Sessanta – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul MN – June 1st 2-25

Live Nation presents Sessanta staring Puscifer, Primus and A Perfect Circle live at The Xcel Energy Center on June 2nd 2025

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

On a balmy June evening, fans from across the Midwest descended on the Xcel Energy Center to witness Sessanta, a rotating supergroup tour celebrating Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday. The lineup—A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus—delivered a sprawling, three-hour set that defied convention, celebrated individuality, and embraced pure musical experimentation.

🎭 A Rotating Musical Circus

Instead of separate opening acts and headliners, the night unfolded in continuous waves. Each band performed a handful of songs, then rotated out—creating a seamless fusion of sound and energy. Musicians often remained onstage between sets, lounging on couches or jumping into songs from other bands. The effect was like watching a surreal jam session between titans.

🔘 Puscifer: Theatrical and Off-Kilter

Puscifer brought their usual blend of dark humor, social satire, and strange charm. Keenan, flanked by Carina Round, was in rare theatrical form, donning a sheriff’s hat and issuing absurd “public service announcements” between tracks. Highlights included “Horizons” and “The Humbling River,” performed with eerie, immersive visuals behind them.

🔘 Primus: Controlled Chaos

Primus, as always, was weird, wonderful, and relentlessly tight. Les Claypool’s bass lines rattled the arena during “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” and “My Name Is Mud,” and his oddball stage banter kept the mood light. The interplay between Claypool and Keenan (who joined Primus for a couple of tracks) was especially memorable—part acid trip, part jam session.

🔘 A Perfect Circle: Somber Beauty

While the other bands leaned into chaos or camp, A Perfect Circle delivered the most emotionally resonant moments of the night. “The Noose,” “Blue,” and “Disillusioned” drew hushed reverence from the crowd. Keenan, often a distant figure live, seemed grounded and engaged. Billy Howerdel’s guitar work was especially sharp, cutting through with clarity and precision.

🔁 Collaboration at Its Best

The real magic of the night came in the crossovers—musicians drifting between bands, harmonizing in unexpected ways. Keenan sang with Primus. Claypool appeared during Puscifer’s set. Carina Round joined A Perfect Circle for haunting backing vocals. The stage felt like a community, not a competition.

👏 Audience Reaction

The St. Paul crowd was clearly filled with dedicated fans, and they responded with thunderous approval. There was laughter during Puscifer’s bits, headbanging for Primus, and reverent stillness for APC. People didn’t come for a passive show—they came for a shared experience, and they got one.

Final Verdict: A Strange and Beautiful Celebration

Sessanta isn’t just a concert—it’s a curated, collaborative, occasionally bizarre but always thrilling night of music. For longtime fans of Keenan and his wide-ranging projects, this was more than a celebration of a milestone birthday—it was a reminder of why he’s remained one of rock’s most enigmatic figures.

Rating: 9.5/10 – Musically diverse, emotionally powerful, and unlike anything else on tour this year.