Devo were a bunch of geeks from Ohio. If you think Weezer were stereotypical nerds these boys were the epitome of locker dwellers. Armed with keyboards and a really disturbing mentality off they went spreading the words of De Evolution thus the name. DEVO. Geek rock extraordinaries claiming that mankind was not growing and EVOLVING but rather slipping backward DEevolutionizing. Meh, whatever.
I first remember seeing a film short which may have been on Saturday Night Live, if my research holds correct it was approx 1978 and it scared the hell out of me. I was 11.
Even though the industrial jump suited black shaded boys scared the beejesus out of me they also had a great sound. I purchased Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! With my birthday money.
I didn’t ‘get’ alot of it but “Uncontrollable Urge” was my favorite. How weird it sounded (and still does) Musically it was nothing I had head before and trust me nothing my Van Halen fan friends had ever encountered. Devo was one of those bands you took alot of heat for liking. Even in the early days to dig them was rather hush hush. Uncontrollable Urge was so fast listen to it now its insane. Ok dorked and dated sounding but oh my God how many hours were spent pogo dancing around the house on this one. Just hearing it at this moment jets me to that time. Speaker shattering. People were listening to Abba or the Bee Gees I was insanely thrashing to this. Freakin great useless lyrics spoke sang by Mothersbaugh…….who……….I thought………was cute. Sigh
“Gut Feeling” was another AMAZING song. Theres that word again! But honestly this song is so freakin fun. I hate that this band became a joke with “Whip It “(which I wont even discuss) “Gut Feeling” was a melodic and gradual rise song again like nothing I’d heard before and yes I was a bit to young to ‘get it’ but it didnt matter. The keyboard work is so very pretty almost serious in its tones. ‘ I look for silvery linings but your rotten to the core’, cant even tell you how many times Ive said that. loved how it lead into “Slap Your Mammy”
“Praying Hands” was another that stood out on this disc for its spacey sorta sound. And the blasphemous again that I didnt ‘get’.. I do now though eek!
Duty Now for the Future wasn’t as good but the shock and awe had mellowed by then. Id head the genre and liked it but the wow factor dulled “Devo Corporate Anthem” was fun enough but the version of “Secret Agent Man” is what made me want to learn to play bass (and love the song Peter Gunn) The vocals here are really pretty 60s tinny I love the tunnel sound. I think Gerry Casale sings this one, he should have sung more. He was also cute by the way.
The killer on this was the song “The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize”, again with the futuristic bubble machine sounds. I think Mothersbaugh vocals were just so weird. There was no harmony There was nothing but starkness and the WA oooooo, its pretty damn catchy.
“Wiggly World” was anthem like and also a major repeat in my collection. I had to line up the needle just right on this one but it had the more familiar guitar sounds. This song drove my mom insane by the way. Which hearing now I can see why. It has no flow and sounds like toy guns This does have some killer lyrics though. Wow just hearing it now gets me pretty fired up. Good one
I saw them live July 19, 1979 (the Internet fucking rules that I was able to find the date amazes me!!) Stunned that I got into a bar (again WTF!) to see them. I was feeling pretty bad ass but I was also a great fan. I cant remember much of the show but again I was twelve, I do remember some guy talking to me and my brother sorta screaming at him. I wish I could remember the gig better I bet it kicked ass.
After that I lost touch with Devo, moved on to harder stuff. By “Whip It” I pretty much pretended Id never heard of them. I was Judas. But to those kids who spoke of them I could at least feel that glimmer of hope that maybe I wasnt the only person not listening to Journey. Those crazy New Wavers.. by the time neon was an accepted color I was dressed in black with a bike chain hanging from my shoulder.
But Devo will always bring me back to pogo dancing in my bedroom and my first risque bar entry.
All of the Devo boys ended up ok too, youll see Mothersbaugh and Casale on credits for films and cartoons and hell yeah I knew them way back then!
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