IoMP 52: We Saw Devin Townsend at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

It’s concert review week! On this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom break down their experience seeing Devin Townsend and TesseracT live at the newly renovated Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto. The venue impressed with its sleek, modern design and solid acoustics—though the sky-high prices on pizza and beer left a bad taste. Security was on point—maybe too on point—as they were ID’d twice and even got a pre-show warning about closed fists in the pit.The night opened with TesseracT, a band neither host had heard before. Their set blended metalcore aggression with proggy complexity, but suffered from a rough mix early on. Tom was more intrigued, while Collin was less sold—calling out the band’s lack of crowd interaction and weak promotion for their latest album War of Being. Still, the musicianship had its moments, including a surprise slap guitar segment.Everything shifted when Devin Townsend took the stage. He opened with a fake-out Muppets intro before launching into “PowerNerd,” instantly leveling up the crowd’s energy. The hosts found themselves headbanging with full force—Tom blown away by live Strapping Young Lad material, and Collin riding a wave of nostalgia. Devin’s personality, the band’s tightness, and the crystal-clear mix made for an unforgettable performance.The only downside? The merch table. Devin’s selection was limited to two shirts, priced at a steep $55, while TesseracT offered more variety. Still, despite a few hiccups, the guys agreed: it was a damn near perfect night for the metal duo.Check out more from Collin!https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/Check out more from Tom!https://themetalrobot.com/https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviewshttps://www.facebook.com/theMetalRobothttps://x.com/theMetalRobothttps://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/-----------------------------DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.