock spectacle that underscored the drama of their heavy-hitting music with an endless stream of dystopian images projected on the massive screen behind them and a mesmerizing laser light show.

Keenan has been spending less time in the shadows since releasing "Fear Inoculum," after years of requesting that he not be lit. He's still fronting the band from behind, but he's a captivating presence with the vocal range it takes to put these songs across in concert, taking the audience deeper into the experience, which can feel like an alternate universe.

The playing was brilliant throughout as Keenan's bandmates effortlessly navigated the complexity of the arrangements, from the hyperactive drumming that brought "Pneuma" to an overheated climax to the epic art-metal crescendo of "Descending."

The range of sounds Jones manages to get from that guitar was an adventure all its own.

As the second act was nearing its conclusion, following a spellbinding "Invincible," Keenan told the crowd "Take a deep breath. Let it out. Welcome back."

Then, he did that thing again where he says "Arizona" and the place goes wild.

"All right, you guys are pretty good," he said. "In fact, I live here, so you're awesome, right?"

And with that, he allowed fans to take their phones out and said, "See you tomorrow" before leading his bandmates in a very heavy "Stinkfist" with the song's official video playing behind them.

Elder proved a perfect introduction to the Tool show

Elder's opening set was a perfect gateway drug to Tool, setting the tone with a three-song performance that lasted nearly 30 minutes.

After crashing the gate with the heavy-riffing stoner rock of "Sanctuary" — imagine Black Sabbath gone prog — they eased into an epic "Merged in Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra" with a trance-inducing psychedelic intro and got increasingly heavy as the song progressed with drums you could feel in your chest.

Tool 2024 setlist: Every song they played in Phoenix

Here's a look at every song Tool played on the first of two nights at the Phoenix Suns' arena.

• "Fear Inoculum"

• "Jambi"

• "Rosetta Stoned"

• "Pneuma"

• "Sweat"

• "Descending"

• "The Grudge"

Intermission

• "Chocolate Chip Trip"

• "Culling Voices"

• "Invincible"

• "Stinkfist"

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix concert review: Tool delivered mesmerizing art-rock spectacle