Photos and review by: Jason Robey

CHARLOTTE, NC — Following the success of the first Sessanta tour in 2024, metal juggernauts Primus, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer have taken their unique triple bill tour on the road for Sessanta v2.0. Saturday’s stop in Charlotte left the crowd with jaws dropped and dripping with sweat. 

The format of the show is like no other. Rather than each band playing one set with set up time between, the groups took turns playing mini sets, while the other bands sat on the side of the stage watching. A Perfect Circle kicked it all off with the chugging rhythm of “Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums” and from there, it would be three hours of nonstop hard rock. Iconic vocalist Maynard James Keenan’s emotive voice and magnetic stage presence set a high bar of excellence for the night.

Primus’ first turn at center stage started with “Here Come The Bastards,” and the introduction of the trio’s new drummer, John Hoffman. With a complex light setup to complement Les Claypool’s speed and precision on bass and Hoffman’s technical-yet-extremely-creative style, the band’s set was nothing short of mesmerizing. The band’s second appearance opened with the newly released track “Little Lord Fentanyl” featuring Keenan on background vocals.

Puscifer, also featuring Keenan on vocals alongside Carina Round, came out swinging with “Man Overboard” to lead off their first set. The vocal duo swaying back and forth to the more experimental sounds of this band. Adding in some electronic elements in contrast to the other bands, the shorter rotating sets allowed the music to ride like a roller coaster for the evening, and band members to shuffle in and out.

All in all, each band had three sets totaling 30 songs, spanning a total of three hours, before everyone from all three bands joined forces for the final song, a lively run through of Puscifer’s “Grand Canyon.” As the song echoed through the venue, the collective force of Primus, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer standing shoulder to shoulder delivered a fun and upbeat finale that was as surreal as it was technically precise. The stage, packed with some of rock’s most inventive minds, pulsed with creative energy. The Sessanta tour is more than a concert with three bands, its a collaborative celebration of music and pushing the boundaries.