By photojournalist Jeffrey Moellering
In celebration of Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday, the Sessanta tour brought together three genre-defying forces—A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus—for a groundbreaking, theatrically immersive experience that transcended the conventional rock concert format. This amazing concert tour features members of A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus, the former two bands being the brainchild of Tool bandleader Keenan. The 2024 dates were so successful that Keenan decided to keep it going for his 61st birthday, adding cities that weren’t on the first year’s calendar.
From the moment the stage lights flickered to life, it was evident that this would be no ordinary triple-bill. Rather than distinct sets, the evening unfolded as a cohesive, intertwined performance, with musicians seamlessly weaving in and out, blending their unique sonic signatures into an unpredictable spectacle. The result was a dynamic “musical chairs” approach that emphasized collaboration over separation, mirroring the celebratory milestone at its core. You could never be sure what would happen next, like a visit to a kind of circus fun house of horrors.
Primus provided their signature eccentricity—Les Claypool’s hypnotic bass lines and surreal showmanship set an impressive standard. Tracks like “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” and “My Name is Mud” ignited the crowd, but instead of exiting with a final bow, Claypool pivoted, making way for the next wave of sonic alchemy.
Next came Puscifer, infusing the night with theatrical oddity, brooding ambience, and dark humor. Carina Round’s ethereal vocals intertwined with Keenan’s cryptic delivery, often emerging from the shadows or behind elaborate props. Songs like “The Humbling River” and “Bullet Train to Iowa” transformed into immersive experiences, further enriched by unexpected contributions from members of the other bands.
When A Perfect Circle took the stage, the atmosphere shifted—melancholic, introspective, and emotionally raw. Keenan’s haunting vocals soared over rich instrumentals, with classics like “The Outsider” and “Judith” receiving thunderous applause. The collaborative spirit persisted, with Puscifer’s atmospheric textures and Primus’s rhythmic oddities adding fresh layers to A Perfect Circle’s signature sound.
Transitions were not mere breaks—they evolved into moments of creative interplay, at times humorous, at times surreal. Between spoken-word interludes, absurdist visuals, and birthday tributes, the show transformed into a multidimensional celebration of sound, artistry, and unpredictability—all guided by Keenan’s enigmatic presence.
Keenan is very strict about no phones or recording, which demands that the audience focus on what they are experiencing, which creates moments of intensity, introspection, sheer audacity, and jaw dropping, thunderous wonder. Finally, at the end of the evening finale of “Grand Canyon”, Keenan relented, saying “OK, you can get out your stupid phones for this song!” Dedicated fans were happy to savor some video and images from an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. All performers joined the last number, which included Claypool wearing a kind of disco ball motorcycle helmet, playing a standup electric bass with a bow. The two-drummer format brought power and precision in defining the importance of every note.
More than just a concert, Sessanta was an immersive sonic experiment, a night of controlled chaos that defied expectations. Keenan mused that many might be surprised that someone who is celebrating their 61st birthday could still be so focused and intense in orchestrating such an artistic menagerie. He urged everyone to use every breath they have on this earth to make something worth celebrating and reveling in. For fans of any (or all) of the featured bands, it was not merely a performance—it was a rare opportunity to witness musical boundaries dissolve in real time, and make each moment the most important one of their lives.
