Live shows from legendary bands that are past their prime can be dicey propositions. However, if you know anything about Devo other than the song “Whip It”, you might have an idea why one of their concerts would be a must-see event. Especially since they haven’t played outside of California much in the past decade.
They were recently touring in support of the re-issues of their classic albums Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo and Freedom of Choice, playing two consecutive nights, one for each album. We were lucky enough to catch the first show in Toronto, which meant a trip back in time all the way to 1978… the year I was born! Yikes.
Opening solo act JP Incorporated was an interesting mix of music, comedy and performance art, sort of a cross between Neil Hamburger and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. His schtick involved singing theme songs and commercial jingles for TV shows on a fictional public access station, complete with video accompaniment. It seemed to me like an appropriate pairing for a subversive band like Devo, but apparently the rest of the crowd didn’t see it that way. After a few songs, the hecklers started into the booing and demanded to see Devo. I guess it was too punk rock for the old school punk rockers.
Either way, once Devo finally took the stage, it didn’t really matter because they simply tore the place up. They may have looked a little flabbier and a little less mobile, but they gave 110% for the entire set and they sounded absolutely perfect. Part of this was thanks to The Vandals / A Perfect Circle / Weezer drummer Josh Freese, who kept the complicated rhythms fast and tight, but their voices surprisingly haven’t changed much either. As the sweat poured off of them and they continued to strip down to different outfits, it was clear that they were having the time of their life. And so were we.
One thing has become clear: crusty punks, dirty hippies, aging nerds and twenty-something hipsters alike… we’re all DEVO!
Their new album Fresh will be out in 2010, a full twenty years after their last album, Smooth Noodle Maps. Let’s hope it’s worth the wait.
Check out a few more photos from the show on my Flickr page.
Loved the review; however, don’t know where you’ve been. DEVO has been playing for years and years, in and out of California, including Europe — just not Toronto. Hardly think that Bob1 as an ounce of flab on him.
Haha good point about Bob1. I was not aware they were touring outside of Cali, but I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.
Check this out for the latest on Devo’s forthcoming album and documentary: http://www.examiner.com/x-10482-Tampa-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m11d1-Devo-get-Fresh-with-new-album-tour-documentary
I flew to chicago, il for a meet and greet and both nights of the show. Man, did they kick ass. I loved it (I wish they would have played longer each night!). JP incorporated was an asshole. Did he play the exact same(identical with all of the same chatter inbetween songs) set both nights for you, too?
That kind of humor (for me) died a few years after the advent of the internet in pop culture and nothing excuses identical sets. Boy, was he a chode. DENIED=)