Despite their reputation as one-hit-wonders, I think DEVO is one of the greatest American bands to come out of the 70s and 80s. If you don’t know them, DEVO is a cult-favorite new wave band that formed in 1973, with their biggest commercial success being their hit single from 1980, “Whip It”. Musically, their inspirations ranged from punk rock, synth-pop, and dance music. The band themselves influenced many music scenes such as alternative and industrial rock, and their satirical, politically charged songwriting and fusion of rock with electronics is still entirely their own. I was ecstatic to learn they were performing a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, which has consistently been a way for older artists to reach younger demographics who may not have heard of their work originally.
If you haven’t heard of NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts, I’ll be lazy and repeat most of what I wrote for Chaka Khan’s performance earlier this summer: “Tiny Desk Concerts are held in NPR’s headquarters in DC, and all the musicians and equipment must be able to fit behind the desk where NPR’s weekly podcast ‘All Songs Considered’ gets recorded. Everything gets squeezed up to each other, making the concerts more intimate and personal. This emphasizes the music over stage effects and flashier, more unnecessary parts of a regular concert.” Thanks, past me!
DEVO’s current lineup comprises old and new members. Featured are original members Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, keyboards), Bob Mothersbaugh (vocals, guitar), and Gerald Casale (vocals, bass); as well as newer member Josh Hager (guitar, vocals) and touring drummer Jeff Friedl. The setlist of songs is surprisingly more obscure than what I imagined, with no obvious hits or well-known songs. They played two songs from their debut 1978 studio album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, those being “Come Back Jonee” and “Praying Hands”. They also played “Blockhead” from 1980’s Duty Now for the Future, as well as “It Takes a Worried Man”, from the little-seen Neil Young-directed 1982 comedy film Human Highway.
The songs don’t deviate too much from the composition of their studio recordings, but having them performed live gives them a bit of gritty, almost alt-rock edge that reinvigorates them. The Talking Heads-sounding “It Takes a Worried Man” opens the concert, and it feels transported straight out of the 80s new wave era. Mark Mothersbaugh gives a wonderful synth solo, and the band’s inter-playing is tight throughout the entire performance. The original is also great, and a song that I believe could’ve been a radio single if promoted enough. “Blockhead” wasn’t one of my favorites from Duty Now for the Future, but its raw sound works much better when performed live. The focus on harsh, distorted guitars against wiggly electronics is still unique, but it flies higher without the smoother studio production.
“Praying Hands” is an excellent song from their debut, and it’s just as fun and campy live. The previous two songs mostly went straight into one another with short introductions, but here there are some audience interactions and performance art that the band is known for. Mark Mothersbaugh’s performance already sounded like a preacher giving a sermon and having him sing from a megaphone enhances this idea. Towards the end, he went into the audience in character to ask what people were “doing with their hands” instead of praying. It was remarkably odd, but funny, and the music remained stellar. I especially liked Jeff Friedl’s jittery drumming. The closer, “Come Back Jonee”, is an endlessly danceable pastiche of 50s hillbilly rock-n’-roll and another great showcase of the band’s chemistry. It’s jaunty, sounds strange, and made for a killer way to end the concert.
While it may not have the hits that casual fans would hope for, DEVO’s Tiny Desk Concert is a testament to an endlessly talented and underrated rock group that still hasn’t gotten their due.
