Did you see the Devin Townsend Project set at the Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival in Derbyshire, UK?

Please post your reviews, setlists, photos and video links here!

Thanks,

Mikey
hevydevy.com

Saw DTP this evening, for the first time, generally a very, very good show, despite technical hiccups which made the tech guy go red with fury. It was a great hour-long set, but I've got to say, it wasn't what I was expecting.
This isn't a criticism of the band, but the HYPE that surrounds them, though mainly the hype surrounding Devin himself. In the past months since DTP were confirmed for BOA, I had come to understand that a live show featuring Devin was the stuff of gods, and major spiritual epiphanies were to be had, and tears were to be shed. I didn't expect to bawl my eyes out at their brilliance, of course, but I was expecting to be blown away a lot further than I actually was. Headbanging along and singing out loud was great fun, and Devin's banter was actually a real highlight, but all the show was.. was a show. They're a band, people - cheering wildly everytime Devin approached the mic got old really quick. But I know this is trivial, it just irked me slightly.
This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy myself. It WAS a great show, and the technical difficulties were dealt with well (bands afterwards had trouble with equipment, too), it's just today has made me realise that there is so much more to be enjoyed in listening to DTP's and Devin's music on record, rather than live. It kind of troubles me that I might be in a minority here, and that there's some wiring missing in my brain that allows me to get as hyped up as everyone else does when watching DTP (or, should I just say Devin?) live.

Im having a hard time understanding what you mean. Are you essentially trying to say that because it is with a lot of other people, it isn't as 'personal' for you?

If that's what you mean, I can relate. I'm a huge BLS fan, but when I got to the shows, the fans kinda turn me off to be around.

However though, when BLS goes on, It always goes away and I just enjoy the shit out of seeing them play. When DTP went on last January, It was legitly the best 30 minutes ever for me.

It kind of troubles me that I might be in a minority here, and that there's some wiring missing in my brain that allows me to get as hyped up as everyone else does when watching DTP (or, should I just say Devin?) live.

For some people, Devin is just another musician they like amongst the hundreds of other musicians they like. To others, his music is their world. Simply being in the presence of a person who's music you love and respect on a very deep level is a life-changing experience for some. Some folks are just there to drink a few beers and rock out.

It is ok if you aren't as into it as other fans. You shouldn't feel weird about that.

It kind of troubles me that I might be in a minority here, and that there's some wiring missing in my brain that allows me to get as hyped up as everyone else does when watching DTP (or, should I just say Devin?) live.

For some people, Devin is just another musician they like amongst the hundreds of other musicians they like. To others, his music is their world. Simply being in the presence of a person who's music you love and respect on a very deep level is a life-changing experience for some. Some folks are just there to drink a few beers and rock out.

It is ok if you aren't as into it as other fans. You shouldn't feel weird about that.

Problem is, I've completely fallen in love with his music. Since he was confirmed for BOA, and I first listened to his entire discography all the way through, he's jumped up to my eighth most listened artist overall on Last.fm. I would absolutely consider him to be one of the artists I most admire in the world. But I didn't get the intense emotional response that I was kind of expecting, and it did make me wonder almost "what's all the fuss about"? But yes, I totally understand that people can respond to things wildly differently.

Btw, I just want to stress that this IS NOT a criticism of DTP. The show was awesome, I'm still a massive fan!!

And a couple'a pictures. Of course:



Only Dev and Ryan visible there. Bagging a spot in a very dense crowd doesn't necessarily mean you can see everything - I had the pleasant view of someone's festival hair.

The setlist was infact:
Addicted
Supercrush
Kingdom
Deadhead
Truth
OM
By Your Command
Life

First time seeing him live and whilst it was a bit of a bummer that a couple of songs had to be cut (anyone got insider info as to which?) it was still one hell of a show, I'm so stoked to have heard Deadhead live and Kingdom has become a real favourite as of late. And getting a chance to meet him afterwards and have my Ziltoid hat signed was a festival highlight even if the demand was so great that we were just rushed through without really getting much of a chance to chat to him.

Here's hoping for a full UK tour next year.

Amazing show; I can understand different people having different reactions to seeing him live, for me it was something I've looked forward to for about four years now and I absolutely loved it, to see someone who's made such an impact on myself personally was brilliant, but of course to other people he's just 'a guy in a band'. But of course they have their own idols which some people won't share. You get me.

Besides:

"BALLS! BALLS! BALLS! BALLS!"

"Ziltoid lives in your bowels!"

etc.

Brilliant show, just needed to be longer!

EDIT: And of course meeting him, shaking his hand and getting an autograph was immense. Made my weekend that did.

There's a huge difference in impact when everything is working, the setlist is as long as it should be and the weather is just right as opposed to...not. For example in Tuska, there's no need to "hype" it up at all, it just all connected then and there so emotions ran high. All is cool.

I'm starting to really regret things not going smoothly. I hate to have jumped to such a conclusion about what it's like seeing DTP live. Perhaps it just wasn't the right kind of day. Apparently all their gear got held up at customs, and Dev lamented the fact he didn't have his cheap suit to wear..

Wasn't disappointed. The band played a really good set, despite the technical difficulties.
Definitely one of the top sets of the festival for me. (With Meshuggah being another particular favourite, they were epic)

I have issues with big shows. It's much better for me at a smaller more intimate venue. Don't feel so bad.

Judging by your photos I would say I was stood a couple of paces in front of you. Personally I was completely blown away by the set and was really quite emotional during deadhead, with it being one of my favorite songs ever. I agree with what other people have said about some people seeing Dev as just another band member but for me personally it was like being in the presence of a god, with all the people surrounding you worshiping him along with you.

The technical problems at the start did put a slight damper on it for a lot of people but as soon as the music started I forgot about it completely, although my one complaint would be that the vocals could have done with being slightly louder in the mix.

I was lucky enough to get Dev to sign my copy of KI as well and shake his hand which was completely awesome.

Ryan looked like he was having the BEST. TIME. EVAR.

Personally I thought they did an amazing job , what with equipment being held up in customs , and the click track in Ryans headphones not working halfway through the set , I agree the vocals could have been higher in the mix , but you have to expect sound issues at an outdoor festival , but all round it was amazing. Cool meeting Devin once again too , couldn't take a pic tho , batteries were dead in my camera but got lots of shots of the set , check my page http://www.facebook.com/chilli.williams for a loada pics from the festival.

I think that the issue was their gear/clothes etc getting lost on the way and this meant that they couldn't do things as they'd wanted to. It was a big shame from the bands perspective because I'm sure they'd been planning the show for ages and were ready to blow us away, which they still did, but not in the way they maybe wanted to.

HOWEVER! In my opinion, they made the very very best of the worst possible situation. Loads of bands would have just cancelled and left loads of disappointed fans, but despite everything, they were fantastic and I was SO UNBELIEVABLE happy to hear "Life" live. That was the highlight of my festival, if not the 21st century so far Also, meeting Dev in the signing tent was amazing. I know that some bands go to Bloodstock and don't even DO a signing, so for him to have extended it by half an hour when he could have easily just had a sleep was fantastic and he's now gone even further up in my estimation. What a top guy! Not that I'd expected anything less