You know that feeling when you walk into a venue and everything feels just a little bit off, but in the best way possible? That’s what happens when you catch A Perfect Circle on tour right now. It isn’t your standard "opener, middle act, headliner" setup where everyone stays in their lane. It’s a chaotic, rotating circus of some of the most talented musicians in alternative rock, all sharing the stage simultaneously.
Honestly, Maynard James Keenan has never been one for tradition. Whether he’s hiding in the shadows with Tool or wearing a luchador mask with Puscifer, he wants to keep you guessing. But with the Sessanta tour—celebrating his 60th birthday—he’s basically rewritten the rulebook for how a rock show functions.
It’s not just a concert. It's a three-headed beast.
The Logistics of a Rotating Stage
If you’re looking for tickets to see A Perfect Circle on tour, you need to understand the "Sessanta" format. It isn’t three separate sets. Instead, members from A Perfect Circle, Primus, and Puscifer are constantly swapping places. One minute you’ve got Billy Howerdel shredding a melodic line, and the next, Les Claypool is slapping his bass so hard you feel it in your molars.
They use these tiered risers. It looks like a retro late-night talk show set, complete with sofas where the musicians hang out and drink wine when they aren't playing. It’s weirdly casual. You might see the Puscifer crew lounging in the back while A Perfect Circle performs "The Hollow." It breaks the "fourth wall" of rock stardom. It reminds you that these guys are actually friends.
The setlist is broken into "rounds."
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A Perfect Circle usually takes the lead for three songs, then hands the baton to Primus, who hands it to Puscifer. By the end of the night, they’re all on stage together for a massive collaborative finale. It’s seamless. It's also probably a nightmare for the roadies, but for the audience, it’s a masterclass in pacing.
Why Billy Howerdel is the Secret Weapon
Everyone talks about Maynard. We get it. He’s the voice. He’s the enigma. But if you’ve seen A Perfect Circle on tour recently, you know that Billy Howerdel is the actual heartbeat of that band. Watching him play live is a reminder of how much "texture" matters in modern rock.
He doesn’t just play riffs. He builds atmospheres.
During "Weak and Powerless," the way he uses delays and swells makes the venue feel ten times larger than it actually is. It’s haunting. It’s precise. And unlike a lot of guitarists from the 2000s era who have leaned into nostalgia, Howerdel still sounds like he’s playing from the future. He’s got this stoic presence on stage that balances out Maynard’s frantic energy or Les Claypool’s cartoonish brilliance.
The "No Phone" Policy: A Blessing or a Curse?
Let’s be real: people hate being told what to do. At any A Perfect Circle on tour date, you will see the signs. You will hear the announcements. Maynard will probably insult you if he sees a glowing screen.
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"Your phone is a distraction," he’s said in various iterations over the years. "Stay in the moment."
It’s controversial. Some fans feel like if they paid $150 for a ticket, they should be able to record a 30-second clip of "Judith." Others find it incredibly refreshing. There’s something undeniably different about a crowd that isn’t looking through a 6-inch screen. You see faces. You see hands in the air. You actually hear the music instead of the person next to you trying to get the perfect angle for their Instagram Story.
Usually, they let you take your phones out for the very last song. It’s a compromise. It works.
New Music and the Setlist Evolution
Is A Perfect Circle on tour just a greatest hits loop? Not exactly. While "Eat the Elephant" came out back in 2018, the band recently dropped "Kindred" as part of the Sessanta E.P.P.P.. Hearing that live is a trip. It fits perfectly into their discography—dark, moody, but with that driving rhythm that Josh Freese (whenever he isn't busy with the Foo Fighters) or Gunnar Olsen nails so perfectly.
The setlist isn't just a trip down memory lane. Sure, they play "The Outsider." Yes, they do "The Noose," which remains one of the most chilling live performances you will ever witness. But they also experiment. They’ve been known to rearrange songs, giving them a more electronic or "Puscifer-esque" glitchy vibe.
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It keeps the material from feeling stale.
What to Expect if You're Going
- Arrive early. Because of the rotating format, if you miss the first 15 minutes, you’ve already missed a chunk of the collaboration.
- Merch is expensive. Be prepared for $50 t-shirts and $150 signed posters. The "Keenan brand" is high-end, and the prices reflect that.
- The Vibe. It’s more of a "theatre" experience than a mosh pit. People are there to listen and observe.
The Sound of 2026 and Beyond
Rock is in a weird place, but A Perfect Circle feels more relevant than ever. Maybe it’s because the world feels a bit more like a Mer de Noms track lately—chaotic, beautiful, and slightly apocalyptic. When you see A Perfect Circle on tour, you aren't just seeing a band; you’re seeing a collective of artists who refused to fade into the "classic rock" circuit.
They still have something to say.
The interplay between the three bands on the Sessanta run proves that rock doesn't have to be a stale, predictable format. It can be a variety show. It can be a celebration of aging without becoming a parody of yourself. Maynard, Howerdel, and the rest of the crew are showing everyone else how it’s done.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you’re planning on catching the remaining dates or looking ahead to future legs:
- Check the "Sessanta" official site for last-minute "Production Holds." Sometimes great seats right by the soundboard open up 24 hours before the show because the stage equipment didn't take up as much room as planned.
- Listen to the "Sessanta E.P.P.P." before you go. The new tracks like "Kindred" are highlights of the night, and you’ll appreciate the live nuances more if you know the studio versions.
- Respect the phone policy. Seriously. Security is tight, and getting kicked out during "Pet" because you wanted a grainy video is a bad way to spend an evening.
- Watch the sofas. Keep an eye on the back of the stage even when a band isn't "playing." The interactions between the musicians when they think nobody is watching are often the funniest parts of the show.
The tour is moving through major amphitheatres and arenas, so check local listings for the specific seating charts. Every venue handles the "pit" differently for this tour—some have chairs, some don't. Plan accordingly.