AccessAtlanta > Music > Music Midtown > Blog > Archives > 2005 > June > 12 > Entry
Devo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes, Music Midtown booked its share of hot young acts this year, but one of the best sets came from none other than Devo. Yes, Devo — the oddball quintet you may know best (or only) for the angular pop song “Whip It.”
The band got that little number out of the way early on the 99X stage, clearing the way for a staggering set of jittery, pulsating rock. The men of Devo came out wearing matching yellow uniforms with their signature red flower pots as hats. They later stripped to matching black ensembles, including shorts and kneepads.
Sometimes they rocked like a conventional guitar band. Sometimes they played the bass parts on a keyboard. At one point they performed their cover of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” giving the original a fabulous gutting.
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By David
June 12, 2005 9:45 PM | Link to this
Good gawd, these guys are good! I can’t believe that the old farts were better than the young bands this year (well, actually that’s not a huge surprise I guess). Here’s another band that did NOT phone it in. They were having a blast as was the audience. Fun and goofy and influencial as all get-out. I was really surprised how into their gig they were. Definitely one of the highlights of any Music Midtown show I’ve seen going back to ‘94.
By Praveen
June 13, 2005 1:39 AM | Link to this
Loved it. Too bad the promoters have this nasty habit of too many clashing big acts at the same time. I had to choose Pixies over Petty. Today, I had to choose Devo over Public Enemy.
By C
June 13, 2005 10:09 AM | Link to this
Best live band to play this year, hands down. And I’m not even really into them, so that says alot. So much energy, so much stage presence, so much fun. Incredible.
By KW
June 13, 2005 12:02 PM | Link to this
I agree w/ everything said so far. I’m not a big Devo fan either (at least I wasn’t until now!). My boyfriend really wanted to see them so we did, and boy was I glad. One of the best MM shows this year. I couldn’t believe how on top of their game they were… fantastic.
By Stephen Gurr
June 13, 2005 1:54 PM | Link to this
This was DEVO’s first performance in Atlanta in 21 years, and it was worth the wait.
The crowd got warmed up wih a great opening video montage of all those zany clips, including a monologue from “General Boy” (the father of singer Mark Mothersbaugh and his lead guitarist brother, Bob). Opening number was “That’s Good” from 1982’s “Oh No! It’s Devo!
The set list was heavy on the older, more guitar-driven numbers, and Bob 1 was on the money. “Satisfaction,” “Whip It,” “Mongoloid,” “Jocko Homo,” “Blockhead,” “Girl U Want,” “Gates of Steel” “Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA,” and my personal fave of the day, “Freedom of Choice.”
For the encore Mark donned the Boojie Boy outfit, including a crimson choir robe, and launched into a meandering and ultimately meaningless monologue about a bird, delivered in classic Boojie boy falsetto. Then they did “Beautiful World,” with Boojie singing. Would rather have heard Jerry sing this one.
This seminal 80s cult band, which hasn’t put out an album in more than 15 years and only tours sporadically, was sharp, tight and appeared to enjoy the strong crowd response, even if they never seemed to smile. Hopefully we won’t have to wait as long for their next Atlanta show.
“The beginning is the end. We must repeat.”
By Dewey
June 14, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this
Man, thanks for coming Mark and Co. I know they make PILES of cash with Mutato out in Holeywood, nice to see them play some when they feel like it. 8) I am an old school DeVo fan, and the set was incredible, lots of the punky early stuff, couldn’t believe the Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA combo, that made my whole weekend. Brilliant. Plain Brilliant.
By Jon
June 14, 2005 3:53 PM | Link to this
One thing Devo should have taught you is to be wary of the media. The Big Rock DJ that told you this was Devo’s first Atlanta appearance in 21 years was factually incorrect. Devo played Center Stage in November 1988. Also, while I’m not sure Devo even did live dates in 1984, they most assuredly did not play Atlanta that year. Their previous three Atlanta shows were all at the Fox in July 1980, November 1981 and November 1982. The boys did get better as the set moved on, but I wish the setlist had deviated from the one they used last year.
By David
June 15, 2005 9:57 AM | Link to this
Jon, I can see how you’d want them to play a different set from a show you saw a year ago. But as a long time fan who has never had the chance to see them, that was about a perfect set. It realied more on the guitar-based tunes… which means less dated post-“New Traditionalists” tunes. I couldn’t have asked for a better set list.