Maynard James Keenan has spent the last couple of years moving between three projects at once. Tool have headlined festivals. Puscifer put out a record called Normal in February. And now A Perfect Circle, the band he founded with Billy Howardel, is finally making noise again. The duo just dropped a new song, announced a big North American tour, and booked shows across South America, Australia, and Japan.
The new track is called “Two Whom It May Concern,” and it arrives alongside a video directed by RIZZ. The song follows “Starless,” which came out in May and landed on rock radio. The tour dates start next April and stretch into November, with Puscifer joining some dates and the Cult opening others.
Keenan’s Busy Year
Keenan has been everywhere lately. Tool’s festival appearances have kept him on the road, and Puscifer’s Normal release gave fans a fresh record to dig into. Now A Perfect Circle is stepping forward with its own momentum.
The band is currently a duo, with Howardel on guitar. That pairing has produced “Starless,” the rock radio hit from May, and now “Two Whom It May Concern.” The new song carries the same gothic sweep that defines the band’s sound.
The tour runs from April through November, with stops in North America, South America, Australia, Japan, and Hawaii. It is a full calendar, and it shows a band that is not slowing down.
The New Song
“Two Whom It May Concern” has the same feel as the music that surrounds it. The guitar work is delicate and twinkling, while the drums boom underneath. The result is a song that sounds both polished and mystical at the same time.
“This band has a definite style, and this song belongs to it.”
The video, directed by RIZZ, adds another layer to the package. It is the kind of visual that fits the band’s theatrical approach to performance.
The Tour Dates
The tour opens in Canada before moving down the East Coast and into the South. Stops include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Detroit, and Boston. From there, it heads to Charlotte, North Carolina, and then west to Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
The summer leg takes in Seattle, Portland, Reno, Daly City, and Las Vegas. Then it moves overseas, starting with Mexico City and São Paulo before hitting Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Chile.
From there the band crosses the Pacific to Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney in Australia, then on to Auckland in New Zealand, Tokyo, Osaka, and Honolulu. The final stop is Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
Opening Acts
Puscifer joins the tour at several dates marked with an asterisk. The Cult opens at others, marked with a caret.
The Cult’s inclusion adds weight to the bill. Their presence gives the tour an additional draw.
What Fans Should Expect
A Perfect Circle has a sound that is instantly recognizable. The new song fits right into that catalog. The gothic guitar and booming drums are familiar territory for anyone who has followed the band’s work.
The new song continues the band’s established approach. It is a band that knows what it sounds like, and it sticks to it.
The Overseas Stretch
After North America, the tour heads to South America, Australia, and Japan. The itinerary includes stops in Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Tokyo, Osaka, and Honolulu. That is a lot of ground to cover in a short period.
A Band With A Style
The phrase “polished but mystical grandeur” captures the band’s approach. The music is carefully arranged, but it also carries a sense of mystery and scale.
A Perfect Circle has never been a band that plays it safe. The new song continues that tradition. It is a band that knows what it sounds like, and it sticks to it.
The Bottom Line
The tour announcement is a strong move. A Perfect Circle has a dedicated fanbase, and the new song gives them a reason to come out.
The dates are packed, and the lineup is strong. It is a tour that rewards attention.
KEY FACTS BOX
– New song: “Two Whom It May Concern”
– Video director: RIZZ
– Tour starts: April
– Tour ends: November
– First North American stop: Vancouver, BC
– Opening acts: Puscifer (at selected dates), the Cult (at selected dates)
The tour is a statement. A Perfect Circle is back, and it is bringing its full sound with it. The new song is proof of that.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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