It's been nearly six years since Tool last played Las Vegas. Here are five reasons you should be there for the band's return to town.
1. New songs. It took 13 years for the alt-metal legends of Tool to put out their most recent album—Fear Inoculum, released in August 2019—so this tour marks the first chance to catch those long-gestating tracks in concert. Although the songs can be a bit unwieldy (aside from the instrumental interludes, they all run 10 minutes or longer), they still have plenty of visceral impact, and songs like "Pneuma" and "Invincible," with their driving hooks, should gain extra power when performed live.
2. Older gems. Tool songs weren't always 10-plus minutes long, and the band's more concise older material still sounds as heavy and intense as when it was first released. On this tour, Tool has been reaching back to 1992 debut EP Opiate for the punchy, angry "Part of Me," which hadn't been played live since 1998. That's the most obscure song in the set, but older tunes including radio hits "Aenema" and "Stinkfist" and Tool concert staple "Forty Six & 2" are also always welcome, and you never know when the band might reach back even further for an unlikely addition.
3. Amazing musicianship. One of the reasons it took 13 years for a new Tool album to come out is that all four members are brilliant, accomplished perfectionists, and seeing them showcase their talents in person can be a profound experience. From singer Maynard James Keenan's still-soaring voice to drummer Danny Carey's complex beats (beautifully highlighted on Fear Inoculum instrumental "Chocolate Chip Trip," which has been part of this tour's set) to guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor's intricate riffs, every element of Tool's music is polished and precise.
4. You never know ... Another reason it took 13 years for Fear Inoculum to be released is that each of the four band members has his own, very clear vision of what Tool's music should be, and those visions often clash. Although Tool has toured pretty consistently in the years between album releases, the musicians all have solo projects and side ventures (most notably Keenan's bands A Perfect Circle and Puscifer), and they don't hold back in interviews when expressing their skepticism about the future of Tool. For now, a new album has rejuvenated the band, but the members could walk away at any time.
5. Proof that rock isn't dead.Guitar-driven rock (and especially hard rock) has pretty much disappeared from mainstream popular music, and while Tool isn't chasing hit singles, it's one of the few rock bands whose new releases remain a major event, and which can still reliably draw arena-size crowds. At just over 10 minutes, the title track from Fear Inoculum became the longest song ever to hit Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, demonstrating the band's continued draw for rock radio and longstanding fans. Tool's legacy is secure, and the band members certainly don't care about chart placement, but it's still worth supporting one of the primary acts keeping rock alive.
Tool with Author & Punisher. January 17, 8 p.m., $55-$150. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600.
