Concerts

Playing “Spot The Maynard” at the Tool Concert in Denver

January 28, 2022 /

The godlike progressive metal band, Tool happens to be my current favorite band. Note: I tend to get stuck on one band, one musician, and that’s who I’ll listen to for years. Tool is that band and their vocalist, Mr Maynard James Keenan is that musician.

Last night, these metal gods rocked Denver, Colorado.

Justin Chancellor (bass), Adam Jones (guitar), Maynard James Keenan (spiky hair and vocals) and Danny Carey (drums) in Denver, CO

I love Tool.

And Maynard James Keenan is a hell of a rocker for 57 years old. But as much as I adore MJK and all of his work, first, I want to talk about the band that made him a name.

Tool’s been making music for over 25 years (I think) and it’s only been within the past couple of years that I’ve really become obsessive about listening to them (as well as A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, both MJK projects).

We had decent seats for this concert, being pretty much directly beside the stage, as you might be able to see by the above picture of the band. The fact I took a fairly decent picture of the whole band — and MJK is facing my direction — I’m rather happy with it.

It’s awesome to hear them in real life. It’s easy to listen to recordings of musicians and expect that when you go to a concert, that’s exactly what you’re going to hear. The thing is: Tool wasn’t perfect. And that’s awesome.

You know what I like most? I like hearing the mistakes. The little mistakes that knock them off the pedestal I put them on. The little errors that no one really cares about as long as you finish the song.

Those little mistakes — a bit of feedback here, a bit of something else there — made me feel as though I’m part of what was going on, rather than just watching.

MJK had some issues with the oxygen levels in Denver due to the altitude. I wonder how much of this has to do with the fact that he caught COVID and beat it twice. His voice was still phenomenal.

Hearing him talk about being a 57 year old who thinks he’s 47 trying to be 27… I understand, Maynard. I understand.

I have never felt so much for a rock star in my life.

So, how am I going to tie all this into my writing and my writing process?

In the midst of tens of thousands of fans watching and cheering them on, Tool kept going through a couple slightly noticeable hitches.

I’d have choked. I don’t have problems making mistakes; I have problems accepting my mistakes and living with them. And even then, my mistakes aren’t open to the world to see, night after night after night.

I think Maynard had a couple moments where you could hear his voice crack, but he would rise to the challenge and then some more. The 25-second scream from “The Grudge” was awesome.

Thank you, Tool, for a fantastic concert! Wish I could be there tonight in Colorado Springs!

As with previous concerts, Maynard gave his permission to record and take pictures for the last song of the concert. Here’s a recording (not mine) of it — go like the video on YouTube if you like it!