Tool: Xcel Energy Center - July 1, 2010

The Fourth Of July holiday for me has concluded... As a prior post stated, it all started with going to St. Paul to see one of my all-time favorite bands, TOOL.

Before I give my review, here are the two write-ups from the Pioneer Press (where the photos are from) and the Star Tribune.

Now on to my thoughts about the show...

First, this was the first time (out of 10) I had seen seating on the floor for a Tool show. I had seats on the club level so I really didn't care, but I certainly wouldn't want a seat on the floor unless it was in the first few rows.

I have also seen Tool at the Xcel many times and this was the first time I had seen where everyone, from top to bottom, was sitting in their seats...probably, again, because of the floor seating, whereas when there was general admission on the floor, many fans would buy a ticket for the seats and sneak to the floor anyways...no can-do with seating on the floor.

The show itself was super. I know the last couple of times I had seen Tool, Maynard's vocals seemed to be drowned but not at this show...his vocals were loud and crystal clear. Tool always has fantastic visuals ...lasers and video screens ... there were two screens that would rotate and maneuver about the stage - usually accenting Adam and Justin (guitarist) and even were placed directly behind each of them for a song or two. Danny Carey, the drummer, is the best drummer out there right now. The guy is a beast. He has a huge kit and his arms are often a blur during portions of many of their songs.

Tool is a no nonsense band. Little interaction with the crowd...Maynard only had a few comments, "FYI: Everything is going to be alright." Something like "The word for tonight is time machine. Time machine." And near the conclusion, "See, I told you everything would be alright." Many of Tool's "newer" fans don't 'get' Tool's stage persona ... never are they a band that jumps around and panders to the crowd for cheers (or jeers). They simply come out and rock out...which is exactly what I want... I hate going to concerts where the act will hold the microphone out to the crowd to have them sing along...no, I didn't pay to hear the audience sing this song, I paid to see you sing this song!

Although this show was awesome and great, I was also using this show as a barometer to how far the concert going fan has been pussified. And what I mean by that is that it seems that every show I go to, fans are becoming more and more complacent. There is little to no nefarious activities going on...and not that I'm encouraging any.

The prominent issue would be smoking...now, I don't smoke cigarettes (I quit many years ago) but 10, maybe even 5, years ago, it didn't matter who was playing, as soon as the lights went out everyone would light up a cigarette... the last few shows, including this Tool show, I not only didn't see anyone smoking I didn't even smell any cigarette smoke. Sure, at this Tool show I did smell some pot, but not nearly the amount that was at the last show at the Xcel Center...and I haven't smelt any weed at most other shows.

The fans on the floor...remain at their seats for the entire show...sure, for most shows this would be the case...but I had thought that a Tool crowd would muster enough fortitude to abandon their seats and rush the stage...but not even an attempt was made. And not to point the finger at one group of people, but let's be honest, girls are not going to throw their chair and start a mosh pit...and by having plenty of girls in chairs on the floor you will likely never get a mosh pit started.

Now don't get me wrong...I'm an old dude ... there's no way I'm moshing or starting any trouble...hell, I'll be broken for a week or more...and even when I was younger, I was fairly tame for the most part. But part of the fun of going to a concert was seeing the spectacle of unruly fans and how security would try and deal with them. Now most of the concerts I go to are very orderly affairs...makes me feel even older...