I'm just curious about how long of a set and in which slot the the Devin Townsend Project will be getting on the tour with BTBAM. I just hope we get more than a quick 20 minute set. I've already got my tickets and the DTP is really the only band I'm there to see.

Well it's being listed... everywhere... as BTBAM, Cynic, DTP, Scale the Summit, so I guess that would probably be the order from top -> bottom of the bill. S'what I'd think anyway.

Or I could just fuck off.

Yeah you're probably right. Hopefully a bands wheels break down or something before they get to the show I'm going to so maybe... just maybe the DTP gets an extended set.

It's going to be an amazing night regardless.

Dont know why Dream Theater called their tour "Progressive Nation" because this tour is about 100% as progressive and 100% less pretentious!

Haha. You're probably right. I did go see Opeth and Three on an off date show they had. And to be honest, Three totally stole the show that night. Now that I mention it, Three would be a pretty decent band to support The Devin Townsend Project once they can slap together a nice big headlining tour.

im just getting into 3 and i would agree. not too thrilled about btbam but better to see him as 2nd opener than not at all. im hoping for at least 45 minutes.

im just getting into 3 and i would agree. not too thrilled about btbam but better to see him as 2nd opener than not at all. im hoping for at least 45 minutes.

I think BTBAM will thoroughly impress live, as long as you go in with an open mind and not the "I'm only here to see Devin" mindset.

OK, I am officially thoroughly excited now. I hadn't heard of the other 3 bands on this tour so decided to dig around a little online to have a listen. The highlight of the evening will, of course, be seeing Devin and crew but Scale the Summit at first listen seem to be my favourite of the other 3 thus far. I'm pretty psyched about an all instrumental set...should be interesting. Cynic also sounds to be promising for an entertaining evening. BTBAM has highs and lows for me from what I've heard online - am totally not a fan of growling. So, will see how that goes.

The California shows are over a weekend (16th/17th/18th)...just screams ROADTRIP to me. Are there any others out there considering making a weekend of it and starting in San Diego and driving from venue to venue to venue up to San Francisco?

[Octillus]

Honestly it sounds amazing, but seeing as I'm in SF already, going down south is a bit of a hassle to end right back up here.

OK, I am officially thoroughly excited now. I hadn't heard of the other 3 bands on this tour so decided to dig around a little online to have a listen. The highlight of the evening will, of course, be seeing Devin and crew but Scale the Summit at first listen seem to be my favourite of the other 3 thus far. I'm pretty psyched about an all instrumental set...should be interesting. Cynic also sounds to be promising for an entertaining evening. BTBAM has highs and lows for me from what I've heard online - am totally not a fan of growling. So, will see how that goes.

The California shows are over a weekend (16th/17th/18th)...just screams ROADTRIP to me. Are there any others out there considering making a weekend of it and starting in San Diego and driving from venue to venue to venue up to San Francisco?

BTBAM's music overall is a testament to the fact that music is not dead, progressive doesn't have to be pretentious, and that you can do whatever the fuck you feel like in your music.

I say just try and bear it and listen to either Colors or The Great Misdirect from start to finish and you might be surprised.

[Octillus]

OK, I am officially thoroughly excited now. I hadn't heard of the other 3 bands on this tour so decided to dig around a little online to have a listen. The highlight of the evening will, of course, be seeing Devin and crew but Scale the Summit at first listen seem to be my favourite of the other 3 thus far. I'm pretty psyched about an all instrumental set...should be interesting. Cynic also sounds to be promising for an entertaining evening. BTBAM has highs and lows for me from what I've heard online - am totally not a fan of growling. So, will see how that goes.

The California shows are over a weekend (16th/17th/18th)...just screams ROADTRIP to me. Are there any others out there considering making a weekend of it and starting in San Diego and driving from venue to venue to venue up to San Francisco?

BTBAM's music overall is a testament to the fact that music is not dead, progressive doesn't have to be pretentious, and that you can do whatever the fuck you feel like in your music.

Sounds like someone I know. I think his name is Kevin Brownstand.

I think people who don't like BTBAM hate on em a bit too much, I just can't get into them. It's clear they're talented guys and work hard to create a sound that they don't just half ass and really believe in, but as I've told two of my really good friends, I CAN'T get into them no matter how hard I try.

I think you have a good point about BTBAM and will give them another go. I'd pretty much written off most of the SYL catalogue for being, "not my thing" until I read the passion with which some of the folks on here had written about it and the comments in favour of not having to be angry to listen to it all - "All Hail...", in particular. Sooo, decided to give SYL another go. For the past few weeks, I've been locked into almost a loop of "Far Beyond Metal", "Polyphony", "The New Black", "Aftermath", "Force Fed", "All Hail..", "Wrong Side" and "Almost Again" with a little "Centipede" and "Decimator" thrown in for variation. I think I finally get how some find this stuff makes them happy, rather than just enhancing being pissed off....although it is brilliant for that, as well. I would agree that I might well find a lot more than I expected to like about BTBAM.

Thanks, also, to the folks who'd made reference to Porcupine Tree and Three on the boards - while I'm at it. I'd never heard of these bands until here and have checked them out as well...can't wait to listen to more of both. Discovering new (to me) music is so much fun....but Dev's always going to be my favourite.