By Ryan O’Malley Holmdel NJ
Music is an art that will forever have as many sub-genres as there are birds in the sky. Out of all those genres, the one that may be hardest to define will be new wave. Is it techno? Kind of. Is it rock? In some ways. Whatever it is, few bands have defined the genre quite as well as the B-52s and the poster children for flower pot hats, Devo, who joined forces for the “Cosmic De-Evolution Tour” which touched down at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on October 4.
As part of the package tour, Lene Lovich, a 76 year-old founder of the British New Wave scene, brought her current band along for a brief 20 minute set. Besides her band sounding superbly tight on cuts like “Savages,” “Joan,” and “Home,” Lovich’s stage show is captivating due to her outfit choices and her eccentric head wear that is some sort of knockoff of a Medusa inspired piece. Following her brief set, pop-synth darlings Devo kicked off a super fun hour long set with “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man),” and “Peek-A-Boo!” Right from the start, the band sounded well-rehearsed and firing on all engines, with lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh sounding as fine as ever.
Combined with the video screen visuals, choreographed stage maneuvers, and just overall trippy, spacey, music, a Devo concert takes on a life of its own in terms of absurdity eventually leading to moments of celebration. Albeit a celebration of devolving. Their music will always be used as a defining example of new wave, and like most new wave bands, the general populous knows one or two songs. In Devo’s case, it’s the smash hit “Whip It,” which received worldwide notoriety in the 1980’s and made the band a staple on MTV with the song’s off-the-wall video and the band’s use of flower pots as hats. If people thought the fad wouldn’t last, Devo flower pot hats were for sale at the official merchandise stand, and several hundred were being worn in the crowd. In 2025. Maybe Devo was right, and we have officially devolved.
The rest of the band’s set included gems like “Blockhead,” “Mongoloid,” and “Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA,” and had some great theatrics on stage coming from bassist/keyboardist Gerald Casale and lead guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh, both of whom – like Mark Mothersbaugh – are all in their mid to late 70’s. In a testament to how well put together a Devo show is, you would never guess the guys ages by watching the joy they have when in front of a crowd.
DEVO Setlist:
Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)
Peek-A-Boo!
Going Under
That’s Good
Girl U Want
Whip It
Planet Earth
Carl Sagan Video
Uncontrollable Urge
Blockhead
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
Gates of Steel
DEVO Corporate Anthem
Freedom of Choice
Following the heavy political number “Freedom of Choice,” Devo left the stage for the zany new wave pioneers from Athens, Georgia, The B-52s. Walking out in dress wear accented by an electric yellow shirt and shoes, front man Fred Schneider launched the band into a jumpy “Cosmic Thing,” with co-vocalists Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson delivering the song’s energetic screams in the beginning. It was a perfect way to get the crowd’s attention and have people dancing.
Wilson lead the outfit through a frantic “Give Me Back My Man,” a song that sounds almost more like a surf-rock number than a new wave staple. At 68 years-old, Wilson sounded as bubbly as she did in the 70’s and 80’s and looked nearly the same. Speaking of ages, 77 year-old Pierson is something to behold. Yes, her iconic fire red hair is still there and most times up in a weave, but also still there is her incredible voice. A perfect example being their mainstream hit “Roam,” where Pierson was still able to let her voice slip into a high falsetto for part of the song’s chorus. When the first chorus comes around, you expect it to be a different because of age and just basic vocal issue, but Pierson delivers a homerun every time.
The ending segment of the band’s set is basically a non-stop celebration of the genre they helped create, with some of their more recognizable numbers including “Private Idaho,” and the 80’s anthem, “Love Shack.” If there is ever one guarantee at a B-52s show, it is found in the opening to “Love Shack.” No matter your age, your sex, your race or even your sobriety level, when Schneider says “it’s 15 miles to the…,” it’s more than just Wilson shouting the rest of the line. It’s every single person in the crowd and probably even the food vendors. The set wrapped up with the one-two shot of “Planet Claire,” and the one that started it all, “Rock Lobster,” which brought the night to a lively close.
The fact that new wave can still sell decently well at amphitheaters in 2025 is something no one ever anticipated. But thanks to bands like the B-52s and Devo, the genre found its niche and had mainstream success with music that would have otherwise been missed by millions of people. While both bands only have 60 minute sets on this tour, it may be the best scenario. It shows that both acts are equally as important to helping carry on something no one thought would make it.
the B-52s Setlist:
Cosmic Thing
Mesopotamia
Give Me Back My Man
Strobe Light
52 Girls
Roam
Party Out of Bounds
Dance This Mess Around
Private Idaho
Love Shack
Planet Claire
Rock Lobster
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