I love Summerfest for many reasons, but among my favorite is the chance to see improbable bands at an amazing venue. Not only did I never expect to see Devo, I never thought I'd see them at Summerfest. So when I found out the new-wave, synth pop pioneers would close out the big gig on Sunday, I put this show on my calendar right away.
Oddly, the music of Devo played a big part in the soundtrack of my pre-teen childhood. I practically wore out my cassette of "Oh No! It's Devo," that I bought back in 1983 at age 9. I still love each and every one of those 11 tracks, and as I got older, I learned more about the band -- they're so much more than "Whip It." I can honestly say I've never heard a Devo song I didn't like.
Mark Mothersbaugh and his crew, looking a little older and pudgier than I remembered them -- hey, they've been around since 1972 -- played a sweaty, sticky, rainy and wonderful 10 p.m. show at the Miller Oasis. The group is touring in support of their new album, "Something for Everybody," their first disc in 20 years.
Everything about this show was great, from top to bottom. Devo played all the songs I wanted to hear, from "Peek-A-Boo" to "That's Good" to Girl U Want" to "Jocko Homo" and so much more in a two-hour set. The crowd was engaged and knowledgeable and sang along to more than just "Whip It."
With costume changes and masks (blue energy domes, yellow hazmat suits and soccer outfits, to name a few), Devo looked and sounded exactly how I wanted them to. The show began very synth oriented, but Devo switched to all guitar and rocked out its version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and didn't look back.
Speaking of guitars, Mothersbaugh played an upside down version of his when he wasn't soloing on the Moog -- still trying to figure that one out. His brother, Bob, even blew all the strings off his guitar during a solo -- presumably on purpose -- I've never seen that before.
From beginning to end, I'm hard-pressed to imagine how this performance could've been more fun. Devo played with great energy and intensity, and when Mothersbaugh performed the final song, "Beautiful World" dressed as "Booji Boy," it just seemed so perfect.
The only thing that could've made the show better would be if I had an red "energy dome" to wear, and if they would've played "Baby Doll" from the "Tapeheads" soundtrack.
Still, what a wonderful way to close out 2010's Summerfest. This Devo show lived up to, and then shattered, my expectations. It was, without a doubt, my personal highlight of his year's big gig.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
