TOOL + Headsend @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 28-11-2025
photos: Kerrie Geier
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TOOL returned to Adelaide this week in full force, after 12 long years, and fans were ready. When their Good Things festival side show at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre went on sale, the Friday night quickly sold out, prompting the addition of a second night to satisfy the hunger.
Headsend
Headsend
Headsend
Headsend
Heavy grunge-inspired newcomers Headsend, from Byron Bay, had the daunting task of playing to an arena full of TOOL fans, and they warmed up the crowd nicely, with their nineties-influenced rock.
TOOL
After a short change over the clock hit 8:30pm and Danny Carey stepped up to his drums, a portentous moment as he let out a thundering sound which rolled low and heavy throughout the venue. The rumbling of Justin Chancellor’s bass and Adam Jones’ guitar soon joined the mix. Finally the huge LCD backdrop lit up and the silhouette of singer Maynard James Keenan appeared at the rear of the stage. With all pieces now in place, the crowd plummeted into the opaque sound of “Fear Inoculum” and “The Grudge”.
TOOL
TOOL
TOOL
The visuals and light show were characteristically unsettling, mind bending and beautiful. The band had decreed that there be no phones, flashes or screens, and security were enforcing this rule throughout their set. This meant that all the usual distracting glow that filled the crowd was banished from the space, and instead we had a sea of darkness which was a welcome sight, and allowed the band's laser and light show to really shine.
TOOL
The band delivered a set that made fans very happy, including “Disposition”, “Rosetta Stoned” and “Pneuma”, as well as deep cuts like “H”, and rarely-played tracks such as “Crawl Away” which Keenan introduced by declaring anyone younger than 22 were not even sperm during the last tour they played it on.
TOOL
TOOL
TOOL
After an efficient break (which included a countdown clock for the audience) the encore commenced with a drum solo that showed off the epic Mission Control set-up Carey helmed, followed by a Black Sabbath cover (“Hand of Doom”) which the band used to pay homage to the late Ozzy Osborne. The journey ended with a resonating, pulsing rendition of “Vicarious” which left the crowd on a high.
TOOL
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