It’s been 29 years since we first saw those yellow jumpsuits and red hats. It’s been 29 years since we were politely reminded to whip it. Whip it good. And it’s been 19 years since we’ve had our hands on a new LP from new wave icons Devo, but all that is going to change this fall with the release of their first album since 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps.
There’s no title, there’s no exact date, there’s no real information other than this is happening. This will be their first new music since their 2007 single “Watch Us Work It,” which at the time was their first new track in 18 years. The five current members of Devo (including co-founders and songwriters Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale) will be making a special stop-off in Austin next week for a SXSW press conference and keynote panel next Thursday, March 19. They wouldn’t come to SXSW just to chat, though, so they’ll be performing a one-night-only gig at Austin Music Hall Friday night.
They’ll head to the UK shortly after that, for a series of shows in May, including the performance of their entire album Q: Are We Not Men, We Are Devo! at London’s Kentish Town Forum. The 1978 album was Devo’s debut, and was produced by Brian Eno. They’ll also be headlining the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Somerset while in the UK, at Butlins Holiday Centre on May 8.
03.18.09 – Dallas, TX (Palladium Ballroom)
03.20.09 – Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall)
05.06.09 – London, UK (Kentish Town Forum)
05.08.09 – Somerset, UK (Butlins Holiday Centre, Minehead)
