11-16-2009, 03:24 PM
Devo, like no other band, has been my companion on this twisty road of life.
When I was 12 I would eagerly await for Friday nights. You see, Friday night was Dr. Demento night. Dr. Demento was the only D.J who had the cajones to play such brilliant pop ditties as 'Fish Heads', 'Mr. Jaws', 'They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Ha', 'Shaving Cream' and hundreds of other classics.
So when Punk/New Wave came along with its self-ridicule and general disdain of the record industry focus on revenue-generating hits the good doctor was ready to fight the good fight.
He made hits of what others would call novelty songs. 'I know what boys like', 'Teenage Enema Nurses in Bondage' and Fear's classic '(we like) Beer' were all staples on The Dr. Demento Show long before college radio picked them up.
He also jumped on Devo's 'Mongoloid' which stayed in the top ten for a very long time. Soon to follow was 'Jocko Homo'. These were singles released before the album came out. Finally 'Are We Not Men' was released in 1978. I bought my marble-patterned vinyl copy at The Wherehouse on El Camino real in Santa Clara. I remember the look of scorn on the long-haired cashier as he rung me up. I didn't care.
The tracks on that album were unlike anything I'd heard before. Simple, punk-pop melodies punctuated with synthesized burps, tweets and gurgles. I was in love.
So, when Devo announced that they would be playing 'Are We Not Men' from start to finish I was floored. Who besides me would want to hear a thirty year old novelty record? Obviously a lot of people. The show was sold out and one of the craziest concerts I've ever been to.
When Devo took the stage in their yellow hazmat suits and 3D glasses the crowd went apeshit. It was one of those crowds that swayed and jumped and twisted. It was impossible to fall down because everyone was packed so tight. I never realized how much speed and power was released when 'Uncontrollable Urge' is played live and loud.
The whole show was a mess of nostalgia, excitement and bleeding eardrums.
I can die now.
When I was 12 I would eagerly await for Friday nights. You see, Friday night was Dr. Demento night. Dr. Demento was the only D.J who had the cajones to play such brilliant pop ditties as 'Fish Heads', 'Mr. Jaws', 'They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Ha', 'Shaving Cream' and hundreds of other classics.
So when Punk/New Wave came along with its self-ridicule and general disdain of the record industry focus on revenue-generating hits the good doctor was ready to fight the good fight.
He made hits of what others would call novelty songs. 'I know what boys like', 'Teenage Enema Nurses in Bondage' and Fear's classic '(we like) Beer' were all staples on The Dr. Demento Show long before college radio picked them up.
He also jumped on Devo's 'Mongoloid' which stayed in the top ten for a very long time. Soon to follow was 'Jocko Homo'. These were singles released before the album came out. Finally 'Are We Not Men' was released in 1978. I bought my marble-patterned vinyl copy at The Wherehouse on El Camino real in Santa Clara. I remember the look of scorn on the long-haired cashier as he rung me up. I didn't care.
The tracks on that album were unlike anything I'd heard before. Simple, punk-pop melodies punctuated with synthesized burps, tweets and gurgles. I was in love.
So, when Devo announced that they would be playing 'Are We Not Men' from start to finish I was floored. Who besides me would want to hear a thirty year old novelty record? Obviously a lot of people. The show was sold out and one of the craziest concerts I've ever been to.
When Devo took the stage in their yellow hazmat suits and 3D glasses the crowd went apeshit. It was one of those crowds that swayed and jumped and twisted. It was impossible to fall down because everyone was packed so tight. I never realized how much speed and power was released when 'Uncontrollable Urge' is played live and loud.
The whole show was a mess of nostalgia, excitement and bleeding eardrums.
I can die now.
![[Image: magpie13.gif]](http://imagegen.last.fm/LastfmLiveJournal/recenttracks/magpie13.gif)