Tonight was the last show for Devin Townsend’s Australia tour, and his last before a well deserved holiday. As I approached the Tivoli I did not expect the line that extended down the block and around the corner. It moved fairly quickly though and it gave everyone a chance to make new friends and talk about past experiences of Devin and how his music affects us. Once in we were greeted by the sight of the support act’s banner on stage, Brisbane-based prog-metal act Caligula’s Horse. I had only heard the name so tonight was set to be an evening of exploration with a new band and a set-list from Devin that spanned nearly thirty years.
Once the Tivoli had filled up the lights dimmed and the show began. Caligula’s Horse was quite good. After touring the world they were happy to be home and clearly happy to be supporting one of their idols, Devin Townsend. They were the perfect support with soaring vocals and complex arrangements that jumped from soft to heavy with equal passion. Their setlist was thus: Slow Violence, Oceanrise, The Tempest, Bloom, Marigold, Golem (their new single), and Dream the Dead. I thoroughly enjoyed their show and will definitely be exploring them further.
After an intermission filled with instrumental backing music, it was finally time for the main event. By now the room had filled with an anticipatory susurrus, and then once again the lights dimmed. To an entire room of cheers, Devin Townsend walked out, and Mr Townsend immediately thanked us for coming out for this “50 year old nerdy Canuck”. It was one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in a while replete with technical glitches, hats, and overacting. Devin’s vocals were on point, ranging from layered brutality to the operatic, with his touring band matching his passionate intensity. Live, Devin Townsend was Mr Townsend on vocals and guitar (of course), Mike Keneally on guitar and keys, Darby Todd on drums, and James Leach on bass.
The set did indeed explore 30 odd years of various projects going from one extreme to the next, as you would expect from Mr. Townsend. It included: Lightworker, Kingdom, Dimensions, Deadhead, By Your Command, Deep Peace, Spirits Will Collide, Almost Again, Aftermath, Why?, Truth, Bad Devil, Ih-Ah, and Love?, with a bonus request of Detox thrown in acoustically just before the band came back for the last song of the night. Devin was a lot of fun, interspersing songs with humour and gratitude, working the crowd like the master he is.
It was quite the evening at the historic Tivoli Theatre, full of entertaining performances, opera, and shredding brutality. It felt like a homecoming, not just for locals Caligula’s Horse, but also Devin Townsend who regaled us with tales of giant spiders and breakdowns in our quiet little town. Enjoy your rest Mr Townsend and see you next time.
Reviewed by William Ferguson
Photos by Craig Myers
Devin Townsend:
Caligula’s Horse:
