2024. My original review:

Last night I saw Devastantem play again (those familiar with my work may recall them as the arch nemeses of my band, Rong.) I have literally never had a good time at a Devastantem show, and if the music wasn’t so goddamn good I’m sure I’d quit showing up.

Some punk bands (like the Sex Pistols) made it part of their act that they hated each other. Devastantem takes this a step further by trying to inspire the audience to hate them as well (especially, in my experience, the more of a fan you are.) At a Devastantem show, the air is so thick with barely restrained violent tension that it’s hard to breathe. If there’s a crowd, there’s sure to be at least one fistfight. Invariably, someone in the band or their entourage tries to get me to punch them, though I’ve yet to oblige any of them (especially since in the case of certain band members, I suspect this is possibly part of some strange courtship ritual invented by their primitive tribe.)

Once I made a Devastantem patch for my vest, and when their lead singer JJ Floyd saw it, they dramatically demanded I remove it on the spot. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced with any other band I’ve hung out with, so of course the dynamic fascinated me. You can’t judge them too harshly, of course - given that they were raised by skunk apes in the wilderness of the Mississippi Delta for 12 years, running naked through the bush and eating mostly wild psilocibin mushrooms and raw possum meat they hunted with their bare hands. That is until, one fateful day, while following the tracks of a wounded armadillo, they came across a dive bar, outside of which an old black dude was singin’ the blues. Someone handed them their first Jack ‘n Coke, a blunt, and a beat up old Washburn, and they realized their true destiny: to be a rock star. After that, they learned to wear human clothing, and to play a mean guitar, and I’m told they’re closely studying our custom of bathing in hopes of acquiring it in the future.

Their sound is grungy, goth, and psychedelic. Somewhere between the Misfits and Bauhaus, but not quite like either. It’s got a traditional sound at the same time as being new and unorthodox, a balance that few bands can find. Their lead singer has the most incredible voice, and nearly every song has a remarkably unique and creative structure and sound. They don’t really sound like anything else, if I’m being honest. So despite their lead singer being quite possibly the world’s biggest asshole, I can’t help but keep coming back for more - it’s like really spicy food, or BDSM, or getting a tattoo. It just hurts so good.

Princess JJ ostentatiously forbade me from linking to their band if I talked about them online, since I’m just one of the many unworthies, but word on the street is they have a Youtube and a Facebook page.