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 title: Thousands roar for Tool at Coliseum 
author: Adriana Chávez

Clad in women’s black underwear, Tool singer Maynard James 
Keenan sweetly asked a crowd of about 10,000, “Are you 
enthusiastic?” 
The audience responded with a roar of applause and cheers. 
That response summed up the entire evening. 
Keenan and the rest of the band Tool hypnotized those in 
attendance with surreal images on two large video screens 
that flanked the stage. As soon as the band opened with 
their song “Sober,” a wave of energy filled the El Paso County 
Coliseum, along with dazzling multi-colored lights. 
Tool took an unusual stage setup. Keenan held court on a 
large platform that doubled as a television. To his left, 
drummer Danny Carey pounded on a huge, high-tech drum 
kit. Guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor 
mostly kept to their positions at the front of the stage, 
concentrating on their music instead of the numbers of 
moshers being pulled from the audience. 
The fans were also a big part of the spectacle, as they 
pushed towards the front of the stage. About two to three 
mosh pits were going at one time to Tool’s heaviest songs, 
including “Schism,” “Stinkfist” and "Forty-six and 2." 
Sandwiched between the heavier songs were the more 
entrancing interludes. During the encore, Tool invited opening 
act Tomahawk’s drummer John Stainer to participate in an 
instrumental jam. 
“That was John of Tomahawk, formerly of Uriah Heep,” 
Keenan said jokingly. 
There were times that the music seemed to lag, but the 
crowd clearly didn’t mind, and instead used the time to sit 
and watch in awe. 
Tomahawk didn’t disappoint in their duties as opening act. A 
majority of the crowd was on hand to watch the band’s first 
performance in El Paso, and seemed impressed with them. 
The band, fronted by former Faith No More singer Mike 
Patton, opened with “Flashback,” the first song off their debut 
self-titled album. 
The foursome were decked out in police uniforms for 
unknown reasons, and were obviously impressed by the 
crowd’s response. 
“If you thought you were enjoying yourselves now, just wait 
until later,” Patton told the crowd. 
Both Tomahawk and Tool must have brought watches to El 
Paso. The two bands were on time, with Tomahawk 
immediately taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. for their 30-
minute set, and Tool entering the arena a little after 8:30, 
and playing for about two hours. The area’s last concert, 
when LL Cool J came to the Pan American Center at NMSU 
Saturday night, had the audience waiting for almost an hour 
for the rapper’s 50-minute set.

Posted to t.d.n: 07/18/02 13:49:23