Puscifer brings their Existential Reckoning Tour to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a weird night of dancing aliens and ridiculous references to pop culture.
Dark, electronic pop group, Nightclub opened the show. Their stage set-up was simple, with Mark Brooks at center stage with his large synthesizer and DJ controller. Although a phenomenal DJ, Brooks is more well-known for his work as writer and director of Metalocalypse, an adult animated comedy series featured on Adult Swim about a metal band. Emily Kavanaugh, vocalist, danced and kicked across the stage during the entire performance, making great use of all the extra space available. Their music is used in the Comedy Central series “Moonbeam City,” which was also directed by DJ Mark Brooks. Their music sounds as if it would fit in well at a goth nightclub, with dark lyrics sung in slightly creepy melodic lines over upbeat dance music. Kavanaugh interacted with the crowd heavily, through her dancing and by calling out to the crowd multiple times and requesting the crowd to cheer loudly. Though relatively unknown as a band, Nightclub surely impacted the crowd and left them curious to find out more information about the band. Their experimental, dark sound made them a great fit for a tour with Puscifer.
Puscifer’s tour is named after their 2020 album, Existential Reckoning. The name suggests that fans could expect to hear many songs from this recent album, and Puscifer delivered just that. They performed all twelve songs from the album, and only performed five songs that were from other albums. Being that Puscifer is a band that isn’t played on the radio regularly, they are a band that fans must do a bit of research to get into. The tour setlist almost appears as an ode to that level of depth that Puscifer fans must possess, because they did not play most of their most popular songs and mainly played songs that would require some digging for fans to know.
Their stage set-up featured what appeared to be large scaffolding built on center stage. The band made great use of the scaffolding, with certain members performing while standing at the very top of it during different parts of the set. The lights were impressive, and would often shine purple and green, further sending the message that this show was all about references to extraterrestrial life. Before the show, a recording of Maynard James Keenan’s character, Dick Merkin, appeared on two big screens on each side of the stage. He expressed that if anybody in the crowd took photos or videos, they would be put through a grinder and turned into Spam. During the second song, “Postulous,” an actor appeared in the audience and was causing disruption by taking photos and videos using his cellphone. The actor, dressed as Maynard’s other character (Billy D), was dragged onto stage and carried away by the band. Dick Merkin appeared on screen a couple of other times throughout the night, both times to discuss pop culture and how celebrities are the product of an alien cloning program. Throughout the night, three aliens would appear on stage and dance around goofily, further sending home the asinine atmosphere that Puscifer creates. Carina Round (singer and songwriter) and Keenan interacted with each other heavily all night, and at times, they would chase each other in circles around the stage.
They ended the night with “Bedlamite” from their Existential Reckoning album. The band recently released a live video of “Bedlamite”, which features their impressive stage set-up in all its glory. The video can be found on their YouTube channel. Being that the Tulsa show was the penultimate show of the tour, fans will likely need to await the announcement of another Puscifer tour before getting to see the band again. Puscifer’s shows are quirky, thought-provoking, and downright silly. Fans who have the opportunity to experience a Puscifer live show are certainly in for a treat.
Words by: Mallory ForsgrenPhotos by: Tyler Williams
PUSCIFER
Website Facebook Twitter
