The B-52’s, Devo, and Lene Lovich: what a perfect triple bill.
Seeing the three in a row at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto was a blast. However, the disorganized, convoluted process of getting into the venue, along with other deeply frustrating BudStage-related stuff early on kicked the night off on a bad note.
However, the music was excellent and turned the mood around. Also, we were 100% due to get absolutely poured on and, miraculously, the rain avoided us until some time after the show had finished.
Lene is now in her mid-70s and, incredibly, still has the full range of her voice. She sounds exactly like she did back in the late 70s/80s. I knew she was going to do her signature tune, “Lucky Number”, but wondered how she would fare with the “uh-oo-ee-uh” bit of vocal gymnastics that is the song’s hook. She pulled it off perfectly. I really enjoyed her set, I only wish it could have been longer.
Lene takes flight (photos and gif by VA unless otherwise noted)
This was also my first time seeing Devo and wow, what a performance! Devo are as much about conceptual art as being a band, and the audio/visual components of their set was exceptional. They sounded great too. Steve and I both thought Mark Mothersbaugh now could be Steve Martin’s brother.
Devo’s set was musically and visually excellent.
The B-52s are my favourite of the three, and I’ve been a fan of everything they’ve done since their 1979 debut. That album was THE soundtrack to my summer of ’79. And I’ve got all the others and there’s not one clunker in the bunch. Quality over quantity.
This was my third time seeing them: first at Heatwave in 1980 and then at Ottawa Bluesfest in 2010. This third time was excellent as well. They also performed some interesting deep cuts I had never heard them play before, such as “Mesopotamia” (love those harmonies) and “Whammy Kiss.”
(photo from Facebook)
As with Lene, Kate Pierson still has the full range of her voice. As for Cindy Wilson, her higher range is intact although she struggled at times with her lower range: the opposite of what a lot of other singers go through as they age.
I particularly enjoyed the large, dancing lobster that came out on stage at the end of “Rock Lobster.” It also brought to mind for me Lobstora, from John Water’s Multiple Maniacs. However, The B’s lobster seemed much friendlier than the huge, paper mache one who assaulted Divine in said film.
Above: Divine and the evil Lobstora in John Waters’ Multiple Maniacs (1970); Below: The B-52’s far friendlier Rock Lobster.
It has now been announced that the trio are taking the show over to the UK this summer for a couple of dates, now with added Rezillos (they would have been amazing to see here as well.)
A big YES to such a keen triple bill. But a big BOO to the Budweiser Stage. The disorganization there was such a big buzzkill to the early evening, but luckily the tunes turned that around. Would think twice about re-attending this venue.
Big thanks to Jim Capel for driving us there and back, especially during the huge downpour we ran into on the way home. And thanks, Penny, for the great conversation. All 6 of us had a swell time.
Luckily, none of us interacted with a coyote that was running around the emptied parking lot after the show!
Click through for my entries on seeing The B’s at the Heatwave Festival in 1980 and at Ottawa Bluesfest in 2010.
NEXT SNAPSHOT: Broken Social Scene, probably my favourite band of the noughties, return to London. It was the 7th time I’d seen them, my first time seeing them here, and my first time in 15 years.
SNAPSHOTS 217. Broken Social Scene, London Music Hall, London, Ontario, Canada, Friday October 3, 2025.
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