Devours

Last weekend was the release party for Devours’ new album, Sports Car Era. My first concert of the year!

Devours was the second opening act at the Man on Man concert I went to in 2023. I’d never heard of him before. He took the stage by himself, wearing a glittering coat over a dress; played moody electronic dance music and sang; and won me over.

My favourite song of his (which he probably played that night) is “Jacuzzi My Stonewall”. It’s about gay rights, of course — you can tell that from the name — but it’s ambivalent about mainstream acceptance and corporatization¹. Then the outtro kicks in at 1:54, and the groove becomes melancholy while the dancing twinks of introspection vogue. I love it.

So, concert! It was at the Rickshaw Theatre. Here’s a picture I took after the doors opened.

The opening act was hardcore punk band called PISS. Their singer was dressed up like a little girl, with pig tails and a tatter white dress, and she screamed songs about sexual assault and rape while the band wailed on their instruments. Not my thing, but respect.

If you’re curious, you can watch them perform under the Oak St Bridge.

The next act was Maneater. Guitar rock with male and female vocalists: This was much more my jam. Check ‘em out on Bandcamp.

And finally, Devours. He (and an actual drummer!) performed the new album in its entirety, then a few other songs to close out the night.

Good show!

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Original tweets: https://mstdn.ca/@nigelsezyarr/114131229894338247

(Apologies for the shoddy picture quality. My phone did its best, but you’re not meant to use digital zoom in the dark.)