Bands pretty much get to wear masks and costumes every night. We couldn’t decide whether this made Halloween particularly awesome or particularly mundane for bands. But we settled somewhere closer to awesome, because at least one day of the year everyone gets to join them in this and maybe they don’t feel so alone. Then we wondered what is was like for Conor Oberst to not feel alone. Maybe he doesn’t do Halloween concerts…

Regardless, when bands use the Halloween spirit to channel bands they would otherwise probably never come anywhere near, it falls much closer to awesome. And while the Weezer costumes may not have worked so well for Titus Andronicus, these Devo get-ups seem to be making the boys from Pearl Jam downright jovial for their cover of “Whip It.” So embrace the semi-absurdity of the whole thing and enjoy this clip from the last show at Philly’s now defunct Spectrum.

Named after their own concept of de-evolution, DEVO, quite conscious of their antics, have rarely  de-volved. Har. At the forefront of the proto-punk and New Wave movments, the band is often experimenting with new ways to engage its audience (see Laser Disc videos), while pushing their crafted blend of satirical, scientific-art punk to the next level. This time the band, lead by Rugrats score composer and Wes Anderson BFF Mark Mothersbaugh, signed an all-inclusive deal with long time label Warner Bros., which covers “all aspects of the band’s career, including recorded music, touring, merchandising, web services, promotion, ecommerce, sponsorships, licensing, and endorsements.” The 360-deal, similar to Live Nation’s deals with U2, Jay-Z and Nickelback, comes as Warner’s is set to reissue DEVO’s first six albums in remastered form. In accordance, and in an attempt to sell a few copies of the reissues of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom of Choice, the band will play said albums on a short tour of North America, which includes the band’s first show in Toronto in 25 years. (note: DEVO are theoretically opposed to hockey teams named after leaves.) The tour runs from Tuesday November 3rd to November 24th, meaning there is no excuse not to buy your grandmother one of these for Christmas.

Devo Tour Dates

11.03 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
11.04 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
11.06 San Francisco @ The Regency Ballroom
11.07 San Francisco @ The Regency Ballroom
11.08 Seattle, WA @ The Moore
11.09 Seattle, WA @ The Moore
11.12 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
11.13 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
11.15 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11.16 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11.20 New York, NY @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
11.21 New York, NY @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
11.23 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
11.24 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre

The guys of Devo — or rather, our friends Devo — recently donated a custom-made, one of a kind bicycle to be auctioned off for Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Cancer Foundation. The winning bidder has the satisfaction of knowing he gave $1,325 to cancer research and the joy of riding the coolest bike ever.
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Remember “Square Pegs”? The 80s teen-girl sitcom with Sarah Jessica Parker? You can admit it, it’s okay. If DEVO was on the show, it definitely won’t ruin your street cred — and apparently it’s only improving theirs. One DEVO member now tells tales of coke, debauchery and sexual innuendo (oh my!) on the set.
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Words and interview by Derek Evers
Video by Hanly Banks

It was the Tripwire day at the Levi’s®/FADER Fort, and I’m talking to Women as we’re all anticipating the spectacle that will be the first ever Tinted Windows performance, when in walks Devo (in full garb mind you). In one of, if not the, most surreal moments of my career, I witnessed all of Devo walking past me and into the dressing room as Taylor Hanson and James Iha walk out. Seriously, you can’t script this stuff.
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