Justin Nuoffer
Devin Townsend
Milwaukee Metal Fest – 5/17/25
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
As direct support for the night, Devin Townsend made his way to Milwaukee on his Powernerd tour. The guitar virtuoso and his unique brand of metal were something unexpected to have been announced for the festival, yet perfect. The Canadian guitar god is making his way around North America, and why not hit this festival? His history is well-known, and his online presence is direct and playful, plus the guy rips.
With the entire Eagles Ballroom packed full of people, the legendary guitarist and songwriter Devin Townsend strolled out to the stage and greeted fans. Not only did his band accompany him, but the festival’s owner and mastermind, Jamey Jasta, followed him out. The crowd chanted “Devin” over and over. Balloons and beach balls are flying all over. Townsend screams, “You ready, boys?” as they tear into the intro to “Powernerd.” Jasta then screams, “Powernerd!” and off they went.
The mood was almost celebratory. Knowing that this is his last US tour, everything was just that much more amplified. As always, “Powernerd” was an enjoyable way to introduce himself to those finally getting their first and last chance to see him live. The setlist was short but packed full of amazing tunes.
In his third song, he busted out a Strapping Young Lad song. Before playing “Love,” he asked, “This is a metal fest, right?” That is perhaps the best part of going to see him perform. His commentary isn’t scripted and is full of attitude and humor. Every break, he had commentary for the fans, and the reactions were always positive. “Dimensions” featured a theremin that Townsend was using mostly out of amusement. His ability to be serious while goofing off along the way is unmatched.
Moving along, another Strapping Young Lad track came along. The fans lost their minds when “Aftermath” was the selection. Again, Devin’s history is a long, winding one that brings all sorts of fans out of the woodwork, and he’s not afraid to honor that past.
The pure genius as a songwriter shone brightly, but “By Your Command” put the notion over the top. With the ability to show the range of his vocals on the song, he took full advantage. For nearly eight minutes, he delivered a masterpiece that was an adventure and a metal show tune all in one. His control over the crowd was in full grasp. With every command, they followed his lead. Waving hands in the air throughout. This was next level, and it didn’t stop there. Townsend unloaded all he had, screaming his way through “Truth,” and the circle pit raged harder than before.
The buildup came to the final song of the night, and Townsend said, ”This is our last song, and it’s a dance party because I know it’s a metal fest, right? The only genre that dances worse than metal is polka; you know that, right? You with me? Here we go. It’s the shittiest dance party of the year!” The upbeat and odd timing of “Bad Devil” overtook the Milwaukee crowd, and Townsend did his comedic talking over the top.
Again, if you were unfamiliar with the legend of Devin Townsend, you are well aware now. His quirks and genius are the best part of his live show, and to think he is walking away at the top of his game is a hard reality to ingest.
If you take anything away from this performance, it is that Townsend is a master of his craft and knows how to get at people’s emotions. Safe to say he blew some minds and made some new fans. The packed ballroom never waned in size. Milwaukee came out to see this show and walked out feeling fulfilled. The sound was perfect, and the visuals were simple. There was nothing more one could ask for. Raging and laughing. Signature Townsend.
Check out the Devin Townsend concert photo gallery below:
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