Live: Devo, B52s, Rezillos, Lene Lovich at Manchester Arena

Bit of an unusual one for me. I'm normally more inclined to check out less established bands in smaller venues but, having missed the opportunity to see Devo when they were in the UK a couple of years ago, I was keen to put it right.

I'd always found the others on the bill appealing too and they certainly didn't disappoint. The B52s played most of the tracks from their debut album, the Rezillos fizzed on stage with the infectious energy they always brought and Lene Lovich was delightfullly eccentric, as you'd hope and expect.

But Devo's stagecraft is something else all together. They're sharing top-billing with the B52s on this tour and tonight it was their turn to finish the night off. Sadly, a lot of those who'd come to see the Georgians chose to bugger off, denying themselves the chance to see a band whose originality has never paled since Are We Not Men? dropped 48 years ago. 

The holding together of their unique musical philosophy during that time has been almost as remarkable as their ability to continue sounding as fresh as ever. Finishing off against a backdrop of a desecrated American flag and an emboldened 'Fight the Power motif, what they do and how they do it has never felt more important.