The main act of the day was all done and packed up, but that didn’t mean the party was over. Everybody’s favourite Canadian superhero, Devin Townsend, was set to rock the Hades stage until it couldn’t take anymore, and we were there to help out.

“My name is Devin Townsend, and we’re known for having 100% less pyro than Kiss!”
- Devin Townsend (vocals/guitar)

This time around, it wasn’t the Project or the Band that visited us, it was plain old DevinTownsend - well, as plain as you’d get with this spectacular man.
Maybe that was the reason for the toned down stage show, which was pretty much black and barren, except for a nice light show - and that large rainbow guitar of his.
As per always, Townsend didn’t restrict himself to playing songs from the specific incarnation he was touring with, but gladly mixed in tracks from all shades of his existence. As such, the show kicked off with the DTP cover Failure - an interesting title to open with, but a sweet song nonetheless. This wasn’t the biggest surprise though, that came in the middle and at the very end of the set, where - if you’ll excuse the jump ahead - Townsend and his friends played first Aftermath and then Love? by Strapping Young Lad!
Strapping Young Lad, one of Townsend’s first musical outputs, started back in ‘94, and was finally staked to the grave in ‘07, and even though the band’s songs does show up once in a while, they are still to be considered a rare sight, and they haven’t been present at any of the shows I’ve seen before.

“Are you ready?! (yeah!) Why?! I mean, cool!”
- Townsend (vocals/guitar)

Something that didn’t exactly come as a surprise, although still a pleasant realisation, was how lit the Danish fans were for this concert. Festivals are a different beast, and this was late night, after the main act. Still, people showed up in droves, and there was no visible shortage of energy to pull from!
Having a charismatic and funny artist such as Townsend leading the party is of course a good incentive, but I think the festival in general was just in a great mood and ready for more - which is exactly what they got. Nine songs, lots of jokes, and most important of all, presence. This is something we keep returning to with Townsend, and it is not only because he is so consistently bringing the goods, but because it is shockingly often bands and artists overlook this one aspect of a gig, so when it finally, really happens, such as here, it feels like such a blessing.

“I may look like a condom full of lard, but I’m a romantic fuck!”
- Townsend (vocals/guitar)

As we once again reach the end of the show, which we touched on at the top of the review, Townsend and the rest delivered a super trio of songs, widely diverse and perfectly picked and ordered.
Third to last, we got Deep Peace, a lovely power ballad of sorts, which was enhanced by the entire crowd pulling out their mobile flashlights. Following this came the immensely funny and catchy March Of The Poozers, and as mentioned, the show was finally brought to an end by the crushingly heavy Love?.
I can honestly say, I don’t know how this could have gone down any better. This was another clear win for Devin Townsend, and a perfect way to end the day.

Setlist:

Failure (Devin Townsend Project cover)
Kingdom
By Your Command
Aftermath (Strapping Young Lad cover)
Regulator
Deadhead (Devin Townsend Project cover)
Deep Peace
March Of The Poozers
Love? (Strapping Young Lad cover)