Miles Ellenberg caught The Great Misdirect Tour in Atlanta. 

Between the Buried and Me – The Great Misdirect Tour
 
I’ve seen Between The Buried and Me three times before this tour, and I’ve noticed a big difference in the overall atmosphere during their set depending on the supporting acts.  When they play with hardcore bands, the average age of the crowd is no higher than 19 years old, and the combination of the excessive hardcore-dancing and young age seems to bring out the more “hardcore” side of the band, or at least make them appear that way.  On the current tour, with supporting acts Scale The Summit, The Devin Townsend Project, and Cynic, I felt that there was a different type of respect for the music.  This time around there was more focus on the actual music – like watching an opera.  Scale The Summit is completely instrumental with time signatures too dynamic to dance to if you don’t have their songs memorized, and the almighty Devin Townsend brought out a lot of old-school metal heads.  Let’s not forget Cynic, too, one of the few bands worthy of the description “jazz-metal”.  Don’t get me wrong – there were still plenty of scene youngsters who wanted to show off their best spin-kicks in the pit, which was fully alive for every band except Scale The Summit, but the overall interest of the crowd was in the talent on the stage.

Starting off the night was Scale the Summit, an instrumental progressive metal band from Houston, Texas.  The venue was almost full by the end of their act, and they had the entire crowd focused in a trance that lasted throughout the set.  It was obvious that most people were unfamiliar with their music, but the increase in applause from one song to the next proved that they converted many new fans.  STS’s songs were all very melodic, and front man Jordan Eberhardt played his six-string bass faster than most people play guitar.  Most riffs consisted of two of the three string players (two guitars and one bass) harmonizing while the third was soloing or playing a melody on top of the other two.  They’re not the type of metal that makes you want to punch a hole through the wall; their songs were all beautiful and intriguing.  It’s amazing how much of a story they can tell without words.  You’ll want to tap your hand against your leg and nod your head, but it won’t be long until a time change comes and messes you up.

 Next up was The Devin Townsend Project, which had a large body of fans at the show.  Devin Townsend has played in numerous bands and is known for his song-writing and work as a producer.  Unfamiliar with his music but encouraged by the fans, I moved a little closer to the stage before he came on.  Wearing what he referred to as a cheap suit, he struck me as a metal version of Frank Zappa.  During and between songs he would make hilarious comments and make funny faces at the crowd.  His set was epic, and the group even played one song with the click-track from a sample because Devin admitted that he screwed it up.  Being the band’s second show and first time playing that song, they weren’t embarrassed; instead they mocked the click-track’s counting voice and the fans joined along.

Cynic took the stage in a relaxed manner, and a general sense of calmness stayed with them throughout their show.  Guitarist and lead-vocalist Paul Masvidal spent most of the show staring off into space or into his guitar doing nothing more than smiling - and who can blame him?  Cynic’s music is heavy and brutal at times, but they don’t hold back on slow parts and incorporating jazz elements.  They played many songs off their newest album, Traced in Air, for which most vocals are sang through a vocoder, making the lyrics a bigger piece of the music.  Occasional growls and screaming came from the rhythm guitarist, but the robotic voice added the most to the quartet, giving off a futuristic sound.

Now whether you’re a die-hard fan or you’ve never heard them before, you’ll be satisfied if you stick around to hear Between the Buried and Me.  I will say that if you’re just trying to check out the band and the music, step back a little because with three good openers, this crowd was pumped!  I started off near the front right, and within no more than 10 seconds I went to the stage left, stage right, back of the pit, and somehow on the far left of the crowd.  If getting pushed and crushed isn’t for you, don’t be scared – simple stay back.  I quickly did so myself, and that’s when I realized how good it was to have the supporting acts.  With 15 minute songs like “Swim to the Moon”, veteran songwriters Between the Buried and Me don’t waste a second.  Every riff plays a part in the story, and if listened to correctly can bring tears of glory to one.  Now for Between the Buried and Me fans, whether you’ve just heard a few songs off the new album or you refuse to buy anything that came after their self-titled album, this isn’t a show to miss.  I don’t want to spoil the set-list, but let’s just say you get to hear a bit of everything.  Obviously they played songs from The Great Misdirect (their 2009 album) as well as Colors, but in Atlanta they busted out gems from both Alaska and their first album (self-titled).
Key notes:  get to the show in time for the openers!  If you like any of the bands playing, you will like the others.  Trust me.  And if you don’t like going to metal shows because you normally have to stand at the back to stay untouched and on your feet, this isn’t the case here.  Cynic and Devin Townsend brought an older, mature crowd, and each band’s music will draw you in like you’re tripping at a Zeppelin concert in 1970.  This concert was a mental experience, and the lineup was somewhat diverse but appropriate to say the least.