Customer Reviews

Devo - Live

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was just a little suspect about this release, but checked it out because...well, it's Devo. Couldn't resist for that fact alone. Despite the late date of the show, 1996, I was completely overwhelmed by their energy, humor, attitude, and endurance during the entirety of the show. The whole Devo sensibility was more intact than it had been since 1982, but without all the gimmicks of their early image (not that I would ever knock it). This is Devo at about as stripped down as any band can be, and they're simply amazing. Their musicianship is astonishingly spot-on. Can't recommend it enough.
As much as I love Mark Mothersbaugh's art, I wish he'd put RUGRATS on hold and get into the studio to produce just one unadulterated Devo album, one which would balance his keyboard wizardry with the more guitar-driven work of his wonderful brother Bob and the inspired cynicism of Gerald Casale. While you can "never go back," isn't that what Devo was all about conceptually?

This 1996 performance was at Lollapalooza, which explains the excellent video and audio quality. They open with "Whip It" (probably just to keep people from yelling for it the whole time), then drop back to the old good stuff.

This is a wonderful performance. You can switch between the edited multiple camera mix, a camera in the back zoomed on Mark, and a camera moving just in front of the stage.

There is very little editing, other than the rapid cuts from camera to camera. If it takes a few minutes for Mark to adjust the Minimoog between songs, then we get to watch and wait with the audience.

If you have even a passing interest in what kind of high energy post punk stuff was happening in the late '70s, you need to pick this up. It's cheap! It's great!

For all you spuds out there, this is a disc to have. It is a live recording of their 1996 Lollapalooza set in California. It is great to watch. The sound and filming are superb. The set was simple, just the instruments, amps, and five guys in yellow jumpsuits. Devo performed all the 'Older Hits'. Mongoliod, Satisfaction, Uncontrollable Urge, plus a few others. I'm not sure where these guys are at now, but in '96 they could still play!
Two things perplex me. One is why the wait to release this disc? It's almost been eight years! I thought the spud boys were up on the technological scene, and this should have been released when DVDs hit the market. I guess they're wrapped up in other endeavors. The other item is that there should have been more stuff. Early footage, more interviews, etc. I guess they're saving all of that for a MEGA-DVD. One can only dream. But hey, for twelve dollars, and live DEVO, you can't beat this DVD.

I saw DEVO on their "Freedom of Choice" tour, and it is still one of the best concerts I have seen so far. This DVD is so amazing! This concert has no fancy lights or backdrops; just five guys and their equipment putting on one of the most rocking shows you will ever witness. Mark Mothersbaugh looks better than ever and sounds incredible; the rest of the guys have aged well and can still rock. Looks like they needed a young drummer to keep up with their killer performances. I am sorry to say that I am not sure what happened to Alan (the original drummer); but the new guy does a great, great job filling his shoes.
If you are a DEVO fan, you MUST own this DVD ... if you are not ... buy it, and you soon will be!

Dateline 1996 - Lallapalooza - Irvine Meadows, California

Metalheads Devolved into long haired Monkey Men - Film at 11

While stylists primped Metallica's new haircuts behind stage one, 500 headbangers and half a dozen spuds were permanently warped by Devo's raging set on stage two. This years best new DVD is DEVO LIVE from Rhino Records, and I'm sure I can't do it justice with words, but I gotta try.

Be like your ancestors or be different, it dosn't matter:

Decades ahead of their time to begin with, the Spud Boys haven't changed their hair, fashion sense or music in 25 years. The rest of the industry has mutated to play catch up. Their trail blazing cleared the way for Techno acts like Prodigy, and Moby, and Performance artists like Blue Men Group. But, with Gerald on Bass, Bob's 1+ 2 on guitars, and Mark grabbing the mic and pounding on the synthesizers, their bass and guitar heavy set of songs from their first three major label records made it clear that Industrialists like Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and Marilyn Manson wouldn't exist without Devo. The industrialists may have replaced Devo's morbid sense of humor with being just plain morbid, but Devo rocked just as hard.

Monkey Men All, In Post Grunge Suits:

Opening with their hit (you know the song) to grab the attention of the un-initiated, they then jammed through Satisfaction, Uncontrollable Urge, Mongoloid, Girl U Want, Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA and more. Midway through the set they played an inspired, pulse pounding extended version of their anthem Jocko Homo, and Mark jumped off stage into the audience letting newly enthusiastic metal heads shout the answer to Dr. Moreau's question "Are We Not Men?" By the sets closing number, Gates of Steel, grunge suited monkey men had been unwittingly devolved, screaming, waving their fists, and no doubt spoiled for the Metallibland they were going to see next.

Rush out, buy the DVD, crank the bass, crank the volume, and enjoy the band David Bowie, in 1976, called the future of rock. Duty Now For the Future.

We Must Repeat

My comments will be only about this particular DVD (DEVO: Live). Nothing about DEVO's politics or spuds!

The concert is from a DEVO show that was part of the Lallapalooza Festival. The year is 1996, the place is Irivne, CA. The set list is as follows:

Whip It
Girl U Want
Satisfaction
Uncontrollable Urge
BlockHead
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
Gut Feeling/Slap Yer Mammy
Gates of Steel
Come Back Jonee

I really like this DVD. The sound is Dolby Digital 5.1. The audio is perfect! The drumming by Josh Freese is absolutely excellent. He simply drives this band through the entire performance. I personally liked DEVOs earlier stuff (before Freedom of Choice) so the DVD was prefect for my tastes. Lots of good guitar work and of course the cool keyboards. Every song is excellent, although my favorite is Jocko Homo, and I've never really liked Satisfaction.

Now to the video portion of the DVD. I was a little disappointed that the band was on stage (outdoors) at what appears to be early in the afternoon. So there is no lighting (other than the sun). That kind of takes away a little of the show for me. Gerald Casale(Bass, Vocals) does make a remark in the interview portion of the DVD stating that the "other bands" would not allow DEVO to use the lights! Anyway you will quickly get used to the lack of lighting. The camera shots are excellent, although they may switch frames a little to quickly for my liking. Kind of get dizzy after a while of watching closely. This DVD also provides multiple angle viewing on most of the tracks. Usually the other angles are a fixed camera on Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, keyboards) and another on Gerald Casale. Not really a big deal, but it is kind of fun to watch Mark throughout a song.

Overall this is an excellent DVD if you're a DEVO fan, especially if you liked the older tunes. I give the Dolby 5.1 sound an A+, camera work A+, overall production B (frames
switch to quickly for my liking)

Without saying Devo are amazing. Unfortunately watching this concert makes you feel like you are the only DEVO fan on the concert grounds. The majority of the people in the crowd have no clue what is going on. Remember, this was Lollapalooza years after all the godness was gone. If DEVO would have played in 91 or 92, totally different story.

As others have said, DEVO in the sunny aftenoon is an awkward sight. That aside, the performance is still stunning and fun. Smart Patrol/MR DNA is the high point of the show.

If you are a serious Devo fan, you should already own this. If you are just starting your de-evolution just remember to put this show into context, and still buy it.

DEV-O Live from Lollapalooza `96 at Irvine Meadow`s, CA !! No gimmicks here, just the men who made the music in a classic, high energy performance. The setlist contains only early Devo material, featuring killer renditions of Whip It, Girl U Want, Satisfaction, Uncontrollable Urge, Blockhead, Mongoloid, Jocko Homo, Smart Patrol/Mr.DNA, Gut Feeling/Slap Yer Mammy, Gates of Steel, and Come Back Jonee. If you missed the opportunity to see one of the best live bands ever, this is your chance to be even more jealous of all of us who did. With apologies to KISS, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, The Who, Bowie and the other 300+ bands I`ve seen in concert, DEVO`s `82 show at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA is still easily the best concert I`ve ever seen. It`s a shame the band didn`t get to play a full 90-120 minute set at this show, but this DVD is a bargain for all the mutants of this beautiful world we live in.

Devo Live is the fourth home video release by new wave band Devo, and their second DVD. Devo Live contains an entire performance from their 1996 reunion tour with Lollapalooza, filmed at Irvine Meadows, California. It was released in 2003.

The film details an entire live performance from Devo's 1996 reunion tour with Lollapalooza, opening for Metallica. The band performs a stripped down set consisting of songs from their first four albums. The band is in strong form and very energetic. However, the film itself has been criticised by fans for being poorly edited with rapid-fire cuts. Another criticism has been levelled at Rhino Records for their delays in producing the DVD and erronious packaging

Lolla Theme
Whip It
Girl U Want
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Uncontrollable Urge
Blockhead
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA
Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)
Gates of Steel
Come Back Jonee

Low priced, well recorded, what more could you ask for? If you're a fan, this is a MUST.

Just for the crazed version of "Smart patrol/Mr DNA," should everyone be made to watch this once. DEVO pogos like it's the late seventies, before domes, treadmills and syncro-screens were a part of the act. This is DEVO stripped to an electric essence, with a sweaty midday sun bearing down on them. And they rock as if they are out to win over a crowd of newbies. That they were playing for a crowd that was more likely there to see Metallica doesn't seem to matter one whit, and there are more than a few faithful in the crowd ready to shout back "WE ARE DEVO!"

If this sounds like a good way to spend under 15 bills and get a solid (almost) hour of DEVO's best, you can't go wrong here.