Puscifer
Golden Gate Theater
May 11, 2026
Photos by Raymond Ahner
As unconventional as always, Puscifer brought their Normal Isn’t tour to the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco recently, and proved that the word “normal” isn’t in their vocabulary. Judging from the reaction from the packed house, the fans were pretty okay with that.
From the moment the band appeared onstage, the atmosphere felt cinematic. A huge video screen projected behind the band and blended seamlessly with the music. Frontman Maynard James Keenan commanded the stage with his trademark restraint, never reacting like a traditional rock singer. Instead, he moved through the performance like a narrator guiding the audience through his offbeat dystopian story.
Musically, the band sounded flawless. Songs like “The Algorithm,” “The Quiet Parts,” and “Bullet Train to Iowa” carried enormous weight live, balancing electronic textures with heavy guitar grooves and tight rhythmic precision. Vocalists Carina Round and Keenan complemented each other perfectly, creating haunting harmonies that elevated even the quieter moments into something dramatic and emotionally charged.
The near sold out crowd responded enthusiastically throughout the night, fully embracing the strange universe Puscifer created. Rather than relying on standard rock spectacle, the band delivered something immersive and intelligent, a show that at all times demanded attention.
By the end of the evening, Puscifer had not simply performed a setlist; they had constructed an experience that blurred the lines between music, theater, and social satire in the most entertaining way possible.
Here’s a slideshow with more photos of Puscifer by Raymond Ahner:
