I have always been a casual fan of Devo. Let me rephrase that, I knew a few of their songs. I thought they were a pop culture flash in the pan from seeing the video for “Whip It” on MTV a gazillion times as a kid. All of that changed when I saw the band live at The Fillmore last Saturday night. It turned my world upside down.
Devo played to a packed house for the second night in a row at the legendary San Francisco concert hall. What I once considered to be a one-hit wonder turned out to be a wildly imaginative group of extremely talented musicians. Devo doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s where they win big. Their sound, look, and overall antics (or personality if you will) brought together nerds and hipsters reminiscent of the end of Revenge of the Nerds. If you were in this audience, you were one with Devo for the evening and you were proud to be there.
Touring in support of their first studio album in 20 years, Something For Everybody, Devo is at the top of their game. They sounded modern but classic in their own right, reinventing just enough to stay relevant. The band changed costumes more times than a host on Saturday Night Live, but that was just a bonus as they treated the enthusiastic crowd to a mix of old and new songs in a set list for the ages.
I had never heard the song “Peek-A-Boo” before, but it was the highlight of the set. This song came out almost 30 years ago. That night it sounded like it could have been the latest single from an up and coming British buzz band. I was floored.
The rest of the set was built as a crowd pleaser and included such staples as “Girl U Want,” “Satisfaction,” “Whip It,” and a spectacular encore featuring “Freedom of Choice.”
After the show I went to Amoeba and bought the first two records as well as the latest. I have been listening to Devo non-stop while staring at the Energy Dome the band was kind enough to autograph for me after the show. How in the hell did I miss this band back in their heyday? I have no idea, but I assure you I am making up the lost time as I am now one of their biggest fans.
The Setlist:
Don’t Shoot
Peek a Boo
What We Do
Goin Under
Fresh
That’s Good
Girl U Want
Whip It
Planet Earth
Satisfaction
Secret Agent
Uncontrollable Urge
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol
Gates of Steel
Freedom Of Choice
Beautiful World
You can check out more of my photos from the show here .
They signed my Energy Dome after the show!
Were you at one of the shows at the Fillmore? What did you think? Were you as impressed with the band as I was? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
