
November 17th, 2023 – In a parallel dimension where time is but a suggestion, Tool descended upon the Wells Fargo Center like interdimensional wizards, wielding sonic spells that left the audience dazed, enlightened, and perhaps slightly unhinged. The Fall 2023 tour had reached its zenith in Philadelphia, and what transpired was nothing short of a journey through the musical cosmos.

Photos + Article by A.J.Kinney
I was ushered into the photo pit in what seemed like complete darkness. The air was thick with anticipation, accompanied by a potent blend of sweat, and something vaguely herbal. The stage was set up like an otherworldly temple, adorned with cryptic symbols and shrouded in an ethereal mist. The crowd, a congregation of Tool acolytes, was a sea of Wide-Eyed disciples donned in sacred band merchandise.

Stage lights glimmered ever so slightly, and the air crackled with a palpable energy. The first ominous notes of “Fear Inoculum” echoed through the arena, and I was immediately transported to an alternate reality (one of my favorite things about attending a concert). Maynard James Keenan, shrouded in shadows behind his bandmates, periodically emerged like a psychedelic shaman, his voice weaving through the intricate tapestry of sound. The visual spectacle unfolded like a DMT-infused dream, with hypnotic visuals and geometric patterns pulsating in time with the polyrhythmic onslaught.





Tool’s virtuosic instrumental prowess was on full display, each member a master of their respective domain. Adam Jones’s guitar riffs sliced through the air like a cosmic blade, Danny Carey’s drumming a primal heartbeat that resonated through the very core of the Earth, and Justin Chancellor’s basslines serving as the foundation upon which this sonic cathedral stood.

The setlist was a concoction primarily of newer songs from the band’s most recent album ‘Fear Inoculum’, lightly dusted along this journey with a few deeper cuts from their storied discography. “Jambi” sent shockwaves through the audience, its labyrinthine structure mesmerizing all in its wake. “Forty Six and Two” felt like a prophetic anthem for our tumultuous times, with Keenan’s voice echoing the collective frustrations of the crowd.

The stage production was a mind-bending spectacle, with surreal animations and pulsating lights enhancing the auditory experience. Giant screens displayed Alex Grey’s esoteric imagery, shifting and morphing with each sonic surge. It was as if Tool had harnessed the power of a black hole, bending reality itself to their will.

Maynard, the enigmatic frontman, remained mostly in the shadows, his silhouette a mysterious presence. Occasionally, he would emerge into the spotlight, a spectral figure cloaked in shadows, delivering his cryptic lyrics with an intensity that sent shivers down the spine.

As the set reached its climax with “Invincible,” the audience was caught in a collective trance, a cacophony of swirling emotions and sensory overload. The music transcended mere entertainment; it quite literally became a spiritual experience for some, a communion with the unknown.

As the final notes reverberated through the Wells Fargo Center, I stumbled out of my seat, my mind a kaleidoscope of sound and vision. It was at this point I noticed pieces of paper covering the floor and in between seats. The ‘confetti’ that had floated down from the ceiling at some point during the show, was not just random paper; but rather pieces of a much larger image. I quickly began to pick up other bits on the ground realizing that these cryptic symbols actually had more meaning than met the eye. After returning home, I pulled the paper out and assembled them together. To my surprise it formed one of Alex Grey’s creations, an Egyptian Alien ‘Destroyer’, a prominent character on much of the band’s merchandise.









Tool’s Fall 2023 tour had been a transcendent odyssey, a gonzo rollercoaster through the depths of musical mysticism. In that moment, it felt like Tool had not just performed a concert; they had orchestrated a ritual, leaving the audience forever changed, their souls echoing with the haunting resonance of the band’s sonic alchemy.