Primus, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer played at the Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, AL on May 2nd, 2025
Sessanta, meaning sixty in Italian, is the culmination of Maynard James Keenan's many works in a big birthday celebration. This tour began last year when Keenan turned sixty. It seems to have become tradition, as ten years ago, when Keenan turned fifty, the three bands played two nights in the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California, which was later turned into a phenomenal live album.
Sessanta is a big deal, with exclusive merch for each stop of the tour. For every night of the tour, each band has limited posters commissioned from individual artists as well as a specific Sessanta poster. It makes my heart warm to see bands giving amazing artists work and the spotlight.
Despite the rain, the show went on as scheduled. Fans poured into the open bowl of the venue. The Orion Amphitheater is a new venue in Huntsville, Alabama, which opened in the spring of 2022.
As the show began, an ominous video played about the history of the canned meat product Spam. The content of said potted meat is unknown, except for folks who record the show with their phone the entire time. That's right! This show had no phones, which is a breath of fresh air as someone who's been cursed to watch a show through someone else's phone while they stream on Facebook.
One thing I will always appreciate about Keenan's many projects is that he prides himself on being connected with the fans, and the fans being connected with one another. Living in the moment, rather than through our phone screens.
The stage set up for Sessanta is a bit strange but certainly unique. Boasting three drum kits, one for each band, a lounge on either side for the band members who are not playing, two stair lifts, and a ping pong table. The no phone rule seems to apply to the artists as well. When bands weren't playing, you could watch them goof around with each other, talk, and just have a good time.
In addition to the unconventional stage setup, Sessanta is a revolving show. One band will come out, play a few songs, and then the next band will take the stage with minimal downtime. More like a traditional theater setting than a concert. There was a built-in intermission about halfway through the show, equipped with a pre-recorded countdown video of an elderly Maynard James Keenan telling bad knock-knock jokes and falling asleep in a wheelchair
A Perfect Circle consists of Maynard James Keenan on lead vocals, James Iha on guitar, Matt McJunkins on bass, and Jeff Friedl on drums.
The night kicked off with A Perfect Circle's first segment of the night with their first song: "The Package." I will admit, out of the three bands, I was least familiar with A Perfect Circle. The gentleman seated next to me began to sob as this song started. I never thought I'd have to comfort a 6'4 hunk, but that's just the effect that a Perfect Circle has on folks!
Between A Perfect Circle's songs, Maynard heckled audience members as they entered the bowl. "You're late." "You're fired." "You were too early." A box of cupcakes was even gifted to Maynard, and he passed them out to folks in the front row. By the end of the show, there was one lone surviving cupcake that was forgotten on the step of the barricade.
After A Perfect Circle's three-song segment, the stage lights dimmed as the projector screens lit up with Primus' logo, which was met with screams, cheers, and claps. Claypool and company took the stage quickly.
Primus is a genrebending rock bend from El Sobrante, California formed in 1984. The band consists of Les Claypool on bass, vocals, and Whamola, Larry "Ler" Lalonde on guitar, and newly appointed drummer John Hoffman. Be sure to check out the "Interstellar Drum Derby" YouTube series on Primus' channel! It gives a lot of interesting insight into their selection process for this up-and-coming drummer!
Primus is one of my absolute favorite bands. I cannot overstate how much they mean to me. As a child, my dad always called me "Mud" after their hit song "My Name is Mud". I found myself getting emotional during their segments. It brought me back to a time when things were simple, and my biggest concern was deciding which CD to listen to when my dad drove me home from school.
Primus brought out a very special guest for this night's performance. A long-time friend of Maynard James Keenan and Les Claypool, John Norwood Fisher, bassist of the band Fishbone! Fishbone has an extensive history of being one of the best ska-punk bands. Keenan rushed down the stairs of the loft to hug him. It was heartwarming to see.
Puscifer is a Los Angeles rock band formed in 2003, consisting of Maynard James Keenan on vocals, Mat Mitchell on guitar, Carina Round on vocals and keyboard, Greg Edwards on bass, and Gunnar Olsen on drums.
Puscifer is a unique band, not only in its visuals but also in its branding. While doing my research, I found that it was a clothing brand, a coffee brand, art, and collectibles. Puscifer originally began as a fictional band in a sketch comedy show called "Mr. Show."
This band is stunning. I can't begin to explain the aesthetics of this band. Vocalists Round and Keenan moved in perfect sync, eerily the entire time. It felt alien and surreal to watch the two. Their vocals perfectly and hauntingly complement one another. "Man Overboard" is such a cool song to see live. Maynard mimed the sea as Round and the rest of the band swayed in unison.
The final song of the night was "Grand Canyon" by Puscifer. All three bands joined each other on stage. Twelve performers on the stage! I had no idea where to look!
I cannot begin to explain all of the tomfoolery, beauty, and spectacle that Sessanta is. Between stairlift races, triple drum players, ping pong, and many more special moments, Sessanta is one of those can't-miss shows. It was a whirlwind of emotions for me: tears, laughter, and utter disbelief. Each show is unique in its antics, special guests, and allegedly songs, according to my pals who have caught this show.
Remaining dates of Sessanta
May 22 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
May 24 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
May 25 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
May 28 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
May 29 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
May 31 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
June 1 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
June 3 – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena
June 6 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
June 7 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Get your tickets at sessantalive.com
PRIMUS INSTA | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK
A PERFECT CIRCLE INSTA | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK PUSCIFER INSTA | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK
