TOOL, HEADSEND @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 28/11/2025
This is definitely one for the classics and will go down as one of 2026’s best shows. Adelaide is in the enviable position of not only having one Tool headline show but two headline shows ahead of Good Things Festival which starts in Melbourne next week. So, it comes as no surprise that both shows are sold out. With set list previews from the two shows in Auckland showing that the band are going far deeper in their shows beyond the “hits” and more recognise songs from their esteemed back catalogue it definitely caught the interest of fans and created the flurry for tickets. It would be difficult to find anyone that didn’t walk away from this experience singing its praises whether that the staunchest die hard fan to the casual observer.
Adelaide band HEADSEND must be pinching themselves having landed the coveted support slot for these shows on the strength of two singles to date and just over nine thousand monthly listeners on Spotify. With not a lot known about these guys they were impressive looking right at home on the big stage and dream opportunities such as this don’t come by all that often. First instinct was to think Kyuss with that whole desert grunge stoner vibe going on with front man Rasmus King saying “we never thought we’d be doing this, it’s fucking crazy!” From relative obscurity to having twelve thousand locals knowing the band this is their time in the sun. Tunes by way Chugg and Stove are cool creating plenty of anticipation for their forthcoming EP release.
The wait was over, hard to believe Tool were last here back in 2013, and wow! It was made abundantly clear about zero photo/ recording policy out of respect to fans around you and the band. It was unusual but refreshing to not have that distraction or having to look through someone else’s screen to see what was going on. It was hard not to swept up in the excitement on show opener Fear Inoculum. Front man Maynard James Keenan doesn’t say a lot but when he does fans literally hang off every word.
He said, “Adelaide! You’re embarrassing me, sounds like Melbourne, fix it!” The roar from the crowd was loud to which he added “tonight, we are going on a trip together. Put your fucking phone in your pocket. Better yet, shove it up your arse, so you can’t reach it easily. Stay here, stay present, stay connected and stay with us.” It was a bold and liberating moment for sure. Taking up usual position at the back of the stage gave greater focus to the incredible musicianship of guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor and drummer Danny Carey. The alt-metal laced The Grudge got the crowd going and like a well woven tapestry all the other songs connected together seamlessly.
How good was Disposition? Wow! There was definitely something about this one that made it just as relevant now as it ever has been before with the connection to natural disasters. The ancient Ouroboros symbol rose to greater prominence on visual backdrop taking Adelaide to another dimension on H. The Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) intro morphed in to Rosetta Stoned with fifteen minute opus taking things to a whole other level. Whilst most would have been expecting the likes of Forty Six & 2, Schism, Sober and The Pot, I’m pretty sure this would have eclipsed that. Pneuma was equally enthralling and in another rare interaction with the crowd Maynard asked “hands up if you are twenty two years old or younger? You weren’t even sperm yet when we played this last time on tour, let that soak in” which was an astonishing way to introduce Crawl Away. Equally captivating and TOOL-rific were there immersive Jambi and the unifying Intolerance.
With the countdown set for a brief intermission/ encore break no doubt the band needed that time to reset after such an intense ninety minutes of music. Chocolate Chip Trip was another stellar moment featuring Danny Carey returning solo noodling away with some modular synthesizer tones and drum solo showing how precise and technically proficient he is as a drummer. The rest of the band return for Black Sabbath cover Hand Of Doom with Maynard echoing the same thought as everyone else “Rest in peace Ozzy”. Epic is the only way to describe the thirteen minute extravaganza Invincible. With one last song to come it was Maynard that said “Well, aren’t you fucking awesome! Adelaide? Fuck’s sake, Adelaide!” he proclaimed “One more so Sydney can hear you!” It was an almighty roar to start show closer Vicarious where fans had the chance to get their phones out to film the last show. It was a sea of mobile phone screens lit up trying to get that ultimate keepsake to cap off a brilliant show. Adelaide, you did good! If you have the chance to see Tool this time round, just do it.
Live Review By Rob Lyon