Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle's Musical Chess Match Electrifies Florida

By Erin Lee

photo by Larry Marano

Last night at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, South Florida Concert News had the opportunity to experience Sessanta!

My always curious mind led me to googling the word. Sessanta is the Italian word for "sixty," a nod to Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday celebration. Having recently turned 61, the party continues and Keenan's offbeat sense of humor is as present as ever.

MJK is very outspoken about his distaste for people buried in their phones during a concert.

As was the case at last year's TOOL performance, we were asked to put our phones away or risk being ejected and turned into the secret ingredient in Spam.

I'd have to rely on my memory to take notes, instead of writing on my phone as I usually do to reference later. Sessanta takes a unique approach to performance: instead of opening acts and a headliner, all three bands on the bill took turns rotating two and three song sets.

A lounging area on either side of the drum risers provided a space for band members not playing to watching others' sets.

The evening started strong with three songs from A Perfect Circle: "The Package," "Disillusioned," and "Blue."

APC's setlist throughout the evening favored songs from 2003'sThirteen Step, a moody and melodic piece of art that still holds up as a solid rock album more than two decades after its inception.

The video screens announced a change in bands, and Primus took the stage.

Immediately people around me rose to their feet, moving their bodies to Les Claypool's funky grooves.

After three Primus songs, the stage transitioned to Puscifer.

Vocalist Carina Round's haunting vocals are the perfect compliment to Keenan's, standing side by side and even mirroring each other's movements like a well oiled machine on tracks like "Indigo Children."

The stage design was similar to last year's TOOL show: twin sets of stairs leading up to a drum riser. A chair lift provided an excellent sight gag, a play on Maynard getting older.

The difference in this setup? There were three drum kits! Left to right kits for Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle.

At times throughout the show, we were treated to double and triple player drum segments.

Watching the synchronicity between sought after, seasoned player Josh Freese, newly crowned Primus drummer John Hoffman, and Puscifer's Gunnar Olsen was a real treat: arms swinging in perfect time, each drummer showcasing their individual style.

Maynard took to the microphone to stress the importance of being present with the band and one another. I observed details throughout the evening that I would've missed had I been on my phone, like the way the crowd collectively lost its mind when Primus frantically burst into "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver."

MJK and company rewarded the crowd with silly bits during Puscifer sets. A ping pong table was wheeled out for non-performing band members to play a match.

A stagehand pushed out a rolling cart for Maynard and Carina to play Rock Em, Sock Em Robots while they sang.

Keenan and Round also accompanied Primus on their new track "Little Lord Fentanyl," a trippy tale of addiction.

A ten-minute intermission video featured a heavily made-up Keenan in a nursing home setting, dozing off in a wheelchair. At each minute, he'd startle awake to tell a goofy "dad joke."

Highlights of the latter half of the performance included a strong performance of A Perfect Circle's massive radio hit "Judith, and lights dancing off Claypool's disco ball helmet as Primus played "Southbound Pachyderm."

All three bands took the stage to close out the evening with "Grand Canyon" from Puscifer's 2015 album Money Shot.

The friendship and camaraderie of bands shone throughout the evening.

Sessanta was really something special.