The B-52’s/DEVO, Manchester Arena. 21st June 2026

Honestly I’m not really in the right frame of mind for this. It’s hot outside and it’s hot inside and I’d rather be somewhere cool with a nice drink, than in Manchester Arena, that although has its top tier closed, is still pretty chocker. The B-52’s are here though and if that’s not a good reason enough to drag yourself indoors on a lovely Mancunian evening, then I don’t know what is. They are as odd as ever, breaking from a lengthy intro video montage into the spooky sci-fi infected ‘Planet Claire’, with that B-Movie bass and 60s other worldly siren vocal. There’s zero movement in the crowd, but it’s pretty damn cool. The video and stage attire are an explosion of colour, but the energy is a bit flat, which is a real shame. I know what’s happening, everyone’s waiting for that song, but there’s a lot more to The B-52s and they sound really good live on stuff like ‘Mesopotamia’. Cindy takes the vocal for ‘Give Me Back My Man’ and heads start to bob, this is encouraging. A girl in front of me starts to dance wildly. This is what we need. They’re a party band after all, although maybe not the party you thought it was going to be. ‘Topaz’ it’s one of the better tracks from Cosmic Thing, but either it’s too hot or this crowd has a high percentage of miserable bastards who refuse to be impressed by its unashamed positivity. ‘52 Girls’ is much more energetic and hits harder. It’s not like it goes off,  but stuff like this is working better with the indifferent crowd. I really was expecting more of an atmosphere though. What comes next is why I’m here. ‘Roam’ is desert island disc territory for me. It’s absolutely fucking amazing and they sound great, people are dancing, it’s everything I hoped for and more. I could walk out now happy. Kate sounds great, the band behind the focus trip are on point and honestly it’s one of the best things I’ve heard this year. There really should be a way to bottle this. ‘Party Out of Bounds’ is a bit of a break jam after, but it’s batshit enough to keep everyone engaged. Fred in particular looks like he’s enjoying leaning into their outsider I don’t give a fuck attitude with joyful abandon. ‘Dance the Mess Around’ sounds great and they give it some on the darkly brooding ‘Private Idaho’. Not for the only time tonight, they leave me wishing that they had longer than an hour to play. It’s now that time. After Fred introduces everyone, they roll out ‘Love Shack’. Lots of people are out of their seats and it’s undoubtably the highlight for many, it’s a pop banger, but it’s telling how much it stands out in the set as their safest song. Fred hits a cowbell and looks like a mildly amused Alan Carr as they milk it and build the expected audience participation. It’s fun though and at least the whole crowd is finally in to it, but give me what follows any day. It’s ‘6060-842’ and appears to confuse the fuck out of most of the room. I love this song, it’s edgy punk defiance screaming through. This is what this band are about, ‘Love Shack’ is an anomaly. ‘Rock Lobster’ might be the silliest-scariest-coolest song ever. It’s utter insanity and a fitting way to summarise a wonderfully eclectic, totally uncompromising set. The B-52’s really don’t get the respect they deserve.

The lights come up and people adjust, but we’re not done. I’ve kept this quiet this far as I’ve come for The B-52’s, but this is a co-headline tour and tonight, it’s Devo’s turn to close out. This of course explains the abundance of silly hats dotted about and leads me to believe that the second half, after a hydration break, might see this crowd come to life. Oddly, although a few more seats have filled, some have vacated too, although this does now mean I’m not sharing my seat with the guy that was next to me. After they too deploy a video introduction, they explode onto the stage with ‘Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)’. They’re a lot louder and it’s pretty awesome entrance. All in regulation black, they’re a very different prospect, but the intention is clear, hit us hard and relentlessly with electro bangers like ‘Peek-a-Boo!’. There’s no kitsch here, but they’re still quirky. I don’t know them quite as well, but it feels like we’re getting a bit of everything. What’s clear though is on stuff like ‘Going Under’ everything has the mark of some seriously solid live production. They sound pretty incredible. That arty guitar riff has a lot to battle with on ‘That’s Good’ but it rips through and I’ve got admit only a few songs in, I’m totally sold. The hats are on for ‘Girl You Want’ that tees up the crowd pleasing ‘Whip It’. You may think, isn’t this played a little early, but it proves to be a rightly confident choice. The crowd er, whipped up, ‘Planet Earth’ hits the art pop peddle hard and although this still isn’t an overly energetic crowd, the room looks to be having more fun. I know I am. After an intermission to facilitate a costume change to matching yellow jumpsuits, they tear into ‘Uncontrollable Urge’ and I do mean tear! It’s visceral stuff, pure venomous punk, archly delivered as said suits are ripped and torn. We’re in the shredding section with ‘Block Head’ and ‘Mongoloid’, before ‘Are We Not Men? (We Are Devo) dials down the guitars and cranks up the kook. It’s an odd song and truthfully doesn’t really work live, particularly not mid-set. ‘Smart Patrol’ has some beautiful 2D propaganda style graphics that definitely ticks my box. Their set visuals have been really nice, but this stands out. It goes a bit more base as we bleed into ‘Mr DNA’ though. I’ve never seen so many people leave while a band is playing. ‘Gates of Steel’ is a great bulldozing anthem of a song, but the place is emptying like there’s 5 minutes to go to full time. Which there sort of is, but this is as unforgivable as it is whilst watching football. More people shuffle out before the encore. What the hell is going on? Do people not know how gigs work? I know some might be catching trains with it being a Sunday, but this many? It’s bloody odd. Which I suppose could also be a good summery of the evening. They close with ‘Freedom of Choice’ and I’ve got to say, although I came for The B-52’s, it’s Devo who deliver the stronger set. Together though they make a fantastic double bill and it was well worth spending the evening indoors for.