BOSTON, MA | Illustrious singer and lyricist Maynard James Keenan celebrated his 60th birthday in the most rock ‘n’ roll way possible—a nationwide tour showcasing two of his bands and a legacy act. The Sessanta tour, which features Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle kicked off its nationwide tour to a sold-out Boch Center on the first of a two-night residency on Tuesday, April 2. This tour has Keenan moving into center stage where he shines brightly in the spotlight surrounded by fans and friends alike.
There was no opener as all three bands alternated by sharing the stage with sets typically lasting three songs. Musicians from all three bands join each other’s set, a performance unique to this tour. This was exemplified with Keenan joining Primus during a rousing rendition of “Tommy the Cat.” Each of these bands invoke different feelings for listeners with their distinctive sound, but this wide range of musical styles blended together with the design of a well-crafted setlist full of intense and reflective moments. Each band seemed to feed off the previous performance in friendly competition, bringing their best effort into what talent they displayed.
The stage was flanked on either side with stairs that led to party areas with couches and tables with cupcakes, party favors, and alcohol. The middle of that platform had multiple drum kits for Josh Freese (APC), Tim Alexander (Primus), and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer) who all brought their unique style of play to their set. An impressive lighting display accentuated the music with a background panel of lights behind the bands, string lights above, and spotlights below. Strobe lights and dense fog amplified the current moods of each song. The stage had less free range to roam but felt like a party that everyone was excited to be at.
Primus founder Les Claypool greeted the crowd stating the reason we are here tonight is, “To celebrate Maynard turning sixty years-old, which is not an easy feat.” These performances certainly felt like a celebration. Members were joyfully playing outside their typical role and embracing the special format of this tour. The uniqueness of this concert allowed these musicians to be seen in a different light, one where they had loosened up, and were having fun, but still professionally executing at a high level.
There was an audible buzz as fans eagerly waited for this unique show to begin. Being the first night of the tour, fans only had speculation and hope to prepare themselves for what the night had to offer. Each band came equipped with a diehard fan base who knew all the words to these hit songs and headbanged along. The parking lot was filled with Tool bumper stickers and the entranceway saw fans donning shirts of the band they most excitedly came to see.
The show began with a video montage of Keenan telling jokes dressed as an old man in a nursing home, followed by a special set from A Perfect Circle who hadn’t toured since 2018. Josh Freese, now with the Foo Fighters, returned to hold down a steady rhythm along with bassist Matt McJunkins and guitarist Billy Howerdel. Keenan’s distinguishable silken tone cut through the air and displayed how he has developed his voice as an instrument unto itself. During the evening’s first song, “The Package,” female vocalist Carina Round of Puscifer presented Keenan with birthday cupcakes and he playfully sang to the audience the lyrics “This is Mine.”
That impressive performance would scare most bands as a tough act to follow, but Primus exploded onto the stage with a charismatic confidence and thunderous bass felt deep in the chest. Starting off the night with the playful “Too Many Puppies,” Primus dug into their classics during the second act with “My Name is Mud” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.”
Puscifer closed out the first act with entrancing versions of “Man Overboard” and “Indigo Children.” Keenan and Round harmonized to hypnotize the audience into a mellow comedown from the furious start to the night helping to pace them, as there was a long way to go.
The first stop on the Sessanta tour lasted more than two hours with thirty songs and was highlighted by the first-ever performances of three new songs. A new split release called “The Sessanta E.P.P.P.” was put out on streaming services ahead of this tour and features a song by each of the bands.
In a celebration of musical kinship, the Sessanta tour took the sold out Boch Center for a ride full of musical styles played by top tier musicians. Keenan organized this tour while his other band Tool is in the middle of a worldwide tour lasting two years that will now travel overseas after two legs in America. It is evident he gives everything he has to make all of his passions successful and his true artistic creative spirit isn’t slowing down as he ages another year.
