This week on Flashback Fridays I wanted to speak to you about Tool. They’re an absolutely amazing band. I used to always think they were weird as hell in high school. And, to be honest, they are! But they are also awesome. Tool is classified as “prog” or Progressive Rock. And if you listen to their music, they are certainly that. Mixing Bohemian vibes, their music borders on a psychedelic trip infused with a dose of heavy metal. Their older albums were more depressing and fatalistic, while my favorite, Lateralus is about the human experience and trying to grow as a person (i.e., seeing and doing as much as you can).
Mentioning Lateralus and the depth of its message brings me to another point where Tool is astounding – the lyrics. For most bands, it’s pretty clear as to what the message of a song actually is. Not so with Tool. Most of their songs don’t have a clear-cut meaning, though their later stuff is mainly positive. And I love that. Wanna get deep? Listen to The Grudge and read the lyrics. Then research what some people think they mean. It’s heavy stuff, and not just in a metal kind of way!
I love metal and rock. But sometimes, it’s just too much. The incessant harshness of the genre can be too grating to the ears and the mind. But as mentioned, Tool’s songs aren’t just hard metal. It’s progressive for sure, and in some songs, you’re taken on this gentle journey as the vocals and music paint a textured experience that slowly unfolds. Their songs feel organic, are unique, and coupled with the visuals, certainly make for a fascinating (and unique) experience.
Which brings me to Tool’s videos. Strange and often disturbing, the music videos aren’t the reason I listen to Tool. In fact, it was their music videos that initially turned me off from the band. Their lead guitarist Adam Jones worked on a variety of films doing makeup (Jurassic Park, Nightmare on Elm Street, Terminator 2, etc) and he handles a lot of the art for the band. Most of the videos, shows, and album art showcase his work. It’s certainly different.
But where I do love the visuals are for their live performances. If you mildly like this band or find them interesting, you have to see them in concert if given a chance. It’s an experience. I went about a year ago with a good friend and saw them in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was nothing short of amazing. This band rocks live, and even though I was a tad inebriated, the visuals, coupled with their insane laser show, made the experience something more than just listening to music.
I’ve seen Metallica, AC/DC, and a few other acts in concert. The first two were great in their own ways (which is a different conversation for a different day) but Tool has to take the cake for concert experiences. Not only are these guys great showmen, but the entire thing was a mesmerizing spectacle to behold. For one thing, I’ve never been to a concert where so many people were so calm. There was a great energy or vibe to the concert, don’t get me wrong. But I was on the floor. Sure, there was seating, but no one was pushing me or slamming me about as the band jammed onstage. Everyone was mesmerized by this amazing journey we were taking together. And an even odder thing about Tool is the eclectic people the band caters to. I saw people of every race gender, and oddly enough, ages from thirteen to sixty! It was crazy!
But that’s Tool. To me, they’re an enigma in the music industry. Going against conventional means of what it is or means to be a rockstar, these guys are artists, more so than any other band I can think of. And the best part? They keep getting better and improving their craft. Like a fine wine, these guys get better with time. Kind of interesting, considering the lead singer owns a vineyard. 
I’m going to close out with a short video of my experience. I never was able to clean the audio up further (as I originally intended). But this is a snippet from the concert I went to a year ago. You can see a brief part of their intermission and hear the solo from their song, Schism. Check these guys out. Listen to Lateralus (my favorite) and check out Rosetta Stoned. While you’re at it, read the lyrics. It’s all a mind-bender.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Anyhoo, that’s the word. Take it easy!
-ty
