When Fred Schneider swore off tour buses in 2022, nobody expected The B-52’s to hit the road again. Yet here we are, watching two of the new wave’s most influential acts team up for what might be the genre’s ultimate victory lap. The announcement hit music Twitter harder than a vintage Roland TR-808—appropriate, considering both bands helped define the sound that the sample became famous for.
The “Cosmic De-Evolution” tour launches September 24 in Toronto and wraps November 2 in Houston. Just 11 dates that feel both generous and cruelly limited. This isn’t some cash-grab reunion; it’s a meeting of minds that happened organically after both bands shared the stage during SNL’s historic 50th anniversary celebration featuring icons like Cher, Lauryn Hill, and Snoop Dogg.
Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh admits fate brought them together, while Schneider calls it “an extraordinary opportunity we couldn’t say no to.” Translation: Even legends recognize when the algorithm of the universe delivers something this perfect.
The venue choices tell the real story. Hollywood Bowl, Jones Beach Theater, Shoreline Amphitheatre—these aren’t intimate club dates but proper amphitheater experiences designed for maximum sonic impact. Both bands understand their catalog demands space to breathe, whether it’s Devo’s robotic precision or The B-52‘s controlled chaos.
Lene Lovich opening every show completes the equation perfectly. Her avant-garde vocal acrobatics bridge the gap between Devo’s art-school intellectualism and The B-52’s party-starting exuberance, creating a bill that represents new wave’s full spectrum—not just its best hits, but its weirdest and most wonderful experiments that somehow became chart gold
The timing feels bittersweet but appropriate. The B-52’s wrapped their farewell tour in 2022, while Devo concludes their “50 Years of De-Evolution” campaign this year. This collaboration offers something neither band could achieve alone: a proper send-off that honors their shared legacy without competing for attention.
Your October calendar just became significantly more expensive—and infinitely more worthwhile.
Tour Dates
- Sept. 24: Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
- Sept. 25: Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
- Oct. 2: Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
- Oct. 4: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
- Oct. 5: Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
- Oct. 16: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Oct. 18: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
- Oct. 24: Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
- Oct. 25: Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- Nov. 1: Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Nov. 2: Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Tickets available through Citi presale starting June 16, general sale June 20 via Live Nation.
