I certainly had a damn good evening! Wasn't quite sure what I'd think of the show because (er, confession time here) I don't actually own any of Devin's releases after Accelerated Evolution, so all the material after that (Synchestra, Ziltoid, Ki, Addicted, etc) I'm totally unfamiliar with, other than the well-known songs which have been made into video clips and so forth. It was also quite a different experience for me since every other Devin/SYL show I've been to since 1997 I've been up the front screaming/headbanging/stagediving/etc so it was great to actually stand back and watch it all happen. Plus I was stuffed full of beer and chicken parma, so it was probably for the best, heh.

Highlights of the show for me were definitely Life, Om, Earth Day and Namaste. (Holy shit I nearly lost my mind when I heard the opening riff to Life, been waiting to hear that live since Ocean Machine was released...)

I didn't think the sound was an issue! Earlier on I was standing up the back near the bar, I was actually surprised at how good it sounded. The vocals in particular really stood out. I later moved down to the back of the pit area where it sounded slightly messier, although you get that with a lot of venues (e.g. I went to see a gig at the Hi-Fi a few weeks ago... couldn't hear any vocals or lead guitar right up the front, but sounded fine up the back). Anyway, considering the circumstances of the tour explained by Devin on here I reckon the mixer did a fine job... wasn't excruciatingly loud either, which always helps. A lot of people said it was too loud... am I just going deaf or something? Certainly wasn't loud compared to local gigs at the Arthouse, Tote, Pony, etc. Obviously there's a lot of detail to Devin's music but it's quite a big ask to be able to hear every little bit in a live setting.

Very slick show all up, great energy, great atmosphere. Can't wait for the next tour.

Bloody awesome show! I was stoked, 2 hours of all the best songs, amazing performance and a great crowd! It was a hell of a lot of fun, the best live experience I've had, couldn't ask for anything more (except for maybe less booze poured down my back - lol at the girl trying to carry 3 cups to the front of the crowd right before Namaste kicked off!)

I didn't know the sound was an issue but then again I was wearing ear plugs. They cut out all the crap noise and you can adjust the volume in a way. And no pain the next day!

I loved all the old songs the best, they rock hard, kinda like how my neck feels now.

Huge thanks to the band as well as Devin, I felt the band didn't get much attention so pass on our massive regards to 'em!

Peace.

Loved it. Pretty sure my ears were broken (still ringing pretty loud now), but it was great. Dev's vocals seemed to be pitch-shifted or something, it felt off. The whole set was amazing, and the Ziltoid radio was fantastic. I've never seen so many unimpressed faces at a headlining gig. Staying Alive was a fine touch.

Anyway, on to the acoustic set tonight, hopefully I can hear properly by then. Just being in the crowd was a total drain, so I'm amazed Devin is still standing to be honest.

Very happy. Also the mixing was average but the performance more than made up for it.

Wondering what the deal is with the acoustic gig? Would someone be kind enough to post some information?

I didn't know the sound was an issue but then again I was wearing ear plugs. They cut out all the crap noise and you can adjust the volume in a way. And no pain the next day!

Usually yes, but I must say that my ears were and still are ringing way more than usual after last nights gig.

Yo man, points taken.

Again, I don't have a soundman. We are assigned one due to budget restraints in each territory. Hopefully that will change soon.

...sorry for being a goof. Thats just me.

It's a big project to mix, hopefully fate will provide the right man for the job.

OH shite! I would have thought you'd have brought your own sound guy.
That explains a lot then. That must be hugely frustrating, to have to put all your trust in someone you don't know at all.
Is that guy doing the national tour?

Let the bass player sing, it was funny and dev's voice was shot. Let dev say his stupid comedy things, because they are hilarious and ridiculous and wonderful and I wouldn't be as much a fan if he didn't goof around like that, I love it. "National Geographic!" Come on!!

Well, the bass player clearly cannot sing!

yeah, but on a positive note, its nowhere NEAR as bad as some shows i have attended in the 17 years i have been going to gigs. It was still a great show i thought, just not as good as the '99 tour

Dev with average/poor sound > most other metal shows (except Iron Maiden)

[The Dev]

Nah, he's an old friend from way back that had mixed syl and did a good job. He's been out of the heavy game for a while though... opened a studio in Queensland. Lovely guy, and to his credit, it's a really really hard high tech sort of mix.

Again, I had to use someone local and within my budget (ugh...) so we went with him. He's trying hard and it's hard for him.

It's dissapointing for me, as a total audio nerd, I'm uber uber specific with album mixes and production, and ultimately...I need the best sound guy ever. At my price point at this stage of my career, I can't really command that yet. However, I'm going to the states right after this to audition some guys. I want the live sound to be the best best thing ever. I work very hard to get the samples right and preserve my voice for touring, so when that gets a little lost, it's highly frustrating, but c'est la vie, right? ...this is far from the last time I will be here. There's talk of a very special performance run in Aus. next year, and the amount that I've learnt from this experience is huge...

In the future, I want more dynamics, less heavy, but still have heavy spots.

I want the ultimate sound out front

Choir

Visuals

I have 15 or so records to draw the music from, and this tour taught me and the band what we needed to know from the records we drew from in terms of heavy, and the next tour (Europe) we will learn an assload more songs... by the end of the year, I hope to know ALL the keys points from ALL the records.

Synchestra got passed up on this tour because my recordings on PC I could not find a way to convert in time.

ALL these things are on the agenda, PLUS Decon and Ghost. Truly folks, this is a work in progress with an eye on a very lofty goal for next year...thank you for supporting this incarnation. I am learning through it what works and what doesn't.

Doing it in public is the best litmus test, because people who CARE are cool enough to give it to me straight. Repect folks, LOTS of love!

you champion dev! but shit, whats this carrot you dangle? are we talking a ziltoid show?? OR are we talking about all the 4 DTP albums played back to back???
PS, the before gig music was ace, but i was hoping for some abba!

...this is far from the last time I will be here. There's talk of a very special performance run in Aus. next year, and the amount that I've learnt from this experience is huge...

Come back anytime man... you are always welcome here!

In the future, I want more dynamics, less heavy, but still have heavy spots.

It must be pretty hard to decide on a setlist when you have 2 totally different sides to your work... from the Mellow like Ki (and upcoming Ghost), all the way to Physicist/SYL (and Deconstruction)
I think the list you have now is a damn good mix, and has the right mix of new tracks to promote the DTP albums.
Once you get the tech stuff around Synchestra sorted, you can cover the lot. Vampolka/Vampira anyone?

Choir
Visuals

HELL YES!
and not only for the Ziltoid stuff. a live choir backing Ki would be legendary!

ALL these things are on the agenda, PLUS Decon and Ghost. Truly folks, this is a work in progress with an eye on a very lofty goal for next year...thank you for supporting this incarnation. I am learning through it what works and what doesn't.
Doing it in public is the best litmus test, because people who CARE are cool enough to give it to me straight. Repect folks, LOTS of love!

It's awesome that you listen to what people say on here.
Thanks for giving Aus some love - it's rare for international acts to bother.

Even through all the tech issues and teething problems, it was still an awesome show.

*mutters* crazy double post....

last nights melbourne show was the ultimate experience. absolutely mind blowing! as i was in the mosh for the brisbane show i thought id hang back and get an awesome view from a bit higher up. the sound was incredible here. may have had something to do with being crazy stoned, i wouldnt know. devin definitely stepped it up even from his performance at brisbane (which was incredible btw). couldnt be happier with the setlist. i have to admit deadhead actually brought a tear to my eye. maybe throwing in the death of music would be the only possible way to better it. id usually think 1 way to better a gig as having the frontman fart in the mic but he managed to pull that 1 off too haha! fucking brilliant and funny as fuck. devin, thanks for the best gig ever! cant wait for next time... meaning the acoustic tonight. fuck yeh haha, life rocks

I loved the show, thanks for getting up there and having so much fun dev. I laughed so hard when people started raging at vengaboys..

The only massive complaint I had was that the snare sounded like dicks... closest sound I can think of is the ticking at the start of the Bloody Beetroots "Warp"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DO6Y9_5e7A

Other than that, I loved the setlist, very nice balance, crowd was having a great time it seemed, I know I was.

Thanks for the show, good luck with the acoustic set tonight dev

/RANT ON
Not to break the mood, but as I read the reviews and see several people talking about how the sound seemed particularly loud, I'd STRONGLY suggest to take no risk and wear earplugs, or have a bunch at hand in your pocket (probably 1$ at the pharmacy). That may be obvious for some, but maybe not for others, less experienced with live shows. Ear damages (loss of audition and tinnitus) are REALLY NOT fun to say the least.
Even if there's sound regulation or whatever, you never know if you didn't damaged your ears in the past with a portable device or sickness, so better safe than sorry).
Enjoy the show, safely
/RANT OFF