NFV Song Spotlight: Devon Williams' Futility

It was off to Permanent Records Roadhouse to see a Shannon Lay set for the first time since 2021. Of course, I made sure I saw the full line-up. The headliner was someone named Devon Williams. I figured this was the first time I'd ever seen Devon Williams perform live on stage. As I was getting ready to write up this blog post, I decided on a whim to see if that was true or not. Since I'm writing about this whim, the answer is that I obviously saw a prior set. One has to dial back the clock all the way to Dec 27th, 2010 when I hung out at The Smell. Back then (unless my camera time stamps were seriously off), The Smell had bands going on past the midnight hour. 

Devon Williams at Permanent Records Roadhouse

I  actually wrote up a little review of a two night adventure at The Smell. I wrote the review for a website called Intraffik.com, which shut down around 2013-2014. I was able to find my review via my email account. Night one of my review had a rather solid line-up of bands that are still around: Barrie Rose (moved to Ohio) and Tommy Santee Klaws (performed at 2220 Arts in October, 2024). Manhattan Murder Mystery may have ended their run. The last Instagram post was in February 2024, but that band has been around for forever so I would not be at all surprised if they popped up at a future Echo Park Rising. 

Night two of my post was when Devon Williams played. That night had two bands coming in from Arizona: FEEL FREE and Run-On Sunshine. Devon Williams opened the night. I showed up a little late and didn't catch the full set. I wrote the following brief comment: 

Devon Williams at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Devon Williams opened the night. I caught perhaps a little over half the set. It was a great set and I will keep an eye out so that I can catch a full set at a later point in time. 

Flash forward 14 years to February 2025 and I indeed finally caught another live set. I was again very impressed. His five member band played a lush peaceful background as Williams vocals floated a step above the music. At times, his band went into a moment of dissonance and his vocals would switch into a near spoken word moment. He played a major portion of the set with his eyes closed, lost in the thoughts of his lyrics.

      

Devon Williams at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Throughout the set, he showed a sly sense of humor. Prior to his song "Full Color," he talked about his mom, "There was a moment when my Mom was going to come tonight. She called me . . . she's not here right? Mom." At some point in the recent past, he left Los Angeles and moved to Denmark, "You know it only as the place that your master wants to buy. And you guys are like, 'Yeah, buy it. We can put an airport there. And a bakery there.'" Ha ha. Later he told the audience about the background on another songs, "When I thought I was dying and I was dying, but so are you." 

His song "Futility" has an adult contemporary touch with a sense of despair.  

It's fine with me, if it's okay with you.

You know what it isn't. 

But tell me what it is. 

The futility.

Setlist: Passing Thing, Futility, Full Color, Don’t Know, Hawk, Iodine.