Devo, photo by Stevo Rood.

Over the weekend, The B-52s and Devo blew through Los Angeles with Cosmic De-Evolution staging two shows in their first-ever co-headline tour at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 18 and 19. For the latest performances in their 11-stop series of shared bills, the two legendary offbeat New Wave outfits traded headline sets that highlighted their shared sensibility and singular sounds. Both shows began with an opening performance from fellow ‘80s synth-rock outsider Lene Lovich.

As Cosmic De-Evolution extends both groups’ concurrent farewell tours, sets from Hollywood Bowl had a retrospective tone, glossing the bands’ greatest hits with largely the same setlists they’ve carried across the country since September. However, both The B-52s and Devo made points of bringing some unexpected material for the famed venue, respectively adding tour debuts of “Roam” and a Booji Boy-helmed “Beautiful World” during their nights in the closing slot. 

The B-52s began their long goodbye back in 2022, when a formal farewell tour launched a new chapter of rare and rewarding appearances as festival headliners–including North to Shore Festival, Mosswood Meltdown and Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song–and in their extended residency at Las Vegas’ Venetian Theatre. In 2023, Devo announced their bell lap with the 50 Years of De-Evolution tour, which, as of now, will come to a close with a Nov. 15 performance in Saint Paul, Minn. In a release, founding members of both groups praised their peers and voiced anticipation for the outing ahead.

“When we first came from Athens to New York City to perform, punk was in full force,” Kate Pierson reflected, “and New Wave was right on its tail! We loved all the New Wave groups, including Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones. We also really dug the far-out weirdness of Devo, which seemed very in tuned to our sensibilities. We remember one of our first shows–amazed that David Bowie, Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, Allen Ginsberg, Talking Heads and Blondie all came to see us!  When we opened the Mudd Club, we partied with Devo and really hit it off on the dance floor. Later, Brian Eno went on to to produce Devo’s incredible first album…and now we will align again! So put on your wig hats and Devo bonnets and get ready to party! This is going to be wild.”

“The B-52s had one of the best sounds of any of the bands out there in the late 70’s early 80’s,” Mark Mothersbaugh said. “‘Rock Lobster’ is one of my favorite songs – DEVO used to sing it to Booji Boy after DEVO shows. It was either fate or luck or the SNL anniversary that brought us all together to create this amazing chance to go out on tour. All I can say is Cosmic Devolution is REAL!”

Get an inside look at the Hollywood Bowl performances in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Stevo Rood. Find tickets for Cosmic De-Evolution at clubdevo.com and theb52s.com.