Posted on: Friday, August 18, 2006
Tool promises fans show of epic angst
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Like Sigur Rós at the Hawai'i Theatre in 2005 and Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins at Pink's Garage in 1992, Tool's 2001 show at Andrews Amphitheater has passed into a special kind of Honolulu concert folklore.
You know the shows. The kind of concerts still conversed about at random Honolulu bars 'round 11:53 p.m. every Friday night by the duly soused with, "Dude, how could you not have freakin' been there!" reverence.
And all Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, drummer Danny Carey, bassist Justin Chancellor and guitarist Adam Jones did was show up — with some videos — and play. Fans of the complex, brooding, angst-embracing prog-metal band wanted nothing more.
So with weekend Blaisdell Concert Hall shows supporting Tool's May release "10,000 Days" all but sold out, if you've scored tickets you're either a diehard fan who ponied up cash early, missed the Andrews gig and have been cursing yourself mercilessly in the almost five years since, or both.
For anyone else curious about the notoriously press-shy band, here's a brief guide to Tool's four studio discs so far.
'UNDERTOW' (1993)
Billboard Top 200 peak position: No. 50
In brief: Tool builds its signature aural assault of lessons learned from classic Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Black Sabbath. Moody ramblings on religion, alternative sciences and other topics match up with killer hooks.
iPod musts: "Intolerance," "Swamp Song," "Prison Sex," "Sober"
Telling lyric: "I hope it sucks/I hope it sucks/I hope it sucks you (expletive)" from "Swamp Song"
Sound effects: Baying sheep; 10 minutes of crickets chirping
Angst level (scale of 1 — playing with kittens — to 11 — sticking your noggin in a head vise and twisting tight): 9
'AENIMA' (1996)
Billboard Top 200 peak position: 2
In brief: Tool responds to the several-million-selling success of "Undertow" by steering even further from the mainstream. The dark, nihilistic result is akin to what one might hear while running blind through a nightmare.
iPod musts: "Stinkfist," "Eulogy," "Forty Six & 2," "Hooker With A Penis"
Telling lyric: "I've been crawling on my belly/Clearing out what could've been/I've been wallowing in my own confused/And insecure delusions" from "Forty Six & 2"
Sound effects: Electrical charges, disturbing phone messages, breaking glass, turntable needle on scratchy vinyl
Angst level: 10
'LATERALUS' (2001)
Billboard Top 200 peak position: 1
In brief: Their menacing assault turned down a notch but angst still front and center, Keenan explores the depths of his pain instead of just raging against it.
iPod musts: "Lateralus," "Schism," "Parabola," "Ticks & Leeches"
Telling lyric: "If there were no rewards to reap/No loving embrace to see me through/This tedious path I've chosen here/I certainly would've walked away by now" from "The Patient."
Sound effects: Chirping crickets, croaking frogs, phone call referencing Area 51
Angst level: 9
'10,000 DAYS' (2006)
Billboard Top 200 peak position: 1
In brief: Keenan's most personal and soul-searching lyrics are combined with some of the most alternately solemn and searing instrumentation Tool has committed to disc. The title references the span of time that elapsed between Keenan's mother becoming paralyzed and dying.
iPod musts: "The Pot"
Telling lyric: "Didn't have a life/But surely saved one/So I'm all right/Now it's time for us to let you go" from "Wings For Marie (Part 1)"
Sound effects: You tell me what those industrial noises on "Viginti Tres" are.
Angst level: 7
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.
