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Do IT this week: Layering
Band comes full circle, returning to Civic for fundraiser
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal pop music writer
POSTED: 11:34 a.m. EDT, Oct 15, 2008
Are we not voters?
It's been three decades since four Akron spuds, collectively known as Devo, donned energy domes to spread the word about de-evolution, gates of steel and the power of uncontrollable urges in their hometown.
Over the years, the band has performed several times in Cleveland and at Blossom Music Center, but, by Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh's recollection, the band's show on Friday at the Civic Theatre will bring the band full circle as the theater was the setting of their final Akron concert in 1978. The show, called Duty Now for the Future — the title of Devo's sophomore album — will be a benefit for the Summit County Democratic Party.
''It was nothing on purpose,'' Mothersbaugh said from his Mutato Music studio and offices in Los Angeles where he and a team of composers make music for films, television commercials, video games and other forms of media.
''Quite the contrary, we're perceived as an Akron band out here, and we talk about Ohio and we talk about Akron constantly among us and we're still connected with family out there,'' he said. ''So Ohio is in our blood; you can take the boys out of Ohio but you can't take Ohio out of the boys.''
The band, which also includes Mothersbaugh's brother, Bob; brothers Gerald and Bob Casale and Josh Freese, is not touring, but Mothersbaugh said the election was too important to stand by and do nothing to inspire folks to get to the polls.
''We wanted to do something and why do it out here in California where you would be preaching to the choir,'' he said. ''We wanted to go back and talk to people in Ohio where it really matters more than it does in California how the vote goes.
''Ohio is an important state and we wanted to go back and remind the Buckeyes that their vote does make a difference and it is important what choice you make.
''I've witnessed 10 presidential elections,'' he continued. ''Seven of them have gone to the Republicans, only three have gone to the Democrats and I'm feeling like the Democrats are going to have to pull together and do some rowing to help pull us out of where this country is right now, which isn't a great place.''
While Devo may be the stars of the show, it was former Dayton resident Anita Mothersbaugh, Mark's wife and a fellow proud Midwesterner from Missouri, who reached out to Akron Civic Theatre Executive Director Howard Parr. (It's not a secret that Parr has been trying to get Devo back to the Civic for several years.)
Anita, who runs Greenspan Artist Management — a company that primarily represents film composers including her husband — said that she got the idea while talking to her good friend Gwen Riley during a lunch date.
''I said I want them to do something and I'm not sure that doing another fundraiser [in California] is the right thing and [Riley] said 'Let's go to Ohio,' '' Anita said from her L.A. home. ''So we hatched this plan on Ventura Boulevard over chicken salad and iced tea and then we both ran home to tell our husbands (Riley's husband is the lead attorney for Ticketmaster).
She said Riley told her husband that he was going to help put on a benefit through Ticketmaster and Anita told Mothersbaugh that Devo needed to rehearse a couple of songs because they were going to go to Ohio.
The band's reaction was positive, but skeptical that a show could be put on a couple thousand miles away in only a few weeks.
Anita said she first reached out to Kent State who gave Mark an honorary doctorate this year, but the school was unable to solidify details quickly enough. So, she contacted Parr, whom she called a ''champion'' for his hard work including contacting the Summit County Democratic Party.
Between the two, scores of phone calls were placed and plans were hastily made to bring the band back home.
''The idea is for people to come out and have a good time and think about whom they are voting for and making sure they actually wake up in the morning on voting day and show up in the voting booth. That's what it's mostly about,'' Mark Mothersbaugh said. ''We just want people to be there, it's more about that than getting more money into the Democratic coffers, really.''
The evening's opening act will be the Black Keys, lifelong Devo devotees, who headlined their own triumphant homecoming show last week at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron.
Mothersbaugh also said that Chrissie Hynde hopes to make an appearance — depending on her ability to carve out a space in her schedule which is filling with tour dates for the Pretenders upcoming Break Up the Concrete tour.
After the show, Devo will get back to quietly and leisurely recording its first album of new material since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps.
''We've been playing a lot of shows and it feels really good right now,'' Mothersbaugh said. ''We've been to Europe three times in the last couple of years. And we've been to ... Japan and we're playing anywhere from clubs like the Civic Theatre to 35,000-seat places and there seems like there's an interest in Devo again out there.
''Just combining that with everybody playing really good, I don't know, maybe it took us this long to learn to play our songs or our instruments, but the band sounds top form. So, I think it just kind of inspired us,'' he said.
Mothersbaugh said band members have separately been working on music (Gerald Casale released an album under the name Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers in 2006) but were also inspired last year when Dell Computers requested the use of a Devo song for its new ad campaign.
''Ten times a year or so, people will say 'Can we use a Devo song?' and [it's] always the same stuff. If it's not Whip It — which it usually is — it's one of the same four or five songs and it's kind of boring,'' he said.
Instead, the band offered the company Watch Us Work It, a new song remixed by eclectic Swedish trio Teddybears with a danceable electro groove, handclaps and twangy guitar licks. (Watch Us Work It video/commercial is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZcIrSAT7I&feature=related.)
''After we did that, we realized we don't even need a record company, anymore. The record company is the smallest part of the equation instead of the only part of the equation,'' he said. ''It was record companies that made us want to stop making records. And now the death of record companies gives me new hope, and that's what gave us an interest in doing it again.''
So far, the band has several songs written and Mothersbaugh said if and when they gather enough to make an album, they will. However, he said there is no concrete timetable. Additionally, the band, which is always forward thinking and technology friendly, has contemplated forgoing the use of a single producer.
''We've had quite a few people who wanted to produce us over the years. Maybe 20 or 30 serious producers from people like Snoop Dogg to Daft Punk and Justice and Fatboy Slim and Rick Rubin — there's a whole big range of people who say 'Hey, can I work on a new Devo record?' And we thought 'What if we gave people we like a song or two and see what they could do to it?' '' he said.
Additionally, Mothersbaugh said that once the album is ready, the band will consider trying to finance it by pre-licensing all of the songs to companies and/or films, allowing Devo to offer the album to the legions of Spuds online for free.
As for the show, much of the band's set list will consist of songs written during its days in Akron. As for the opening act, Mothersbaugh said that Devo members are big fans of the Black Keys and want to see the duo perform. He called the Black Keys ''one of the best bands in America, right now.''
He said he's not too worried about backlash from non-Democratic fans.
''I think most Devo fans share our politics, which aren't necessarily Republican or Democrat because quite honestly both parties have their corruptibility and both have made big mistakes since time began. ... They both are populated by humans who want power and you have to be suspect of anyone who wants to be a politician, in the first place.
''But I think our fans are like us in that they are pro-information and anti-stupidity,'' he said laughing heartily. ''And we're just one group of concerned citizens trying to figure out how to make a better place for all of us, not just the richest.''
Details
What: Duty Now for the Future benefit concert featuring Devo and the Black Keys
When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St.
Tickets: $25, $35, $50. VIP after party $150
Information: http://www.akroncivic.com, http://www.ticketmaster.com, 330-945-9400
Are we not voters?
It's been three decades since four Akron spuds, collectively known as Devo, donned energy domes to spread the word about de-evolution, gates of steel and the power of uncontrollable urges in their hometown.
Over the years, the band has performed several times in Cleveland and at Blossom Music Center, but, by Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh's recollection, the band's show on Friday at the Civic Theatre will bring the band full circle as the theater was the setting of their final Akron concert in 1978. The show, called Duty Now for the Future — the title of Devo's sophomore album — will be a benefit for the Summit County Democratic Party.
''It was nothing on purpose,'' Mothersbaugh said from his Mutato Music studio and offices in Los Angeles where he and a team of composers make music for films, television commercials, video games and other forms of media.
''Quite the contrary, we're perceived as an Akron band out here, and we talk about Ohio and we talk about Akron constantly among us and we're still connected with family out there,'' he said. ''So Ohio is in our blood; you can take the boys out of Ohio but you can't take Ohio out of the boys.''
The band, which also includes Mothersbaugh's brother, Bob; brothers Gerald and Bob Casale and Josh Freese, is not touring, but Mothersbaugh said the election was too important to stand by and do nothing to inspire folks to get to the polls.
''We wanted to do something and why do it out here in California where you would be preaching to the choir,'' he said. ''We wanted to go back and talk to people in Ohio where it really matters more than it does in California how the vote goes.
''Ohio is an important state and we wanted to go back and remind the Buckeyes that their vote does make a difference and it is important what choice you make.
''I've witnessed 10 presidential elections,'' he continued. ''Seven of them have gone to the Republicans, only three have gone to the Democrats and I'm feeling like the Democrats are going to have to pull together and do some rowing to help pull us out of where this country is right now, which isn't a great place.''
While Devo may be the stars of the show, it was former Dayton resident Anita Mothersbaugh, Mark's wife and a fellow proud Midwesterner from Missouri, who reached out to Akron Civic Theatre Executive Director Howard Parr. (It's not a secret that Parr has been trying to get Devo back to the Civic for several years.)
Anita, who runs Greenspan Artist Management — a company that primarily represents film composers including her husband — said that she got the idea while talking to her good friend Gwen Riley during a lunch date.
''I said I want them to do something and I'm not sure that doing another fundraiser [in California] is the right thing and [Riley] said 'Let's go to Ohio,' '' Anita said from her L.A. home. ''So we hatched this plan on Ventura Boulevard over chicken salad and iced tea and then we both ran home to tell our husbands (Riley's husband is the lead attorney for Ticketmaster).
She said Riley told her husband that he was going to help put on a benefit through Ticketmaster and Anita told Mothersbaugh that Devo needed to rehearse a couple of songs because they were going to go to Ohio.
The band's reaction was positive, but skeptical that a show could be put on a couple thousand miles away in only a few weeks.
Anita said she first reached out to Kent State who gave Mark an honorary doctorate this year, but the school was unable to solidify details quickly enough. So, she contacted Parr, whom she called a ''champion'' for his hard work including contacting the Summit County Democratic Party.
Between the two, scores of phone calls were placed and plans were hastily made to bring the band back home.
''The idea is for people to come out and have a good time and think about whom they are voting for and making sure they actually wake up in the morning on voting day and show up in the voting booth. That's what it's mostly about,'' Mark Mothersbaugh said. ''We just want people to be there, it's more about that than getting more money into the Democratic coffers, really.''
The evening's opening act will be the Black Keys, lifelong Devo devotees, who headlined their own triumphant homecoming show last week at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron.
Mothersbaugh also said that Chrissie Hynde hopes to make an appearance — depending on her ability to carve out a space in her schedule which is filling with tour dates for the Pretenders upcoming Break Up the Concrete tour.
After the show, Devo will get back to quietly and leisurely recording its first album of new material since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps.
''We've been playing a lot of shows and it feels really good right now,'' Mothersbaugh said. ''We've been to Europe three times in the last couple of years. And we've been to ... Japan and we're playing anywhere from clubs like the Civic Theatre to 35,000-seat places and there seems like there's an interest in Devo again out there.
''Just combining that with everybody playing really good, I don't know, maybe it took us this long to learn to play our songs or our instruments, but the band sounds top form. So, I think it just kind of inspired us,'' he said.
Mothersbaugh said band members have separately been working on music (Gerald Casale released an album under the name Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers in 2006) but were also inspired last year when Dell Computers requested the use of a Devo song for its new ad campaign.
''Ten times a year or so, people will say 'Can we use a Devo song?' and [it's] always the same stuff. If it's not Whip It — which it usually is — it's one of the same four or five songs and it's kind of boring,'' he said.
Instead, the band offered the company Watch Us Work It, a new song remixed by eclectic Swedish trio Teddybears with a danceable electro groove, handclaps and twangy guitar licks. (Watch Us Work It video/commercial is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZcIrSAT7I&feature=related.)
''After we did that, we realized we don't even need a record company, anymore. The record company is the smallest part of the equation instead of the only part of the equation,'' he said. ''It was record companies that made us want to stop making records. And now the death of record companies gives me new hope, and that's what gave us an interest in doing it again.''
So far, the band has several songs written and Mothersbaugh said if and when they gather enough to make an album, they will. However, he said there is no concrete timetable. Additionally, the band, which is always forward thinking and technology friendly, has contemplated forgoing the use of a single producer.
''We've had quite a few people who wanted to produce us over the years. Maybe 20 or 30 serious producers from people like Snoop Dogg to Daft Punk and Justice and Fatboy Slim and Rick Rubin — there's a whole big range of people who say 'Hey, can I work on a new Devo record?' And we thought 'What if we gave people we like a song or two and see what they could do to it?' '' he said.
Additionally, Mothersbaugh said that once the album is ready, the band will consider trying to finance it by pre-licensing all of the songs to companies and/or films, allowing Devo to offer the album to the legions of Spuds online for free.
As for the show, much of the band's set list will consist of songs written during its days in Akron. As for the opening act, Mothersbaugh said that Devo members are big fans of the Black Keys and want to see the duo perform. He called the Black Keys ''one of the best bands in America, right now.''
He said he's not too worried about backlash from non-Democratic fans.
''I think most Devo fans share our politics, which aren't necessarily Republican or Democrat because quite honestly both parties have their corruptibility and both have made big mistakes since time began. ... They both are populated by humans who want power and you have to be suspect of anyone who wants to be a politician, in the first place.
''But I think our fans are like us in that they are pro-information and anti-stupidity,'' he said laughing heartily. ''And we're just one group of concerned citizens trying to figure out how to make a better place for all of us, not just the richest.''
Details
What: Duty Now for the Future benefit concert featuring Devo and the Black Keys
When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St.
Tickets: $25, $35, $50. VIP after party $150
Information: http://www.akroncivic.com, http://www.ticketmaster.com, 330-945-9400
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Brimfield, Oh
Posted 12:37 PM, 10/15/2008
Well, i used to be a fan of Devo. Now that I see they are supporting putting a Socailist in office my mind has changed. I should have known better, they are left over hippies from Kent.
Ravenna, OH
Posted 12:49 PM, 10/15/2008
A one hit wonder supporting a one hit politician!
Boston Hts, Oh
Posted 01:14 PM, 10/15/2008
I too grew up loving Devo, I went to the same High School as Mark and Bob...I was contemplating going to this show.However,I agree with Eric and have changed my mind...I dont want to hear their support for the socialist either...and to boot Ms. Hynde is gonna drop in and spew her B.S Im sure!
"Are We Not Musicians"??
Posted 01:54 PM, 10/15/2008
Wow Dontcha love the warm fuzzy feeling of a homecoming. Lighten up folks or we'll bring in the Sex Pistols to support the anarchists
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 01:56 PM, 10/15/2008
30 years? They were at lalapalooza 97.
Posted 03:36 PM, 10/15/2008
Agreed, I'd love to see DEVO again and see what all the hype is over the Black Keys, but tell me that 1 penny of the gate is going to Barack, I will gladly stay at home.
Duty can wait for the future.
akron, oh
Posted 04:00 PM, 10/15/2008
30 years.. Yep sounds like the amount of time needed between shows to peek anyone's interest.
mogadore, oh
Posted 04:14 PM, 10/15/2008
Dear Above Losers: Alright...bigots....ENOUGH!!! This is the 21st century. I know...being dumb and ignorant (See Sarah Palin) is so chic with you kool-aid drinkers. Obama is kicking granpappis' wrinkled behind. Get over it. The party is over for your criminals and kooks.
Posted 04:15 PM, 10/15/2008
It's been 30 years since they played a show in *Akron*. But they've played hundreds of shows in the last 30 years, including some last year. Read the article before you spout stupid statements.
Copley, OH
Posted 04:18 PM, 10/15/2008
Thank you Dave...can they go to the McCain blogs and clog them up with this wild talk. DEVO you ROCK and Obama/Biden...2008. If you do not like Obama fine, I even honor your support however go to another site where your supporters are. Stay away from ours! We are very peaceful here!
Posted 04:39 PM, 10/15/2008
Sebryna,
This is a site for anyone, not Obama supporters or McCain supporters. It belongs to the Beacon Journal and is intended for the discussion of this article. You have no business telling someone they're not allowed to discuss the article because they don't agree with your political views.
Posted 04:41 PM, 10/15/2008
And Dave, you should have enough common sense and class to think about your words before they spill out of your mouth. You're pretending that you are somehow more intelligent or more worthy than people with different political opinions than your own. Yet you resort to childish and pointless insults about age and intelligence. That's classless.
Sunny, FL
Posted 04:42 PM, 10/15/2008
This link changed my vote!!! Also I'll be you could grow some nice plants in the flower pots devo wears since they have been full of manure for 30 years!! DEVO: "We are not men we are idiots!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyspCRmJv7w&eurl=http://www.obamacrimes.com/
Sharon Twp, Oh
Posted 04:54 PM, 10/15/2008
........''I've witnessed 10 presidential elections,'' he continued. ''Seven of them have gone to the Republicans, only three have gone to the Democrats and I'm feeling like the Democrats are going to have to pull together and do some rowing to help pull us out of where this country is right now, which isn't a great place.''.......
Not a great place? Seems you've done pretty well over the years in this horrible place, Mr. Mothersbaugh.
Posted 05:43 PM, 10/15/2008
I don't think Devo will miss a bunch of "soccer moms" and "Joe Six-packs". I'll be there though.
Sunny, FL
Posted 06:06 PM, 10/15/2008
Is that all you got bridget? Devo is MORE over rated than obama and chrissy hynde!!! Maybe you can get bill ayers to buy you a beer at the show and you two can talk about old times with him and obama (if you don;t know who he is just ask me, I'll understand)..
Posted 07:13 PM, 10/15/2008
Barry--apparently you don't get out much these days. Devo has been a huge influence on a number of bands in the Cleveland & Akron area that play out today.
I do know who Ayers is -- he committed a crime before I was born and served his time for it. He also lives in the same neighborhood as Obama. And what?
mogadore, oh
Posted 08:33 PM, 10/15/2008
Dear Barry: Now..Barry..barry..Barry. Settle down my son. Go take your zanex and go beddy-bye till Nov. 5. When you wake up from your self induced kool-aid coma...you will see a new and better America. Peace..my foolish friend.
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 11:18 PM, 10/15/2008
I can think of a better place to spend my money. Like McCain for President.
Barberton, OH
Posted 11:24 PM, 10/15/2008
Wait. Let me get this straight. There are still Republicans in America?!
Posted 12:05 AM, 10/16/2008
its nice to see a bunch of kent state hippies coming back to relive the old days. as for barak obama and william ayers, this just means barack obama has something in common with osama bin laden: they both have friends that bombed american buildings.
Posted 12:49 AM, 10/16/2008
John--Some of you 'pubs need to part with some cash and donate to the McCain campaign. I know you all don't believe in giving money to help those in need, but your candidate is about to go down for the count.
Posted 12:54 AM, 10/16/2008
It's nice to see that patriots like Sebryna want nothing more than to have only one viewpoint on an issue and want everyone else with an opposing viewpoint to shut up.
Nice use of the liberal freedom of speech there--you can talk, but if you disagree with me you need to shut up.
Posted 12:55 AM, 10/16/2008
Ed, Republicans *are* America.
