DEVIN TOWNSEND
ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON
Canada’s cosmic polymath journeys through the realm of the senses
ANTICIPATION IS HIGH
for the Canadian master of all trades’ return to Roundhouse, the venue that housed his Retinal Circus flight of fancy in 2012. It seems somehow trite to compare this evening’s show with that three-hour extravaganza of absurdity, though. Tonight’s show is less of a spectacle and yet in many ways, no less spectacular.
Besides, Empath (the album Devin Townsend is currently touring) is more than doolally enough on its own merits to warrant any additional theatrical eccentricities. Some of the more esoteric material from that album, such as the musical-aping Why? or the multi-faceted 11-minute opus Borderlands, sound glorious in a live setting, especially given that Devin is backed by a phenomenal band of nine musicians who bring the album’s vast orchestration and towering sonics to startling life.
Many of Devin’s contemporaries, while immensely talented, often play with a mechanical precision that squeezes out any human emotion.
But there are no such problems here, as a four-song run of rarely played material from 2009’s Ki displays the assembled band’s extraordinary
levels of restraint and ability to play with subtle volume fluctuations, as if the music were able to breathe organically. It’s a rare showing for Devin’s less heavy material that makes a mockery of the oft-used but somewhat reductive ‘Hevy Devy’ term he’s so often saddled with.
Ché Aimee Dorval, most commonly known to Devin fans from his ambient space-country Casualties Of Cool project, provides excellent backing, and is especially stunning on songs such as War and an absolutely transcendent acoustic rendition of Spirits Will Collide, which is preceded by a beautiful and touching speech from the man himself about mental health.
For two hours, Devin Townsend provides a glorious distraction from the outside world, a blessing indeed especially considering that this show happens to fall on the day of a UK general election. Even with such turmoil and uncertainty in the air, you’d be hard pushed to find anyone leaving the venue this evening without the final notes of closer Kingdom
ringing in their ears and a broad smile painted across their face.
REMFRY DEDMAN
What’s the worst thing about being in a band?
“Learning to subject yourself to criticism. When you’re a musician you put a lot of your heart and soul into your art. Over time it gets easier. You learn what voices to lean on – the people who appreciate what you do and connect with it.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“To just stay diligent and work. Times change, things that are relevant change. Stay diligent in creating for the nourishment of your soul and your heart.”
When was the first time you felt like a rock star?
“I don’t know that I have ever really felt like a rock star. There have been times where I think, ‘Wow life is pretty awesome right now.’ One of those moments was singing guest vocals with Linkin Park at Rock In
Rio in Las Vegas [in 2015]. Those guys are some of my dear friends and I truly cherish all the memories of touring with them. That was in front of 65,000 people. I opened my eyes, looked out and was like, ‘Man, this is surreal.’”
When was the last time you cried? “Probably a couple of days ago. I was cuddling with my dog and then the thought popped into my head, y’know someday… nothing’s permanent. Someday she won’t be there and it made me sad. I shed a single tear and then I thought, ‘We’ll deal with that when it happens.’”
What’s been your worst experience on drugs?
“I like weed but I’m not a real big drugs guy. My worst experience getting too stoned is I end up eating the refrigerator and then falling asleep with all my clothes on. That’s about it!”
“OM&M FANS NOW BRING THEIR KIDS TO OUR SHOWS”