Puscifer is Maynard James Keenan's shape-shifting project, equal parts art-rock band and stage troupe.

Theater meets pulse-driven rock

After the pause of 2020, the group rebuilt its live show around Existential Reckoning, with deadpan humor and spy-thriller skits. The core includes vocalist Carina Round and multi-instrumentalist Mat Mitchell, leaning on synth bass, baritone guitars, and tight percussion. Expect a set that moves from pulse-driven cuts like The Underwhelming and Apocalyptical to muscular standbys like The Remedy and Conditions of My Parole.

Who shows up, and why it works

The crowd mixes long-time fans with curious electronic listeners. You see black suits and sunglasses beside desert-leaning touches like bolo ties. A neat bit of lore: the name first surfaced on the HBO comedy Mr. Show, and some character voices still pop up in interludes. Another small detail: the band often films fresh video segments for each run so the jokes and timing feel current to the room. Take these setlist and production guesses as informed but not guaranteed, based on recent shows and the band's patterns.

The Scene Around Puscifer

You see a lot of black suits, narrow ties, and sunglasses, with a few desert tones and bolo ties that nod to the band's Arizona roots.

Dark suits, sly grins

People sing the hook to The Remedy and the chant in Apocalyptical, then go quiet for skits and spoken sections. Posters lean into spy and UFO art, and pins and patches are popular keepsakes. The vibe is focused but playful, like a theater crowd that also loves heavy grooves. Conversations before the set often turn to deep-cut favorites or which live films people caught at home.

Rituals, not rules

Crowd energy builds in waves rather than constant motion, and you feel ears on the details more than phones in the air. Small in-jokes from the videos get quick laughs, then everyone snaps back to the beat.

How Puscifer Builds the Sound

Puscifer leans on tight two-voice blends, with Maynard and Carina often singing in unison an octave apart so lyrics cut through the synth pulse.

Voices as characters, not just notes

Mat Mitchell shifts between baritone guitar and keys, letting the low strings act like a second bass without muddying the kick. Tempos sit in the middle range, which gives space for spoken bits and lets grooves breathe. Live, The Remedy often gets a steady four-on-the-floor push, while Conditions of My Parole may start sparse before swelling. The band favors compact loops from drum machines and samplers, and Mitchell sometimes tunes the baritone down a step for extra weight.

Low-end glue and patient tempos

Players add hand percussion, pads, and short guitar figures instead of long solos. Visuals stay cool and minimal, with CCTV textures and clean color washes that frame the music rather than compete with it.

Kindred Spirits for Puscifer Fans

Fans of Tool will connect with the tense rhythms and sardonic storytelling, though the mood here is looser and more theatrical.

Where precision meets mischief

A Perfect Circle shares the melodic pull and careful dynamics, especially in how harmonies bloom at low volume then punch. If you like the industrial snap and smart visuals of Nine Inch Nails, the sequenced grooves and shadowy palette will feel familiar. Adventurous listeners who enjoy Mr. Bungle may appreciate the humor, left turns, and character voices.

Overlap beyond genre labels

The overlap is less about genre tags and more about a taste for precision mixed with satire. These shows reward people who listen for arrangement details, not just volume. That cross-section makes the room curious, patient, and ready for odd detours.