Myles Kennedy, Devin Townsend – O2 Academy, Manchester: Live Review

By Mike Ainscoe on 29th November 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Myles Kennedy, Devin Townsend – O2 Academy, Manchester – Wednesday 27th November 2024

myles kennedy

Myles Kennedy returns to the kingdom. He has Devin Townsend in tow and it’s his birthday. The promo posters declare ‘My birthday extravaganza’ and Devin has already worked the crowd up into celebratory frenzy with kazoos and hats. “Blowers and hats that way,” the audience is told as they enter the Academy. “You can’t go in without one!“

With no grand fanfare, the house lights remain up as Myles ambles on stage, accompanied by drummer Zia Uddin positioned strangely in the far corner of the stage and bassist/manager Tim Tournier. They take up their places in front of a backdrop of the washed out blues and reds of the new album art that might appear flowery yet the skulls and tentacles suggest something a little more sinister.

Launching into the title track of the The Art Of Letting Go album, and its fist pumping “hey! hey!” hollering the Hard Rock trio vibe of the new album gets reinforced with Nothing More To Gain. However, as he launches into a guitar noodle at the start of Devil On The Wall, he’s in for a surprise, stopped in his tracks as he asks “what is that noise!?” Of course, Manchester has been thoroughly briefed by Devin Townsend and knows that any quiet moments signal the furious blowing of massed kazoos. Best laid plans and all; Manchester takes over for a chorus of Happy Birthday and lets Myles finish the song before the cake and candles appears with speech from DT and we’re off and running.

He’s a humble guy is Myles and he’s certainly touched by the warmth of the Manchester crowd. Whether or not it inspires him to greater heights, who can tell as he’s not one to visibly or demonstratively let go. Naturally, The Art Of Letting Go weighs heavily in what follows. The heavier side one that he’s explored in his songwriting, not only solo but with Alter Bridge on Pawns & Kings. Saving Face and certainly with the extended guitar part on Behind The Veil see the guitar right up front in the trio format. No disguising or easing back on the guitar-ing in this format.

The acoustic guitar comes out mid set for a slight diversion from the solo material. There’s what we believe is a tour debut – lucky Manchester – for The Mayfield Four’s White Flag and it’s also an opportunity to throw in something from the day job immediately acknowledged with the “If I could ease your mind…” opening line. Some might argue that Myles is at his best armed with just the acoustic guitar. Love Can Only Heal follows suit and is testament to the school of thought of how it’s shorn of the overblown rock and roll trappings yet is more effective for it. Like Chris Cornell branching from Soundgarden and dropped into and in a more intimate setting – ie, these Academies rather than the arenas he populates with Alter Bridge – it works an every level.

The finale is reserved for a dip into the Ides Of March and Year Of The Tiger albums. The familiarity of oldies keep up the momentum with the rollicking feelgood bounce of In Stride bringing a close to a set that’s been heavy on inspirational patches and bereft of filler. Heavy too on the feelgood factor that live music continues to deliver. No false promises or hopes, but a pure rush of unpretentious geniality delivered by Devin and Myles – two lovely fellas you’d always root for.

DEVIN TOWNSEND

Devin Townsend on support!? Getting in early is a no brainer. Given their mutual admiration, it’s maybe no surprise to see DT joining Myles on the handful of UK gigs, taking a break from working on The Moth and giving his voice an outing. He admits he’s not sung for quite some time so it could go anywhere, a bit like his glasses do when they make a bid for freedom during a particularly intense part of the set.

He delivers a set that’s part stand up part therapy, peppered with soft toys and belches. His main mission seems to be to instruct Manchester on how to celebrate with Myles in between a selection of musical items. The script calls for Kazoos in the quiet bits, which is rehearsed and mastered efficiently and effectively. For those old enough to recall, Manchester Academy is briefly transformed into the Sooty & Sweep show. They even set up a rhythm and dynamics although he demands a moments peace for Bring Him Home from Les Mis. That’s all after a start which sees the regular Hevy Devy acoustic opening gambit Let It Roll; all ringing guitar lines and his “come on in, don’t be a stranger” opening line sending a few chills (not accounting for the seasonally icy weather).

“Do you want happy or quiet, sad. Or Deadhead?” he later asks. Spotting a limit on his time slot he turns in a medley where he veers into bits and pieces that include Hyperdrive and the “tell me there’s another” majesty (on acoustic guitar) of Lightworker. It’s all delightfully shambolic yet typically riveting in a way that only Devin can be and very much in setting the tone and in keeping with the party nature of the evening.