Tool

Tool and Headsend live at RAC Arena, Perth | 02 December 2025

A night of precision, shadow, and transcendental heaviness.

After nearly six long years, Tool returned to Perth and the anticipation could be felt from the pavement outside RAC Arena all the way to the rafters inside. With a strict no-phone request and a sold-out crowd willing to surrender completely to the moment, Tool delivered a performance that wasn’t just a concert but a fully immersive ritual. Supporting act Headsend set the early tone, proving that Australian rock’s next generation is already sharpening its teeth.

The Byron Bay trio Headsend stepped out to a warm welcome from a crowd eager for the night to begin. Despite being only three members, their sound filled the arena with surprising scale, a heavy, melodic blend that evoked early Silverchair grit, fused with grunge edges and a sun-drenched surf/stoner-rock sensibility. Even with vocals sitting slightly low in the mix, their songwriting and tight execution cut through. Headsend delivered confidence, punch, and a clear sense of identity over their 30 minute set. The audience’s applause at the end was enthusiastic and genuine, a sign these young players are gaining traction fast, and rightly so.

Six Years in the making, Tool’s absence from Perth has been long enough to feel mythic but the sold-out RAC Arena proved the city never stopped waiting. Before the band even stepped onstage, a resonant voice echoed through the venue urging fans to put their phones away and truly be present. In a rare moment for modern live music, the crowd actually listened.

When the lights dropped, Danny Carey’s illuminated drum citadel became the first visual spark. As “Fear Inoculum” unfurled its slow, meditative build, the band positioned themselves as shadows rather than stars. Maynard James Keenan remained almost entirely cloaked in darkness, while Justin Chancellor and Adam Jones carved out the opening soundscape with surgical control. From the beginning, it was clear this show wasn’t about theatrics, it was about immersion.

After the first track, Maynard greeted the crowd with deadpan humour. When their response fell short of his expectations, he volleyed: “Sounds like Melbourne.” The instant booing was deafening. “Well then fix it, Perth.” And they did. The cheer that followed was seismic, the kind that rattles the chest as much as the ears. Phones stayed pocketed from that moment on.

The band moved through the next stretch without chatter, each performance delivered with mathematical precision: The Grudge, H, Rosetta Stoned. At one point, Maynard asked if anyone under 22 was present, noting the next song was released when they were “still a sperm”, before launching into “Crawl Away” from Undertow. Hearing such early-era Tool was a rare treat, a reminder of just how far they’ve evolved.

Tool’s psychedelia meets nightmare fuel visuals remain unmatched: warped geometry, organic horror, cosmic fractals. Part spiritual hallucination, part existential dread. The lighting design elevated it even further, turning the stage into something alive and constantly shifting. During “Jambi”, the crowd exploded with Jones’ guttural riffs and Carey’s rolling drums becoming a primal heartbeat that reverberated off every wall.

A 12-minute interlude, complete with countdown clock, then signalled the night’s final phase. Danny Carey returned alone, launching into a ten-minute drum solo that felt half ritual, half technical spectacle. Midway, he stepped over to a contraption that appeared equal parts vintage synth and alien switchboard, generating a swirling analogue soundscape before seamlessly returning to his kit. It was a rare moment where time seemed to stop. A pure craft masterclass in percussion.

The performance of Black Sabbath’s “Hand of Doom” served as a touching acknowledgment of Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing. It was greeted with immediate respect and emotion from the audience. Then came the night’s peak: “Vicarious”. Seven minutes of escalating tension and precision, ending the show on a note. It was nothing short of thunderous. As the final chords faded, Maynard quietly thanked each band member before exiting, leaving Carey, Jones, and Chancellor to absorb the crowd’s roar.

Tool live is not merely a concert — it’s an experience that demands your presence, your attention and your surrender. For Perth fans, this return was long overdue but unquestionably worth the wait. A once-in-a-lifetime moment? For many in the arena, absolutely.

Photography courtesy of Frontier Touring