DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
AEON ZEN
Sole support band on the Devin Townsend Project's 2011 European tour is Aeon Zen - originally a studio based venture masterminded by bassist Rich Hinks and, thus far, spanning two albums. Last year, with the aid of various session musicians, Hinks founded "Aeon Zen Live" so that people could experience his brand of prog-rock/metal first-hand. The current live incarnation features the participation of Silent Call vocalist Andi Kravljaca; guitarist Matt Shepherd; drummer Steve Burton; and keys courtesy of Dragonforce's Vadim Pruzhanov. Whilst the musicians are evidently talented as individuals and deliver a tight, musically accomplished performance as a band, there still seems to be something lacking in their overall presence that I can't quite pinpoint. The music, compositionally, treads the path of generic rather than genuine prog which doesn't really do it for me these days but, aside from that, Hinks and his session players seem a little detached and stilted in their interactions with each other and the audience (with the exception of Kravljaca who does his best to enliven both his fellow musicians and those who stand to watch, largely motionless, in Rock City). Ending their set with the 10+ minute 'The Demise of the Fifth Sun' is perhaps an unwise choice when playing to a crowd who are mainly unfamiliar with the material as many people opt to walk off before its lengthy duration comes to an end and head for one of the bars. It would be unfair to completely dismiss Aeon Zen as unenjoyable because the material, while generic and average for my tastes as I've heard this style of prog so many times before but done so much better by the likes of Sun Caged and Redemption, is undoubtedly more geared towards others' tastes, although the band are distinctly unengaging through their performance in Nottingham this evening.
DATE:
VENUE:
Saturday 5th March 2011
Rock City in Nottingham, UK
Reviews & Photography by Mark Holmes
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AEON ZEN
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
Devin Townsend's music seems to perpetually polarise opinion into a love it or hate it dichotomy with very few people expressing sentiments of indifference. Such is the nature of forward-thinking, innovative art that pushes boundaries in all directions - that is to say, it incites emotionally contrasting responses. However, in Nottingham this evening, a near-sold-out Rock City is crammed full of nothing but Devin admirers who are eager for a fix of the man's progressively sonic mastery. On his previous visit to these shores, just last year at Bloodstock Open Air, matters went far from smoothly: separated from most of their gear en route from the Czech Republic, Devin and his fellow musicians also experienced severe technical difficulties for the first fifteen minutes of their scheduled hour long set. Never one to wane in the face of adversity, the man himself alternated between attempting to fix the obstructive glitches and entertaining the audience with a whole gamut of comedic banter, transforming misfortune into merriment. Fortunately, he's plagued by no such bad luck tonight and, as the clock strikes 8pm, the venue's lights dim and two framed video screens come to life either side of the stage with the welcome sight of Devin's parodic coffee loving alien creation Ziltoid who grooves away to the Vengaboys' 'We Like To Party'. And judging by the audience reaction when the DTP take to the stage and commence with 'Addicted!', virtually everyone inside Rock City this evening likes to party too as the crowd erupts into a frenzy of deafening cheers and mutually amiable mosh pit action. 'Supercrush!' follows with Devin taking on Anneke van Giersbergen's vocal parts, demonstrating both his wide singing range, note-perfect of course, and his trademark array of crazy faces with which he girns and grins his way around the stage during the instrumental passages, evidently much to the delight of those at whom he stares. Second song in and the man already has the crowd in the palm of his hand, and it's what can only be described as a sincere reciprocation of adoration that's rarely witnessed at gigs, for Devin evidently respects and loves his legion of fans as much as they admire him. I get the overwhelming impression that anything played from his vast back catalogue of material would be greeted with equal glee but gems such as 'Physicist' track 'Kingdom', 'Accelerated Evolution' number 'Deadhead', 'Infinity' classic 'Truth', a little bit of 'Ziltoid' battiness with 'By Your Command', and 'Life' from debut solo album 'Ocean Machine: Biomech' are all wise inclusions judging from the rapturous reactions they receive. Pre-encore renditions of 'Earth Day' and the deliriously swing-infused eccentricity of 'Bad Devil' are more than welcome tonight - both are embraced with huge cheers by an incessantly enthusiastic audience. An obligatory few moments off stage follow before Devin and co return with a trio of tracks - two further bursts of 'Ziltoid' metal with 'Color Your World' and 'The Greys' before sublime 'Terria' masterpiece 'Deep Peace' complete with its effective slow build-up, mellow break-down, then the technically proficient, captivating neo-classical lead guitar parts and final burst of emotionally driven outro heaviness. When all exit the stage once again, ubiquitous shouts for more are rewarded by one final return of the DTP for the up tempo joviality of probably one of the best titled songs known to modern man, 'Bend It Like Bender!'...well, after two false starts and more amusing banter with the crowd. As cheesy as it sounds to write, the perfect end to a perfect gig. Sound-wise, what's come forth from the PA speakers has not been entirely pristine the entire night, but that barely matters with a show as absorbing and transcendently entertaining as Devin's, one of the most innovatory artists making music in the twenty first century. An awesome performance.
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