TOOL – Blue Arena – Loveland, CO

Shortly before TOOL closed out their show at in Loveland Wednesday night, frontman Maynard James Keenan announced “You’ve been good Colorado. So good in fact that I’m going to let you record the encore.” The crowd predictably cheered. And in an endearingly cranky follow-up, Keenan said “so go ahead and pull out your stupid phones, because I know you just can’t stand being away from your Facebook.”

You couldn’t go anywhere in the arena without seeing signs strictly prohibiting any photography and video during the evening’s performance. Most people complied (those who didn’t became the swift target of security) and the result was a concert-going experience that was free of an obstruction that has become that norm at events like this. TOOL shows are loud and visual and meant to be experienced in the moment. And although the band members themselves mostly hover in the shadows of the stage, they clearly want their fans to become immersed in the music they’re playing with near perfection.

The arena was sold out and the band gave fans their money’s worth with a near 2-hour set that included “Fear Inoculum,” “Rosetta Stoned,” “Stinkfist” and “Chocolate Chip Trip.” Check out some images from the show here: