On a side note, I just had the time of my life at Devin's acoustic show! He showed us some awesome demos off Decon and Ghost. Can't freaking wait!! Devin is the nicest guy. Also, a photo disguised as stealth brag

Very cool photo dude. I am absolutely spewing I missed out on the acoustic show. Generally I would drop by here on most days for a look but have been really snowed under with work unfortunately. The few days I didn't look and I missed out.
Anyway I hope all that went enjoyed themselves.

People can complain all they want ... why not be constructive about it? Devy is pouring his heart into this tour, and we know that he recognizes aspects that need to be worked on, but in stead of saying "Deadhead is shit LOL!" why not offer a song that would be better live? Also, and this is definitely something Devy would know all about ... you can never please everyone, and, you can never please people who are never pleased. Be happy, guys, you just saw God in the flesh

In my honest opinion, the setlist was close to perfect, because it mixed it all up, but I guess there are three factions to devy fans, those who want it fast and heavy, those who want it low and mellow, and those who don't give a shit because they love whatEVER he throws at us.

Also, as for a live show not being paced like a studio album ... uhhh?

I offered plenty of constructive criticism. My review was overall pretty positive really but it seems you'd rather take issue with things I didn't actually say (ie. I never said "Deadhead is shit LOL!", just that kind of song at that point in the gig didn't do it for me). I'm a big Devin fan, have been since 1997, but when you start saying I should be happy with whatever he throws at us, good or bad, cause hes a god - well sorry but thats retarded. I believe objective feedback - both good *and* bad - helps Devin by highlighting things that, in that person's opinion, he can improve on. It's then up to him whether or not he believes they are a problem and to take corrective action if necessary. Not just post after post of 100% positive feedback by a bunch of sycophants. That really doesn't help him at all.

Also, I thought it was pretty clear what I meant by the setlist lacking the ebb and flow of his albums. Not sure I can explain it any better.

I agree with the comment about the flow of the show. I think the fact that Devin grouped the new songs together (two Addicted songs at the start), then grouped a bunch of old songs together, and then a bunch of Ziltoid stuff together, kinda made it not flow too well. His newer stuff are definitely more upbeat while the older stuff are a slight more "laid back" for the lack of a better term. Basically, there was a huge difference in style. This is not a bad thing, except that it means we had long stretches of songs with a similar vibe back to back, making it a bit tiresome to listen to. I did enjoy the fact that the Ziltoid stuff were grouped together though... so I'm not sure where I'm getting at.

[The Dev]

Points taken folks!

Unfortunately, the set has to stay the way it is right now, but I agree with 99% of what you say here.

Points taken folks!

Unfortunately, the set has to stay the way it is right now, but I agree with 99% of what you say here.

Do realise that we still had a LOT of fun with the current setlist though

pffft,- man, for $70 a ticket it should sound fucking awesome. My mates reckon that venue is good as a doof club, some of the bass feel in parts of the gig confirmed that. I really got to feel the LIve feeling in parts, but just wasn't all encompassing. Nothing to do with the playing, just venue and sound/mixing gear setup.

...seriously?

For a club-level show the sound was good, especially taking into consideration how many layers/tracks are put into Devin's songs and the resulting "wall of sound" effect. I'd expect a solid and entertaining show for $70 (which everyone got last Sunday, no doubt), but not necessarily a "fucking awesome" sound. If it's a huge concern then you'd be better off standing as close as you can to the mixing desk.

Do people just not go out to local gigs in Melbourne to not have an appreciation of how bad things can really get?

Yeah I often position myself near mixing desks at gigs. Melbourne crowds are renowned as harsh but honest critics. None of his previous gigs were that expensive, and the SSSOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDD = FUCKING AWWWWWWWEEEESSSSSSOOOOMMMMMMMMMEEEE!!!

I can't understand some of these complaints. This would probably have to be the best gig I've ever been to... and i've seen Iron maiden, opeth and porcupine tree. Devin has the most entertaining stage presence i have seen. The setlist was amazing (earth day being the highlight). The only problem I had which has been mentioned was the sound, however i moved back further after the first few songs and it improved. I'm completely gutted i missed the acoustic show. I rang allan's music during the day and asked what i could do seeing as i didn't have a booking. They told me there was nothing I could do. Then i hear that people didn't show allowing more people in.... so painful!

Hi people,

Thanks to Devin and everyone involved for the excellent shows in Melbourne - especially those that organised for the free acoustic show in Melbourne.

Here are some pictures I took.

http://gallery.me.com/kheven/100073 - DTP @ Billboard, Melbourne
http://gallery.me.com/kheven/100077 - Devin Townsend Solo Acoustic @ Allans Music, Melbourne

Enjoy

Twas an awesome night.... posted my thoughts here - http://www.omiblog.com/2010/03/16/devin ... the-venue/

Hevy Devy came... he saw... he kicked fucking ass! My ears are still having orgasms...You are a GOD amongst men Master Devin!

The Billboards show was amazing... the Allen's performance was the best 3 hours of my life!

My only complaint was with the merch girl before the show I managed to get 2 shirts but when I asked if there were any girly shirts I got told there weren't any then someone told me they bought one during Devin's set I was like WTF! Where did they come from during the show if they weren't available before the show? If there are any girly shirts left I hope they will be available through the store.

I'm completely gutted i missed the acoustic show. I rang allan's music during the day and asked what i could do seeing as i didn't have a booking. They told me there was nothing I could do. Then i hear that people didn't show allowing more people in.... so painful!

Very painful and very ordinary from those who didn't show. Why did they bother getting a pass in the first place?

I agree with the comment about the flow of the show. I think the fact that Devin grouped the new songs together (two Addicted songs at the start), then grouped a bunch of old songs together, and then a bunch of Ziltoid stuff together, kinda made it not flow too well. His newer stuff are definitely more upbeat while the older stuff are a slight more "laid back" for the lack of a better term. Basically, there was a huge difference in style. This is not a bad thing, except that it means we had long stretches of songs with a similar vibe back to back, making it a bit tiresome to listen to. I did enjoy the fact that the Ziltoid stuff were grouped together though... so I'm not sure where I'm getting at.

I completely disagree.

As soon as I heard the first few notes of Life, straight after Seventh Wave, I fucking exploded, as did everyone around me. To hear and feel the emotions you feel when listening to the CD in real life in front of the person who made the music himself, is unlike anything else. Ditto for the Ziltoid tracks in order.

I disagree for the same reason you don't like the fact - the styles have different feels. If he went from a song on one album to another album, then back to the first album, it'd be changing moods back and forth, which to me is immeasurably worse than the other way around.

Caught both the Sunday DTP show and the Monday Solo show.

Both were absolutely MIND BLOWING!!

Loved every second of both gigs!



Sunday 14th March 2010, Billboard Venue, Devin Townsend Project:

Photos (includes on of Contrive):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hectorbust ... 516135493/

Vid (only 1 I'm afraid! I recorded this and "Earth Day"...but didn't have the mic on! Dumbass! The audio for this was ripped off a mate's video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FF10N85sT8



Monday 15th March 2010, Allans Music, Devin Townsend Solo:

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hectorbust ... 640668024/

Vids...weeeeeellll, I've got some, but Devin was really unhappy with his voice on the night and requested we not post stuff...so I shant.

None of his previous gigs were that expensive

All gig tickets have gone up in price in general, though. But yeah... $16 for a ticket to see SYL in 1997, bit of a change there. (Glad my girlfriend paid for my ticket this year, hah! And also my AC/DC ticket, what a darling... although I'm paying for us to go see Spandau Ballet and Tears For Fears.)

If I remember correctly, at the Hi Fi Bar show SYL played OMFG twice as the crowd was screaming for an encore. Dev came out and said that they have run out of songs but they would play OMFG again. Sweet! The show on Sunday night certainly ranks up there, but I do believe the best is yet to come from Dev.

1998 at the Corner, maybe? When they'd finished and Devin came out onstage in his underwear, but then they decided to do SYL -> In The Rainy Season -> OMFG one more time. It was the only gig I ever snuck into whilst still underage, first time I'd seen Damaged as well. Holy shit what a night.

None of his previous gigs were that expensive

All gig tickets have gone up in price in general, though. But yeah... $16 for a ticket to see SYL in 1997, bit of a change there. (Glad my girlfriend paid for my ticket this year, hah! And also my AC/DC ticket, what a darling... although I'm paying for us to go see Spandau Ballet and Tears For Fears.)

If I remember correctly, at the Hi Fi Bar show SYL played OMFG twice as the crowd was screaming for an encore. Dev came out and said that they have run out of songs but they would play OMFG again. Sweet! The show on Sunday night certainly ranks up there, but I do believe the best is yet to come from Dev.

1998 at the Corner, maybe? When they'd finished and Devin came out onstage in his underwear, but then they decided to do SYL -> In The Rainy Season -> OMFG one more time. It was the only gig I ever snuck into whilst still underage, first time I'd seen Damaged as well. Holy shit what a night.

You could be right on it being in 1998 at the Corner. My mate refers to it happening at the Corner gig but I always seemed to think it was the 1997 Hi Fi Bar gig. If you were underage at that gig, you are obvisouly younger than me and hence the better memory. But I do remember that the gig at the Corner has a great mix.