In concert: Devin the Dude at Rock and Roll Hotel

Devin the Dude took his time taking the stage on Saturday night. (All photos by Josh Sisk/FTWP)

By Sarah Godfrey

Houston's Devin the Dude is a self-aware, funny stoner, who, through a laid-back mix of crooning and rhyming, talks about weed like it's his one true love. Although he's an avid smoker whose music is perpetually stuck in slow-motion, the people who gathered to see him at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Saturday somehow expected him to rush to the stage.

After an opening set from the Coughee Brothaz, the capacity crowd grew restless - at one point an anxious fan jumped onstage, and yelled into a microphone "Where the [expletive] is Devin?" A little before 12:30, the rapper's voice came over the PA, telling fans to hold out just a while longer while he rolled up "one more Swisher."

When Devin finally appeared, he further calmed the mood by blowing a cloud of smoke over the audience while performing "We Get High" from his new album, "Suite #420" (which dropped on April 20, of course). And whatever he was smoking on was passed to the front row - and met with enthusiastic crowd participation.

Devin announced that "it's 4/20 every day!" before launching into a series of herb tracks: "Ultimate High" from the new album, plus "Sticky Green" and the DJ Premier-produced "Doobie Ashtray." When he wasn't talking about smoking, Devin focused on women ("I Gotta Ho" "Fa Sho") and driving under the influence ("Lacville '79" and "I Can't Make It Home," from 2008's "Landing Gear"), but added the disclaimer that he hoped everyone indulged responsibly and made it home safely after the show.