Hey folx, Lurkey here!

Just got back from NYC where I saw the aforementioned bands play in the afuckingforementioned park.

The show was so hot it made me wet. Literally!

Everyone put away their umbrellas in a most considerate fashion when openers Stellastarr* took the stage. The audience got uncomplainingly drenched for the remainder of their set. While I have heard they're named after a PJ Harvey song, their was nothing at all of the chanteuse in their music, which leans toward 80's modern rock, with a 90's alt-rock stage presence to de-retro-fy it slightly. Whatever, you guys aren't reading this to hear about Stellastarr*, but anyway to sum it up, they're derivative, yes (Psychedelic Furs, The Cure), but in a pleasant, ultra-catchy way.

Ok, on to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who really impressed the Lurk. Singer (term used loosely) Karen O. showed up dressed for the weather in a multicolored day glo one-piece swimsuit, augmented by a clear plastic poncho. The guitarist did his best polite Keith Richards impression and the drummer was just, kinda, there. But the O did it up right, adding zest to a bunch of mid-tempo boilers that served mostly to display her confidence and style as a consummate frontwoman. My advice? Check em out. I plan to revisit their albums now that I feel like I can connect with the material. The live show is bangin! At one point K. O. tore through her poncho while screaming like it burned and I almost popped Lurkeywood. Fuck! Girl ain't human.

By the time the lights went down for the DEVO show, we were almost dried out and Karen O. had taunted the rain gods numerous times. We got to see stupid fucking Clear Channel employees adjusting the video parameters for about half an hour with their dumbass, non-windows-understanding folly. Eventually, they arrived a satisfactory setting and the torment was over. It was time for the return of DEVO, their first show in Central Park in 25 years! General Boy came onscreen to introduce the concert, dispensing such advice as, "Don't get burned by a spud or spudette holding a lit cigarette." This was vintage material, straight off the "Truth about De-Evolution" DVD compilation. Then we were treated to a montage of memorable DEVO moments from all of their videos, as the synth riff to "That's Good" built to a climax. The screen lifted, and the 5 pioneers who got scalped bolted onstage, in the classic garb of yellow jumpsuits and red energy dome helmets. DEVO really had returned!

They rocked That's "Good and Girl U Want" before launching into an inspired rendition of "Whip It" (you know, the Swiffer commercial song). The band looked hale and game for rocking all night. Mark Mothersbaugh was his animated self, not missing a single robotic illustration of the band's wry lyrics. Especially focused was his brother Bob 1, who tore through his guitars with a vengeance. It was like he had been practicing all through the 90's, waiting for his band to call upon him to rock anew. His riffs sounded as fresh as they were first recorded. The Casale brothers kept up on bass, guitar, and keys, greatly aided by the solid presence of biz go-to drummer Josh Freese. Jerry seemed most pumped as he repeatedly called out the Bush administration and the current stifling political climate as proof of de-evolution! Halfway through the set, he singsonged, "It's getting hot in herre, gonna take off all my clothes" as the band, following Karen O's example, ripped their jumpsuits to pieces, revealing black DEVO shorts and t-shirts underneath. Gross!

All was to be forgiven, however, as the band continued to deliver a classic set, never hitting a lame note. They played their angular cover of the Stones' "Satisfaction," "Gut Feeling," "Gates of Steel," "Uncontrollable Urge," "Mongoloid," "Blockhead" and more! My favorite was "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" I must have looked like one of those spuds in an 80's DEVO vid to that song, with my untrimmed mop flailing and cheesy raincoat rippling with delight. We shall see, as the whole event was being taped for a special on New York's ABC 7. "Jocko Homo" was a crowd pleaser, with Mark goading the crowd to scream ape sounds along with the ancient art-school milestone. When the band left the stage, everyone screamed for more. Of course DEVO returned for an encore - "Freedom of Choice!" What an awesome song.

For the grand finale, the baby-faced Booji Boy himself took the mic for a powerhouse reading of "Beautiful World." His microphone was attached to a weird little keyboard. They broke the song down to just a beat, and Booji Boy gave a shout-out to NYC in his disturbing falsetto. Then he demonstrated his musical prowess, riffing away on his little keyboard to everyone's delight. "That's just in case you though we hadn't learned anything new in the past 20 years," he gloated. The band resumed their encore of "Beautiful World," and, just as Booji Boy shouted, "But! Not! For! Me!" the sky let loose a torrential dousing that seemed to come from nowhere. Having truly devolved, the crowd let out a collective simian whoop and ran for the gates.

Rating: 5