Early last year, I had the pleasure of speaking with a very smart man named Michio Kaku. As it turns out, Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York, and has written many books based on his studies. One interest of his involves the theory of time travel. Is it really possible to go BACKWARDS in time? If so, where would you go? Who would you meet? Most people say they would visit their relatives, see the dinosaurs…that is all bullshit. Me and Kaku both agree that if time travel were possible, we would go back to 1980 and see Devo in their prime.

After a string of middle of the road Devo DVD releases, Spuds around the world are finally getting what they deserve; Devo circa 1980, performing to a crowd of naïve new wavers who still associated their music with Brian Eno and David Bowie rather than Kate Hudson. This is Devo as they are NOT to be remembered, an energetic blend of new wave and nerd that sincerely expressed the punk rock ethics that the Sex Pistols packaged and sold as a fashion statement only a few years earlier. While Sid Vicious faked the bass and Jonny Rotten snarled and spit, Devo created strange and intelligent art, pioneered the music video, and wrote some great music.

While watching this DVD, you really have to take into consideration the fact that this was shot in 1980, so the video and sound is not the best. With that said, the quality actually sort of adds to the experience. The Beatles will always be remembered in black and white while Devo will forever exist on Beta. From what I can tell, the footage is taken from two separate concerts, shot with multiple cameras and edited together in a sometimes annoying ‘cut on the rhythm’ fashion. The extras on the disc are a little light, but do include a couple of rare clips of Dove, Devo’s own opening act.

The best part of this disc is the song selection. There’s the typical: Whip It, Jocko-Homo, Satisfaction…and then there’s some pleasant surprises: Snowball, It’s Not Right, Swelling Itching Brain. Some highlights include energetic renditions of Gut Feeling and Come Back Jonee, in which Mark Mothersbaugh showcases his skills as a front man, crawling around on the stage in an outfit that most people wouldn’t be caught dead in. The disc itself is double sided, containing a CD audio version of the entire show on the opposite side. This is a great bonus, but I’ve had some trouble with the disc playing in certain CD players.

I can only imagine that seeing or hearing Devo in the late seventies for the first time could only be compared to the early days of film. People scattering as a projected image of a train raced towards them. A technology so new and exciting that it confused or frightened most audiences. Devo, I’m sure, confused the hell out of many people. Their music was new and exciting and influenced numerous artists over the years. The pioneers who got scalped will hopefully begin to get the recognition they deserve now that they have Swiffer on their side.

SCORE:

Recommended If You Like: Man Or Astro-Man?, The Causey Way, The Ex Models, Servotron

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