Written By Braddon S. Williams
Devo: Q: Are We Not Men?
A: We Are DEVO!
And now for something completely different! It doesn’t get much different than Devo. When they dropped their debut in 1978, the provocatively named Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, the Akron, Ohio based new wave/art rock band brought a flair for the theatrical and established themselves with their matching yellow suits and stiffly mechanical stage moves.
I first saw them on Saturday Night Live doing a memorably intense and completely original take on the Rolling Stones Classic hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. They also performed an amazing original called Jocko Homo (probably my all time favorite song of theirs). Needless to say, I was intrigued. Bizarre costumes and a unifying concept about mankind’s de-evolution (we really are regressing in so many ways) coupled with spiky rhythms and quirky vocals all combined to make Devo smart and unique.
Put it on, crank it up, and bounce around the room…it will be fun!