Show Review, Photos: Devo Celebrates 50 Years As A Band in Santa Cruz
Devo
50th Anniversary Farewell Tour
Santa Cruz Civic
Santa Cruz, CA
November 2nd, 2023
Review and Photos by Derek Simmons-Tobias
Although Halloween was two days earlier, many people eagerly waited outside the Santa Cruz Civic Center dressed in yellow jumpsuits and red/blue pyramid hats eagerly awaiting the start of the North American Devo tour, celebrating the band’s fiftieth anniversary. As old friends connected again, superfans of all ages made new connections in line all in the name of De-Evolution.
While many were coming out to see the iconic rock/punk band for the first time, some were here over forty years ago when Devo played the Civic back in 1979 and have seen them countless times. After everyone managed to find their seats or spot on the floor, the fog machines had their moment, it was time for the lights to go low. An intro video with Rod Rooter from 1980 played on the big screen behind the stage. With a tour meant to celebrate and promote the new 50 years of Devo box set, it was fitting to launch the night with a familiar face on the screen.
After the film played, the members of Devo appeared on stage. Dressed in black workers jumpsuits with a silver sequin pyramid on the chest, and the words “Reverse Evolution” emblazoned on the back, Devo started their set with “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man). As both Gerald Casale (vocals, keys, bass) and Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals) worked the stage with robotic movements, Bob Mothersbaugh (guitars), Josh Hager (Keys/Guitars) and Jeff Friedl (Drums) kept the rhythm flowing.
Throughout the evening, Devo would change outfits a total of five times, moving from workers suits, to black t-shirts, to their iconic red pyramid hats, to yellow plastic jumpsuits, to black vests that spelled out DEVO. The band from Ohio played a career spanning set and seamlessly transitioned through punk, synth, and rock genres. Touching on iconic tracks such as “Girl U Want”, “Whip-it” and “Jocko Homo” as well as covers like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Secret Agent Man”.
Mark Mothersbaugh kept the crowd energized by throwing out pyramid hats as well as part of his (and other band members) ripped jumpsuits, and the fifty-year old band proved that they can rock out with the best of them. The night concluded after an encore of “Gut Feeling” when Casale commented “After all that noisy, aggressive, assaultive stuff, I think it’s time for Devo to do something beautiful”, which sent the crowd into massive cheers.
As the screen behind the band changed to a picture of the Earth, “Booji Boy” (with Mark Mothersbaugh dressed in pajamas and a mask) came out and sang the closing song of “Beautiful World” and as the screen changed from the earth to the words “Devo - 100 years - 2073”. Booji commented to the crowd, “I want to see you all here in 2073 for the hundred-year anniversary”. As the band signed off and said goodnight, the screen changed to a photo of Devo in flight suits saluting.
Devo will continue their North American tour throughout November including two nights in San Francisco on November 5th (which they’ve since played) and November 14th. For more information and tickets, click here.
Devo Set List
Don’t Shoot (I’m A Man)
Peek-A-Boo!
Going Under
That’s Good
Girl U Want
Whip It
Planet Earth
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Rolling Stones cover)
Secret Agent Man (P.F. Sloan cover)
Uncontrollable Urge
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
Gates of Steel
Freedom of Choice
Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)
Beautiful World (Booji Boy)
