Live Review - Sessanta V2.0 - A 60ish Birthday Celebration for Maynard James Keenan with Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids Michigan
Wednesday - May 28, 2025

Sessanta V2.0- A 60ish Birthday Celebration for Maynard James Keenan, ramped up and revisited by yours truly.
This version of Sessanta still maintains the integrity and heart and soul of all three bands from last year, that being Primus, Puscifer and of course A Perfect Circle.
The hits from all three bands, sure, but also some added nuggets abound, such as:
A Perfect Circle, with "Blue" (such an underrated song), or how about "The Doomed", and "The Noose", and also "Kindred".

Primus, with "Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread" (thought I's never hear that live), or "Little Lord Fentanyl" (with Maynard and Corina), or "Welcome to This World", "Pablo's Hippos", and "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" (with Billy Strings believe it or not).
And of course Puscifer had some cool adds as well, with "Man Overboard", "Horizons", "Postulous", "No Angel", and also "The Algorithm" and "Polar Bear".
A nice mix, a cool smattering of solid songs to punch up Maynard's Birthday Celebration that much more.

So, this new and enhanced touring extravaganza continues to set phasers on stun, all three bands, still blending through each other continually without a hitch or hiccup, ping pong table still intact, although adding some fancy LED strip lighting, the couches stage left / audience right, along with the senior citizen electric stair chair lift, also stage left, which is downright funny to observe being used amongst the live performances.
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The overall mood and feel is also solidly intact, all three bands, so splendid in live performance and attention to detail.
Just a unique setup, like last year, where there are no headliners, the bands play with each other, the continual feel of no long stretches of equipment having to come and go with breaks, songs and bands blending into songs and bands.
Keep in mind, as Maynard so well states- this is a collective. The artists involved, all of them- they clearly understand that. All equals on footing and overall approach.
A breath of fresh air in my opinion, egos camped out at the door. Each artist, each band, displaying their fun in artistic revelry.

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More than anything else, worth the drive to Grand Rapids to experience the V2.0, since they still have so much to say, let alone all three bands being near and dear to me since the get go.
And most of all, Maynard set out to do this version of Sessanta to have some serious fun. Fun fun fun.
Now that he has collaborated full tilt with the likes of Les Claypool from last year's touring of Sessanta, let alone Corina and all things Puscifer, they certainly know each other's tells enough to let loose a bit, hence the addition of some mighty fine songs added to the setlist, as stated above.
Had to make things clear about that at the top of this review, that this Sessanta is not the same as last year's Sessanta, and that makes it equally delightful to experience live yet again.

There's no complaints whatsoever from me, the music hound front and center, the bands all knowing since their start to the present day, the fact that I can relish and relax to watch and listen to their entire sets, before photographing the encore- "Grand Canyon", where all three bands are together on stage, and just chill and have fun like a normal fan.

Fan of the bands, first and foremost, unlike some knuckleheads (always are), who don't think positive to one band or the other- which is why I like Maynard even more, telling all naysayers to fuck off.
No need to get into fancy details and whatnot, since is the technically a melding of all three bands on and off- my approach is the transformative feel and aesthetic to the overall concept, the appreciation of equals, the appreciation of creative concepts, and most importantly, thinking outside of the box.
Revelatory, when you think of it, and your head still spins from certain songs ever evident from the entire set, nothing sounding dated or washed over or overlooked- a worthy presentation of all things Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle, demanding your undivided attention.
Just a delight of perfect escapism, sorely needed in this day and age.
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And Maynard at 60? Les Claypool at 61? And on and on with the others- all- still young at heart, thinking like young'uns out of the box, with something to say, something to prove.
My kinda guys.
Hope the images reflect that a bit, not just normal- ish in regards to the slide show. I dipped my toe in the water to experiment a bit as well, not all images obviously- just some, to keep with the theme of creative discovery, and take some risks.
Such is the case with all things Sessanta, and Sessanta V2.0
Think like Maynard everybody- creative discovery is at your doorstep if you're ready willing and able.

Bobby Talamine  JBTV Music Television Chicago

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