LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: DEVO in Boston, MA (05.09.25)
Last night in Boston, a torrential downpour threatened to dampen spirits, but for the fans of DEVO, nothing—not even a deluge—could stop the energy that pulsed through the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. The show started 30 minutes late, not due to technical issues, but simply because fans were still pouring in, raincoats and all, eager to witness the legendary new wave pioneers in action.
By the time the lights dimmed, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd, averaging in their mid-50s, was a living testament to the band’s enduring legacy. Many donned the iconic red energy domes—DEVO’s unmistakable headgear—grinning beneath them as the rain outside continued to pour. Despite the weather, the mood was jubilant and celebratory, a shared communal joy among fans who’d waited decades—or even just since the last tour—for a night like this.
The show opened with a long, surreal intro featuring the infamous “Rod Rooter” video, followed by a rapid-fire montage of their classic music video visuals—a perfect sensory build-up that blurred the lines between absurdist satire and cultural commentary, a DEVO hallmark. As the band took the stage, it was impossible not to be struck by their vitality. Clad in matching performance gear, they looked remarkably fit and stylish—still razor-sharp in both sound and presence.
Keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh was a highlight of the night—jumping, bouncing, and bounding across the stage with youthful exuberance that belied his age. His frenetic energy set the tone, and when lead singer Gerald Casale emerged, the band launched straight into the explosive opener “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man).” It was a bold, unrelenting start, and it worked.
From there, they tore through fan favorites “Peek-a-Boo!” and “Going Under,” each song more electrifying than the last. The audience—drenched from the outside but glowing from within—was fully immersed.
About five songs into the set, Casale paused to ceremonially don the famous energy dome. With a sly grin, he asked the crowd, “Are you ready to whip it?” The response was thunderous. As the unmistakable intro to “Whip It” began, phones lit up the hall like a constellation of devotion. The moment was pure fan ecstasy.
The rest of the set was a blur of charged performances, strange interludes, and vintage footage that underscored DEVO’s unique place in music history—not just as performers but as performance artists, provocateurs, and prophets of the postmodern age. Their commentary on conformity, technology, and culture has aged startlingly well, especially in an era where those themes feel more relevant than ever.
As the show wound down and the band took their final bows, the storm still raged—in the form of adrenaline, joy, and the kind of timeless resonance only a band like DEVO can deliver.
For those who braved the rain and showed up to commune with the Church of DEVO, it wasn’t just a concert—it was a joyful, defiant celebration of weirdness, resilience, and enduring art.
Photos – DEVO at MGM Music Hall in Boston, MA on May 9th:
