On May 14, 2025, Manchester, NH, was treated to a genre-bending, mind-warping celebration of artistry, irreverence, and musical mastery as the Sessanta V2.0 tour rolled into the SNHU Arena. The evening—part rotating rock opera, part birthday bash for Maynard James Keenan’s “60thish” milestone—delivered an unforgettable experience driven by the eccentric brilliance of A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus.
Acts I & II – Musical Chess Match
The first two acts functioned almost like a musical relay, with the bands handing off the sonic baton every few songs.
A Perfect Circle opened with the brooding “Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums,” followed by “Disillusioned” and “Blue,” setting a haunting and pristine tone. Maynard remained enigmatic, often silhouetted or tucked toward the back, letting the music—and his bandmates—command the stage.
Primus then took over, delivering their signature low-end mastery with “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” “Groundhog’s Day,” and “Here Come the Bastards.” Les Claypool’s animated presence had the crowd lurching and howling, proving that Primus still defies classification in the best way possible.
Puscifer followed, with Maynard and Carina Round bouncing between absurdist theatrics and stunning harmony. “Man Overboard,” “Tiny Monsters,” and “Indigo Children” oozed satirical flair, while “The Humbling River” offered a moment of stirring solemnity.
The rotation continued with Primus returning for “Little Lord Fentanyl,” “Welcome to This World,” “My Name Is Mud,” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.” Puscifer then performed “Postulous,” “No Angel,” “Bullet Train to Iowa,” and “The Algorithm.” A Perfect Circle closed the second act with “The Contrarian,” “The Doomed,” “Weak and Powerless,” and “The Outsider.”
Act III – Collaborative Chaos and Magic
If Acts I and II showcased each band in their respective strengths, Act III was where the magic truly happened. Members of all three bands took the stage together in a chaotic fusion of talent and chemistry.
Puscifer returned with “The Humbling River,” “Polar Bear,” and “The Remedy.” Primus followed with “Pablo’s Hippos” and “Too Many Puppies.” A Perfect Circle then performed “The Noose,” “Kindred,” and “Judith.”
The jaw-dropping moment of the night came when Josh Freese (former drummer for Nine Inch Nails and currently with the Foo Fighters) and Gunnar Olsen joined Primus for a sprawling, 14-minute rendition of “Southbound Pachyderm” that felt both improvisational and epic, a masterclass in rhythm and atmosphere.
The show closed with a transcendent, all-hands-on-deck performance of Puscifer’s “Grand Canyon.” With every member of every band on stage, the song became more than a performance—it felt like a ceremonial sendoff, a shared moment of artistic communion that left the crowd stunned and euphoric.
Final Thoughts
Sessanta V2.0 isn’t just a concert; it’s a curated experience, a celebration of collaboration, legacy, and absurdity. With 14 dates remaining on the tour, it’s a must-see for fans of any of the bands involved, and a rare opportunity to witness Maynard James Keenan’s multi-faceted musical universe colliding on one stage.
It’s unpredictable. It’s genre-defying. And it’s utterly unforgettable.
Note: The setlist for the May 14, 2025, performance at SNHU Arena included:
- A Perfect Circle: “Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums,” “Disillusioned,” “Blue,” “The Contrarian,” “The Doomed,” “Weak and Powerless,” “The Outsider,” “The Noose,” “Kindred,” “Judith”
- Primus: “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” “Groundhog’s Day,” “Here Come the Bastards,” “Little Lord Fentanyl,” “Welcome to This World,” “My Name Is Mud,” “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver,” “Pablo’s Hippos,” “Too Many Puppies,” “Southbound Pachyderm”
- Puscifer: “Man Overboard,” “Tiny Monsters,” “Indigo Children,” “Postulous,” “No Angel,” “Bullet Train to Iowa,” “The Algorithm,” “The Humbling River,” “Polar Bear,” “The Remedy,” “Grand Canyon”
