Hey guys...finally able to put faces to a couple of names on here. Chloe - we didn't speak but, thanks to the pics you've posted, I remember seeing you. Asuss - you and your wife sat next to my husband and me for Tesseract.
So. The show was terrific from Tesseract on for me. Hands down, my favourite part though, was the VIP bit at the beginning. It was so nice to see Dev be exactly the gracious and down to earth dude I've always imagined him to be. Loved how he greeted us as we came in..."hi, I'm Devin, what's your name?" I mean, really? How unassuming is THAT? It was awesome to hear Terminal in person from 3 feet away...that was the highlight of the music for me in that bit.
The openers. Well. Wither was fine in the beginning - I've always liked the Sisters of Mercy and their first bit was definitely in that vein. However, it did drone on a bit...OK, a lot...and by the end of their set I was bored and reading a novel on the kindle on my iPhone. Thanks I'm sure to the bright spark sitting behind me who heckled them to make their last song 'a short one, please', the sound guy PLAYED THEIR SET OVER while they tore down and Tesseract got set up. UGH. I'll find ya yellow shirt guy...kidding. No sense of humour it would seem because the remark WAS funny...and there is a limit to how long we wanted to listen to a band with THREE guitars (yes, plus bass) and NO drums. Very odd.
Tesseract was a nice surprise for me. Having had my head in the sand since starting going from 24 hrs a week to 60 with a new job at the beginning of the year, I've missed out on anything new or noteworthy. Had no clue who was supporting Dev on this tour until I arrived at the show and until they took the stage, didn't realise that the van we had passed on the way into Ramona was full of Tesseract and their stuff. I hadn't heard of them before and was all set to keep reading my kindle...and then they started. I found them to be thoroughly entertaining - bought the album on iTunes on the way home, even. For those who have not heard them, they are on YouTube. Check 'em out.
So, yeah...then we were treated to the set up music for Mr. Townsend. Oh. My. God. That was hilarious! Ziltoid is now a top 40 pop radio DJ in case anyone has been wondering what he has been up to since trying to get our finest bean. Barbie World...Single Ladies...you get the idea. Watching metal heads bopping around to this stuff was...well...a hell of a lot more entertaining than the first band had been. Dev has just the best sense of humour.
So, his show starts and he sees Bender standing in front of the stage...and we were treated to a dancing Bender (yeah, a dude in a Bender suit) for a bit. There wasn't a dull moment from start to finish - the man is an amazing showman and obviously loves being up there. The finish was really special to me, though. I love Deep Peace and that section of Baroquey guitar solo in it stops me in my tracks whenever I hear it. To hear it played flawlessly, note for note, beat for beat, though. Well, I am not a musician and cannot fathom how someone can pull off something like that. For me, it was perfection.
Devin, thank you for what was probably the most fun 6 hrs I have had in a long time.
Well worth the 4 hrs of driving that day! I only wish I could see the show again before the end of the tour.
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:06 pm
