Puscifer: Masked in Creativity

Puscifer with Luchafer
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
12.03.15

There is definitely a theme happening for electro-industrial rock collective Puscifer’s latest Money Shot tour, and it’s not one you’ll have to look hard to find. Overtly visual, the show opens with a handful of masked luchadores – aka “Luchafer” – in a fully-roped wrestling ring atop the stage of The Paramount. There are even small sets of bleachers set up with some lucky audience members getting a ringside seat for this opening act. As the luchadores fly off the ropes and defeat their opponents, a masked bartender (who ends up being another rogue wrestler) appears to serve them cocktails, turning the whole thing into a dance party.

Twenty-five minutes of wrestling lead into a Puscifer set broken up into several acts, but not until after a Maynard James Keenan video projection letting everyone in on his uniquely dry humor and creative subconscious. Front and center stage is drummer Jeff Friedl, with MJK and the other lead singer, Carina Round in the ring, standing side by side. The luchadores are on stage as well during act one, standing and dancing with the band. MJK is clad in a cobalt suit, a Mohawk, and a luchador mask that he keeps on for the entire set.

Unlike Tool and A Perfect Circle, Puscifer is MJK’s personal pet project, with a rotating cast of other characters he plays with and the space and freedom to be as downbeat, somber, humorous or inspired as he wishes. All of which he accomplishes on the latest album, and in the commitment of its live presentation. Call it performance art if you must, but the unconventionality of Puscifer is finally growing into a legitimate musical enterprise that boasts its own fans outside of MJK’s other hard-rocking ventures.

If you’re looking for a great show with a mélange of unique sounds from bellowing ballads to groovy electro beats with more than a dash of dark whimsy, find Puscifer here.

Puscifer Set List:
Simultaneous
Galileo
Agostina
Act 1
Vagina Mine
Horizons
The Arsonist
The Remedy
Act 2
Life of Brian (Apparently You Haven’t Seen)
Rev 22:20
Grand Canyon
Polar Bear
Breathe
Act 3
Toma
Telling Ghosts
Money Shot
Man Overboard
The Undertaker
Encore:
Smoke and Mirrors
The Humbling River
Autumn