Devo live in London.. for the last time (?)

Devo at Hammersmith Apollo 19.8.23

Another one of those notable gigs I went to last year but at the time I just didn’t get to leave a note on. It was my first Devo gig, and it seems my last Devo gig as this was billed at the last Devo gig in the UK and the only gig in England on their ‘Farewell Tour’ and ‘Celebration of the 50th year of the band’.

This art-punk band, formed in Ohio in 1973, brought some very different sounds and visual aspects to the music scene around the punk explosion. Always eye-catching in the music press around 1979/80 but I didn’t dive in, even when Whip It hit the charts – we cared about the charts then. Bit of electronica and a lot of Americana in their mix.

But I made it here eventually, here near the front of the balcony of the Hammersmith Apollo as we waited for what would be the last chance to see them. I remember the large number of Devo ‘energy dome’ hats – you can see them from up in the balcony (all the red dots). There were some of these ‘flowerpot men’ hats on show outside. Inside, the merch stand had done a roaring trade and sold out of stocks, so numbers were boosted.

There was no support band… well a DJ set from Rusty Egan (Visage, Skids and more). This worked well as a warm-up, with predominantly early 80s electronic based tunes. It just helped the build-up rather than merely distract and delay.

Great view from up in the balcony. Not been up there many times: I do like the sloping downstairs standing here but, as my legs knock on, I appreciate the seat option. There’s also a bit of stability and opportunity to zoom in with my trusty pocket camera.

Three originals in the band still, a line-up that started out with two pairs of brothers. The Mothersbaugh brothers remain.

It was one of those gigs where I felt like an imposter, given most of the crowd seemed to be Devo obsessives. The start of virtually every song got a roar of approval. I like their sound but I never grew up with it, only the radio listens.

Whip It was the one that got my little roar. The one I knew well. It was just after that – one more song – that the guys disappeared to change from the energy dome hats into the classic Devo yellow plastic suits. Their cover of the Stones’ Satisfaction followed.

The pounding beat is such a classic early electronic sound – groundbreaking at the time most of this stuff was released. My musical tastes were a bit limited when Devo arrived on the scene, I guess. All thrash, chorus and guitars.

This was like watching a stage of mad scientists play rock stars. Unique.

Once you’ve heard Mongoloid it’s hard to get that one out of your head – it repeated on me for days. Not sure this tale of a guy with Downs syndrome who just gets on with life, is one which would hit the charts in this form today.

The suits come off for the last leg of the set, the last leg of touring live in the UK.

The title track of their third LP, Freedom of Choice (1980) gets its own backdrop and a massive cheer.

As this special and final evening of Devo live in the UK came to an end there was the tongue in cheek promise of 100 year anniversary. Yes funny but then sad. None of us will make that.

The last song, Beautiful World, was indeed the last song. No need for encores. The whole gig was something of an encore. The crowd dissolved away, still excitement in the air but turning to sadness. That was that. At least I had a peak at this special band from 70s Ohio.