I sometimes wish Devo never made “Whip It.” Granted, it’s a fucking fantastic song, but it’s somewhat of a curse on the band to casual music fans. “Oh yeah, fucking love singing that song in karaoke!,” is somewhere down the line of a memory someone has with it. After seeing Devo live, I’ll keep revitalizing to people the originality and greatness of this band beyond Whip It. (I don’t hate the song, just the idea of it, get it?).
Ever seen the movie “Being John Malkovich?” Reverse the idea of entering Malkovich’s head and concentrate on Gerald Casale’s mind (Devo’s main songwriter). I’d really like to know what kind of futuristic, metallic, catchy, and rhythmic party is going on up there. I’m picturing robots drinking scotch talking about 2012, seeking out sexy women robots all while trying to compare who has longer robot chest hair. What a fucking party.
Anyways, the band has an amazing catalog, in which they’ve went from punk to art-rock and post-punk to new wave. They seemed to have reached every rhythmic category on their own terms (check out their cover of “satisfaction” in ¾ timing), and with their new album released a few months ago (listen to song “fresh”); they could have quite a revival. Seeing them live will leave you confused, excited, tired (from dancing), loose-necked, and joyous. The first words I uttered after the show were “what the fuck was that?” followed by “I somehow liked it.” Devo broke musical and conceptual barriers with their odd “de-evolution” themed lyrics accompanied by a revolving sound, always staying up-to date. Here’s the fairly new single called “Fresh.”
Side note: where else are you going to find a band with the song title “Penetration in the Centerfold?” Brilliant.
