Sobering thought: The more times I see Devo, the more the more the audience looks like they meant to go the Lyric Opera and came here instead. Don't know whether that's good or bad. On the plus side, Kraftwerk's The Robots reverberated throughout the Chicago Theater's elegant spaces as we waited for the show to start. Devo has good taste in music.
Highlights of last night's Blondie set on the "Whip it to Shreds" Tour: Rapture and Heart of Glass, though props to Debbie Harry and the band for their encore cover of Relax. How is it that she's 67 years old? Refreshingly, she looks like an actual woman rather than a plastic freak - that is to say, a very attractive, sassy, talented woman who sings wonderfully, and who has figured out how to pitch down the high notes while carrying the message of each tune.
Devo reliably fantastic as always (hardcore fan here). They look more and more like senior executives in their underwear, but bring as much energy, angst and humor as ever, and their playing is technically incredible. First half of the set was a mix of more recent albums including at least 3 songs from Something for Everybody, - such as the very fine Don't Shoot, I'm A Man and What We Do.
Devo then went into an offstage "time machine" and came back in the old yellow suits, carrying guitars, and tore into hits from their first 2-3 albums. All great, but especially Come Back Jonee (with Debbie coming back onstage as the bereaved widow), Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA (with Bob 1's brain-melting solo which did not stop until he broke ALL the strings, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVsAUrx10Uc), etc. [I have decided Bob 1 is my new favorite band member though I love them all.] Even Booji Boy came out - Mark M. in a creepy baby mask - for It's A Beautiful World and was funny and annoying this time (as opposed to just annoying). A good time was had by all!
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