by Marc Fong
For his 60th birthday, Maynard James Keenan threw a hell of a party featuring his bands A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, along with Primus. The show, dubbed Sessanta, featured a collaborative format where band members joined each other’s sets seamlessly, resulting in about 30 songs played to a sold-out crowd at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre.
The concert had strict rules against filming until the finale jam, with Keenan humorously threatening anyone caught filming to be thrown into a “meat-like product” grinder. Despite the unconventional format and the no phones policy, the audience was fanatical throughout the evening.
A Perfect Circle kicked off the party delivering their trademark amazing dark melodies. Keenan’s vocal prowess remained powerful as ever, with A Perfect Circle delivering a mix of new and old tracks. Meanwhile, Puscifer added their brand of etherealness to the performance. Puscifer’s Carina Round stood out as the only artist with a pop of color and, of course, her amazing vocals. Primus’ proprietary blend of funk and alt-rock made for the icing on the cake. Each of the artist’s performances were captivating making for one of the most unique events that we’ve seen in a long time. And not to beat a dead horse, but Keenan’s powerful vocals, coupled with the seamless transitions between bands, ensured a memorable concert experience for all attendees.
The event also marked the debut of the newly renovated Greek Theatre, with significant upgrades to the general admission and lawn areas. The lawn now boasts tiered seating with fresh layers of grass, enhancing the overall concert experience. Primus frontman and Bay Area legend, Les Claypool, took notice of the renovations, praising the improvements during the performance. Reflecting on past experiences at the venue, Claypool (who donned several fun masks throughout the evening) noted the transformation from the old “cheapskate hill” to the revamped and improved space.
Close to three hours later, as the night wound down, Keenan finally released the wolves and gave permission to the packed crowd to take out their phones and cameras. As phones came up, all of the musicians filled the stage for an incredible last song. It was indeed a magical evening. We don’t know what Keenan has planned for his 70th birthday party, but given what we’ve seen from Sessanta (and Cinquanta), we will not miss the next big birthday bash.
Leave a reply