February 9th and 10th the Footprint Center stage, in Phoenix, AZ, lit up with the powerhouse that is Tool with direct support from Boston bred/and mostly now Germany-based band Elder. Elder started by warming up our ears to their heavy riffs and long instrumentals. This was my first time experiencing Elder, and I had never heard of the band until then. After this one experience though, I can easily see how the band fits and compliments Tool on this tour, as they too have some psychedelic and captivating soundscapes that just simply fits. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Maynard James Keenan
Puscifer, A Perfect Circle and Primus Announce New and Final Dates to 2024 U.S. Sessanta Tour
Sessanta, the tour featuring Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and Primus joining forces, and sharing band members for a wholly unique concert experience, have announced an additional eight, and final, dates to their previously announced 2024 U.S. Tour, with the trek now making its way to the Northeastern U.S. as well as Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City.
Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and Primus Team Up for “Sessanta” Tour Dates
Sessanta, an untraditional tour that sees Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and Primus joining forces, and sharing band members, is slated for April of 2024. The Western U.S. outing is a resurrection, and expansion, of the 2014 Los Angeles event, Cinquanta, which was originally a one-time only celebration. Much like that fabled evening, which commemorated Maynard James Keenan’s landmark 50th birthday, Sessanta celebrates the Puscifer and A Perfect Circle frontman as he turns 60. Sessanta’s unique format sees the musicians from the trio of bands joining each other’s performances throughout the concert. While each group will have their own distinctive set, the players will continually transform as the night unfolds.
“It took some massaging, and some long days in rehearsal, but we managed to seamlessly pull off this three-song rotation at Cinquanta, my 50th birthday shows, at The Greek Theatre in 2014,” says Keenan of the seven-date run that also sees A Perfect Circle’s first live performances since 2018. “Bands aren’t used to simultaneously sharing the stage with other bands, but if anyone can do it, it’s Primus, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer.”
Tickets are on-sale this Friday, Sept. 15, with VIP options available via
Sessanta dates:
April 17 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
April 18 San Diego, CA The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
April 20 Los Angeles, CA The Hollywood Bowl
April 21 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre
April 23 West Valley City, UT Maverik Center
April 25 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
April 26 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Puscifer – photo credit: Travis Shinn
A Perfect Circle – photo credit: Paul Harris
Primus – photo courtesy of artist
Follow the bands here:
https://www.aperfectcircle.com
Maynard James Keenan’s Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards to Open Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, and Caduceus Cellars Hilltop Facility and VSC Ventura Room
Winemaker Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Puscife, a perfect circle) and the team behind Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards invite people to experience the Verde Valley as never before, with the Oct. 6. Opening of the Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, and Caduceus Cellars Hilltop Facility and VSC Ventura Room.
ALBUM REVIEW: The Ocean – Holocene
Hailing from the artistic and musically cultural hub of Berlin, The Ocean are certainly no ‘ordinary’ band. Founded in 2000 by guitarist and principal songwriter Robin Staps, the collective have released a staggering amount of fine music, with around forty different musicians lending their talents to the cause over the years. Always an outlet for extreme experimentalism, The Ocean explores both the light and dark sides of music as eloquently as anyone else in the business, and to catagorise their sound into any one genre is impossible. Continue reading
Tool’s Debut Full-Length Album “Undertow” Turns 30
Thirty years ago today, Tool released their debut album Undertow (Zoo Entertainment/Volcano). Following the industry buzz of their EP Opiate a year earlier, the band catapulted to mainstream success on the back of singles and disturbing videos and MTV staples such as “Sober,” “Prison Sex” and “Intolerance.” Check out this playlist of undertow content and read our retrospective review from its 25-year anniversary. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Puscifer – Existential Reckoning : Rewired
Puscifer will always be best known as one of the many creative outlets for Tool / A Perfect Circle vocalist Maynard James Keenan, and as an avenue for the most obscure depths of his musical creativity. But the band has always been a collaborative affair, with Keenan working alongside many different artists over the years, with their albums subsequently always providing an infusion of many different ideas and experiences. Existential Reckoning : Rewired (Puscifer Entertainment / Alchemy Recordings/ BMG) is the remix accompaniment to their 2020 album, which itself was a typically avant-garde electro-rock melting pot of futuristic and otherworldly sounds.
Tool Announces a Second “10,000 Days” and “Lateralus” Inspired Collectable Statue by Alex Grey Coming Next Week
Tool has announced another collectible 10,000 Days album artwork-themed collectible statue. The first one was high-priced, but Tool fans snatched them up and sold out quickly. Their second collectible statue ever from the band again is made with their frequent album art collaborator Alex Grey (https://www.cosm.org) and is “The Fetus in Skull Life-Size Sculpture” – Inspired by the 10,000 Days and Lateralus album artwork(s) by Alex Grey. The Fetus in Skull Life-Size Sculpture is a beautiful and unique artwork capturing realistic details in full 1:1 presentation. Serving as a larger, more finished, version of the previously released Maquette study. Limited quantities will be available March 24th @ Noon (EDT). Other than releasing pricey vinyl collections, Tool has recently announced some major festivals with the Danny Wimmer fests.
Watch Puscifer’s Agent Dick Merkin Unbox the Tool “10,000 Days” Collectable Statue by Alex Grey
Tool has released their 10,000 Days album artwork-themed collectable statue. Their very first collectable statue ever from the band, it is made with their frequent album art collaborator Alex Grey (https://www.cosm.org). It will be available beginning today, December 16th, 2022. Tool has just been announced as a headliner for next spring’s Welcome to Rockville festvial. Other than releasing pricey vinyl collections, Tool has been quiet since the end of their Fear Inoculum World Tour earlier this year. In a recent interview with YouTuber Rick Beato, frontman Maynard James Keenan laid out the next year of activity for one of his bands – Puscifer, who has been super busy with live streams, and new live-in-the-studio albums coming soon. Watch Puscifer’s Agent Dick Merkin unbox the statue in this new video.
Tool Announces “10,000 Days” Collectable Statue by Alex Grey Coming Next Week
After some teasing on social media Tool has annoucned a 10,000 Days album artwork-themed collectable statue. Their very first collectable statue ever from the band, it is made with their frequent album art collaborator Alex Grey (https://www.cosm.org). It will be available beginning on December 16th. Other than releasing pricey vinyl collections, Tool has been quiet since the end of their Fear Inoculum World Tour earlier this year. In a recent interview with YouTuber Rick Beato, frontman Maynard James Keenan laid out the next year of activity for one of his bands – Puscifer, who has been super busy with live streams, and new live-in-the-studio albums coming soon.