One of the absolute best aspects about artists who choose to go the purely "conceptual" route--that is, artists who from the very start who seem to pay no heed to fashionable trends of the day and simply pursue that which drives them--is that time never lessens their appeal.
And Devo proves that point better than nearly any other rock 'n' roll band.
The Akron-based group, who caused a critical uproar in the late '70s with their seemingly formal theory of "de-evolution," their pioneering music videos, and the stirring 1978 album debut Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, seem as contemporary today as they did when they began--and their memorable videos, perhaps most notably their 1980 MTV hit "Whip It," perhaps even more trailblazing.
But the band, who furthered their reputation both critically and commercially with successful '80s albums such as Freedom Of Choice, New Traditionalists and Oh, No! It's Devo, eventually called it a day by 1991. Individual success would then greet band members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale--who'd make a name for themselves in the world of musical soundtracks and film directing--but despite several attempts, a real Devo "reunion" was long in coming.
And with the recent Something For Everybody, that Devo reunion is here.
Surrealistic? You bet! A few weeks ago the Y! Music studio proudly hosted a reunion performance by the band, promoting their new album--officially their first since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps--and with great joy watched the band run through three new tracks, all of them easily up to their highest standard, and all of them so uniquely Devo we could only watch with our mouths agape.
Members of the band--Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale, and spectacular drummer Josh Freese--were in excellent spirits, apparently quite pleased to be back together again, and with a series of memorable animations on a screen behind them, happy to provide one of the most memorable performances the Y! music studios has ever hosted.
Take a look below and see for yourself!