Loose Record :: So You Know What You're Missing: Live Review: Kevin Devine at Bowery Ballroom [1/19/08]

“This is like graduation” admitted a bashful Kevin Devine in front of a sold out Bowery Ballroom crowd last night.

The Brooklyn crooner/songwriter tried to keep the musings to a minimum in between songs during a supercharged late-night two-hour set that showed his full range from eloquently vivid lyrics (the kind Connor Oberst wishes he could write) to smash-mouth political rock.

Opening the night was Brian Bonz and the Dot Hongs, featuring Bonz and Mike Strandberg, who both would appear later in the night as part of Devine's "Goddamn Band". Bonz fused the bravado of synth-bands like the Anniversary with some funk grooves, and the aesthetics of Broken Social Scene (fitting – they finished the set with a BSS cover).

Demander then physically emptied the stage, showing only three members, but proceeded to fill it with a raucous aural assault something the likes of The White Stripes meets the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The Kevin Devine-picked The Jealous Girlfriends followed, focusing their energy on passionate vocals and performance rather than stage movement; they provided a change from the first two that led perfectly into Devine’s set.

Devine took the stage around 11 p.m., proclaiming to the crowd “Yo, I’m drunk,” and then opening solo-acoustic before welcoming the constantly “evolving” Goddamn Band onstage.

He spoke briefly about how headlining a show at Bowery was always a dream. It was a sight to see Devine so overwhelmed by the event, and his pride, excitement, and pure joy shone through.

Featuring many older songs, Devine also found time for new ones like "Murphy's Song," and a blistering untitled song. His musical range of wondrous acoustic ballads and all-out band jams is also reflected in his lyrics, which range from hyper-political to dangerously personal, and some that touch on both (set and encore-capper “Ballgame”).

Congratulations, Kevin.