Event:	Devin Townsend: UK Tour
Written by:	Baz Anderson
Published:	17.11.2011
Galleries:	Devin Townsend - Acoustic Show - Sheffield, England, 16th November 2011 by Baz Anderson (15)

Bands go on tour; they play new songs, some old songs, people leave with some cool memories. That's the general touring routine of a band and fan on tour. Once in a while however, something different, something quite special comes along and gives you a night to remember for a long, long time.




The venue was only half filled, and the stage empty aside from one microphone, a chair and guitar pedals. Admittedly wiped out from his four straight shows in London the previous days, Devin was still due to take the stage, alone, for a two hour acoustic show.


Devin walked on the stage and started talking to the audience, it soon became clear that there would be no structure to this show as he asked the audience to shout out song requests of any of his material. This was already no ordinary show, but the Sheffield audience were about to be entertained by "a night with Devin" consisting of his extremely endearing and humorous personality, and various acoustic interpretations of songs sometimes made up on the spot.

Unfortunately the venue was extremely dark and Devin was slightly ill, but the magic of the occasion ruled overall. With the setlist in the audience's hands, tonight's show contained numerous old songs, some that haven't been played in over ten years like "Funeral", and some that have never been played at all, such as the wonderful "Thing Beyond Things" also from his debut. The set included an amusing song written at twelve years old called "Roadkill" and other old relics such as "Christeen", but Devin was also willing to experiment with some newer songs.


The night had a really great atmosphere, as if we were all relaxing with a friend. Consistently very funny, Devin also gave a synopsis of most of the songs he played. "Juular", a misspelling of the word "jugular", sounded pretty bizarre acoustically, "Vampira" seemed to work reasonably, but the Strapping Young Lad song "Love?" blatantly did not work at all. Still, some songs did work extremely well such as "Deep Peace", even though the guitar solo middle-section didn't come out perfectly. Closing the diverse set "Life" also sounded just great, a set as diverse as this will probably never see the light of day again.

The set although musically a little one directional, as is inevitable with two hours of acoustic songs, was thoroughly enjoyable and a fantastic insight to the mind of this genius. Almost feeling bad that his slightly ill-state had prevented the show from being better, as soon as he finished the set he was down in and among the audience signing items and meeting people. This man is absolutely genuine in what he does, and even aside from his jokes and funny side, proved that even without a band - with only an acoustic guitar and a microphone, he can entertain an audience for two hours. Incredible.



Setlist: Let It Roll / Funeral / Ih-Ah! / Thing Beyond Things / Deadhead / Hyperdrive / Sunday Afternoon / Juular / Noisy Pink Bubbles / Vampira / Roadkill / Fall / Solar Winds / Deep Peace / Love? / Christeen / Disruptr / Kawaii / Life