By: Mackenzie Lambert
Devolution: the notion that a species can change into a more primitive form.
In light of recent times, you'd be hard-pressed to argue the opposite was occurring. On July 8th, punk/new wave legends Devo rocked the Town Ballroom as only Devo could.
Their new album, Something for Everybody, will likely be labeled as a "comeback" album, yet they never really left. While their last full studio album was Smooth Noodle Maps in 1990, they have released new tracks sporadically. Devo recorded the title track for the Jackie Chan action flick, Supercop, in 1996. They contributed "Huboon Stomp" for Chef Aid: The South Park album in 1998. In 2007, "Watch Us Work It" turned plenty of heads with its use in Dell television commercials. Many a listener was left realizing just how good a band like Devo can be.
Even in between single releases, the spirit of Devo lived on in their endeavors. Members of Devo founded Mutato Muzika, which produced music for such TV shows as Eureka, Big Love, Rugrats, and Pee-Wee's Playhouse. The company's film work includes Rushmore, Happy Gilmore, Mystery Men, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. That piano music in the background of those classic "I'm a Mac. And I'm a PC" commercials? Yeah, that's Mutato Muzika as well. Gerald Casale directed Devo-inspired music videos for the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Rush.
The audience was pumped for this concert. It had been 18 years since Devo took to the stage in Buffalo. Many an audience member wore the Energy Dome hats Devo sported in the classic music video for "Whip It." I even caught a glimpse of a man wearing the "Ken" hairpiece the band wore on the New Traditionalists album cover. Also, a youth was sporting a safety vest with the words "Don't Shoot! I'm a Man!" written on the back. I was in the presence of diehards. Around 8:30, the crowd was growing restless. At 9, the threat of chaos was looming. The opening video montage signaled Devo's imminent taking of the stage. The roof nearly blew when the band came on.
Right off the bat, they opened early with "Don't Shoot (I'm A Man)", "What We Do", "and "Fresh" off of Something for Everybody. They then proceeded to move through one Devo classic after another: "Whip It", "Girl U Want", their cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Uncontrollable Urge", "Mongoloid", "Jocko Homo", and "Peek-a-Boo!" You couldn't have asked for a better encore: "Freedom of Choice" and "Beautiful World."
The quality of musicianship on the part of Devo has been grossly underrated. Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale still have the pipes to sing as well as they did in the late 70s. Bob Mothersbaugh's guitar work has been criminally underrated on the part of music media. I would compare him to Steve Cropper. Bob Casale showed his music muscle by alternating between guitar and keyboards. But the real star, I would have to say, was Josh Freese on the drums. His Keith Moonian-like energy channeled itself into the other bandmates. Freese was integral, to say the least, to Devo's ability to put on a good show.
For a band that has inspired the likes of Fatboy Silm, Rammstein, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Weird Al Yankovic, Lady Gaga, Rage Against the Machine, and Nine Inch Nails, they can still put on one hell of a show. Their subversive, deadpan, cynical humor makes them more relevant today than they've ever been. They've been with us for over thirty years. We can only hope to get a few more out of them.
----
Mackenzie Lambert is a Buffalo-based columnist. He has been featured in such publications as Penny Blood and Pantechnicon. He is also a movie columnist for The Men's Room Today (www.themensroomtoday.com).
View image
Devolution: the notion that a species can change into a more primitive form.
In light of recent times, you'd be hard-pressed to argue the opposite was occurring. On July 8th, punk/new wave legends Devo rocked the Town Ballroom as only Devo could.
Their new album, Something for Everybody, will likely be labeled as a "comeback" album, yet they never really left. While their last full studio album was Smooth Noodle Maps in 1990, they have released new tracks sporadically. Devo recorded the title track for the Jackie Chan action flick, Supercop, in 1996. They contributed "Huboon Stomp" for Chef Aid: The South Park album in 1998. In 2007, "Watch Us Work It" turned plenty of heads with its use in Dell television commercials. Many a listener was left realizing just how good a band like Devo can be.
Even in between single releases, the spirit of Devo lived on in their endeavors. Members of Devo founded Mutato Muzika, which produced music for such TV shows as Eureka, Big Love, Rugrats, and Pee-Wee's Playhouse. The company's film work includes Rushmore, Happy Gilmore, Mystery Men, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. That piano music in the background of those classic "I'm a Mac. And I'm a PC" commercials? Yeah, that's Mutato Muzika as well. Gerald Casale directed Devo-inspired music videos for the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Rush.
The audience was pumped for this concert. It had been 18 years since Devo took to the stage in Buffalo. Many an audience member wore the Energy Dome hats Devo sported in the classic music video for "Whip It." I even caught a glimpse of a man wearing the "Ken" hairpiece the band wore on the New Traditionalists album cover. Also, a youth was sporting a safety vest with the words "Don't Shoot! I'm a Man!" written on the back. I was in the presence of diehards. Around 8:30, the crowd was growing restless. At 9, the threat of chaos was looming. The opening video montage signaled Devo's imminent taking of the stage. The roof nearly blew when the band came on.Right off the bat, they opened early with "Don't Shoot (I'm A Man)", "What We Do", "and "Fresh" off of Something for Everybody. They then proceeded to move through one Devo classic after another: "Whip It", "Girl U Want", their cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Uncontrollable Urge", "Mongoloid", "Jocko Homo", and "Peek-a-Boo!" You couldn't have asked for a better encore: "Freedom of Choice" and "Beautiful World."
The quality of musicianship on the part of Devo has been grossly underrated. Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale still have the pipes to sing as well as they did in the late 70s. Bob Mothersbaugh's guitar work has been criminally underrated on the part of music media. I would compare him to Steve Cropper. Bob Casale showed his music muscle by alternating between guitar and keyboards. But the real star, I would have to say, was Josh Freese on the drums. His Keith Moonian-like energy channeled itself into the other bandmates. Freese was integral, to say the least, to Devo's ability to put on a good show.
For a band that has inspired the likes of Fatboy Silm, Rammstein, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Weird Al Yankovic, Lady Gaga, Rage Against the Machine, and Nine Inch Nails, they can still put on one hell of a show. Their subversive, deadpan, cynical humor makes them more relevant today than they've ever been. They've been with us for over thirty years. We can only hope to get a few more out of them.
----
Mackenzie Lambert is a Buffalo-based columnist. He has been featured in such publications as Penny Blood and Pantechnicon. He is also a movie columnist for The Men's Room Today (www.themensroomtoday.com).
just when this part of main st was turning around the towne ballroom starts having these punk rock kinds of shows that jeopardize the safety of the area I just don't understand why they would do this in the end it's bad business for thems
Lester, catch up. It's 2010. You're in 1983 still. We need you at least in the 2000's.