Between the Buried and Me+ Devin Townsend Project+ Cynic+ Scale the Summit

Between the Buried and Me+ Devin Townsend Project+ Cynic+ Scale the Summit
The Opera House, Toronto
Cost: $28.13
Hand Stamp: Tiny star that faded almost instantly
January 25, 2010

With four acts for the evening, Devin Townsend and the Devin Townsend Project were greeted by a crow of fans that had clearly been waiting for them. It’s been a few year since Devin Townsend has been on tour, taking some time off to become a father and rid himself of some of his vices, but his Canadian fans are as strong as ever. This six song set was just a taste of what is hopefully to come from a full tour, and rumor has it that he may even have a full choir to accompany him. It’s interesting that for as heavy as Townsend’s music can be, he has quite the affinity for a wide range of vocals from a metal growl to an operatic high. Townsend is also quite the showman on stage announcing Supercrush! With, “this one’s for the ladies, because guys fucking stink.” He even took on the female vocals done by Anneke Van Giersberge formerly of The Gathering. Hopefully there will be more Heavy Devy to come in 2010.

On to Cynic, prog metal/jazz fusion five piece. In terms of style, they were definitely the odd ones out, and on this tour were even heckled by metal purists. When lead vocalist, Paul Masvidal asked the crowd to take a ‘yoga break’ and follow him with his hands in prayer from side to side, I was worried this may have been the point where those purists spoke out, but the crowd seemed to follow along in perfect form.

It would have been nice to have seen both Between the Buried and Me as well as Scale the summit, but for this show catching the middle was pretty good too.