DEVO - Lets hear some chatter folks

We were at the show in NYC this past Wednesday and they cancelled the second oncore saying that their drummer broke his hand. Now we get ready for the show at 9:30 and wonder what the story is? Are they playing tonight in SC? Is the show taking place tomorrow? Who is the drummer??

Show in NYC was outstanding!

So…
A month or so ago, my girlfriend returned to Baltimore from a great time seeing Devo down in Atlanta at some music festival, bringing with her the good news that they'd be coming to DC.
Finally, I thought, a reason to return to the nation's capital where I spent my formative years seeing punk shows at a little crap box on F street.
Tonight I surfed over to this here web site to check the price of said show, and saw… FIFTY-FIVE FREAKIN' DOLLARS?!?
I wouldn't pay 55 bucks for the second coming of Christ, let alone some over-the-hill one hit wonders in paper suits (let me stem a tide of abusive criticism here, by saying that I own every GD album they put out, including a marble vinyl copy of Are We Not Men. In other words, I'm a bigger Devo geek than you. So there).
The point is, NO SHOW is worth 55 bucks, I mean come on, if you folks down in the birthplace of Ian Mackaye don't know that, who the hell does? The aforementioned music festival was $70 for three days and, like, a million bands.
As I read through the posts above this I see that some of you think that 11 TIMES the upper price limit of Mr. DC-Music himself is not too much to pay to hear the bros. Mothersbaugh crank out a juke box version of the hits, some of you say you would even pay more!
This a plea to all of you: take the money and give it some 18-year-old kids making weird sounds in their basements. They need it a lot more and that's what made Devo cool in the first place.

Spending my 55 dollars on 15.4929 cases of Natty Boh and firing up the record player,
Reverend Chris

You're all washed up yourself pal. Stay home. If you were at Central Park, The Hammerstein, you'd find that despite it being years, Devo is the best band out there right now. Go get U2 tickets for $110. but you'd not be able to - go to the ticket brokers for 150.

It's about F-in time that the Spud Boys made some money on a tour instead of losing as in past years. This is it for them and us so pay the 55. Best show of the year you'll see. Stop letting MTV tell you that they're a "revival" or "One hit Wonder" crap. If you're into Devo - you're there…..period.

I am seeing that all other shows at this club are nowhere near $55. so I understand in that respect.

Originally posted by revcbl:
So…
A month or so ago, my girlfriend returned to Baltimore from a great time seeing Devo down in Atlanta at some music festival, bringing with her the good news that they'd be coming to DC.
Finally, I thought, a reason to return to the nation's capital where I spent my formative years seeing punk shows at a little crap box on F street.
Tonight I surfed over to this here web site to check the price of said show, and saw… FIFTY-FIVE FREAKIN' DOLLARS?!?
I wouldn't pay 55 bucks for the second coming of Christ, let alone some over-the-hill one hit wonders in paper suits (let me stem a tide of abusive criticism here, by saying that I own every GD album they put out, including a marble vinyl copy of Are We Not Men. In other words, I'm a bigger Devo geek than you. So there).
The point is, NO SHOW is worth 55 bucks, I mean come on, if you folks down in the birthplace of Ian Mackaye don't know that, who the hell does? The aforementioned music festival was $70 for three days and, like, a million bands.
As I read through the posts above this I see that some of you think that 11 TIMES the upper price limit of Mr. DC-Music himself is not too much to pay to hear the bros. Mothersbaugh crank out a juke box version of the hits, some of you say you would even pay more!
This a plea to all of you: take the money and give it some 18-year-old kids making weird sounds in their basements. They need it a lot more and that's what made Devo cool in the first place.

Spending my 55 dollars on 15.4929 cases of Natty Boh and firing up the record player,
Reverend Chris

Since you appear to be new to this board, you've most likely missed the many discussions that have been held here about ticket prices. To summarize, there is a direct correlation between the ticket price and the fee demanded by the artist. Devo ain't cheap. Festivals have large budgets to pay artists generated by big-money sponsorships and concessions sales in addition to ticket sales. Clubs have ticket and bar sales and that's it.
Personally, I vastly prefer seeing a show in an intimate club, with A/C and a great sound system where I can really see what is happening onstage, as opposed to a large hot outdoor setting where I can't see the band, the sound sucks and there's no real bathrooms. I think it's worth paying more for a more comfortable concert experience. But if you don't think it's worth the money that's certainly your choice.

well in LA you'd be able to buy even more cheap beer for your self as the tickets were going for 62.50

I have a ticket for Sunday's show and now can't go…anyone have an extra ticket for tonight that they want to trade?

Me again.
Yes, I am new to this board- I don't usually post to things like this and I just joined because I was pissed off. Now we're rollin'.
So, to take issue with some of the above comments:
"Washed up" No no, my friend. Washed up is being so hung up on the music of your youth that you're willing to pony up $55 when there are other bands, just as good for a lot less (see also Rolling Stones, New York Dolls, et al.). The problem is most people stop discovering new music in their college years. Evolve, dammit.
Now, going to see an older band can be great. I saw the Rezillos play at Black Cat a few years ago and they rocked. For all I cared they could have been animatronic replicas of the original members, and no, I didn't really want to hear their new songs– I wanted to hear the "hits." However, those folks dragged themselves all the way here from Scotlandia or some such for about 12 bucks. What's Devo doing that cost so much? Man Or Astroman carted around all that freakin' gear and stage show stuff for a bargain price. Has the cone hat futures market driven prices that high?
I don't care how much U2 charges. I ain't goin' to see them either, and whatever the ticket price, it's too much. My point is that even the best band in the world (and for the record, that will always be the Ramones) isn't worth the money.
The idea that Devo were taken advantage of in the early years is a little suspect. I'm sure the royalties have been rolling in, and the members haven't exactly been idle since then, so we're not talking about Blind Lemon Jefferson here (barring some type of Willie Nelson-style tax difficulties, which I can't speak to). If Devo's that great (and they probably are) they could just rent a nice bus, call ahead to say they're coming, and we'd show up. Young punks all over the country are doing the same thing as I write this, playing for gas money in nowhere towns. With Devo's draw, they probably wouldn't even have to sleep on peoples' floors or anything. Jonathan Richman's been doing it for years, and I don't know how much he's charging now, but it ain't no $55.
Whoever's responsible for the prices, send 'em a message. Don't go. And for god sakes don't start using L.A. as a benchmark for music prices. Do that and the bastards have won.
Selah,
Rev. Chris

Seeing as the doors open at 9:00, and Devo goes on at 11:00, what's happening for two hours? An unannounced opening act? Videos? Two hours of hanging out, drinking, with spuds?

I'm planning to get there about 9:30, hopefully I won't miss anything good.

Decent show, but 1 hour and 5 minutes? Whoah.

What they only played an hour!!

Yep.

Regardless of how good the show may have been, that is not good especially after charging $55 and no opener.

Glad that I saw them back in the day when they played Gaston Hall and half the crowd was wearing trash bags. The crowd amazed me. I've never seen such an artistic audience before nor after in my life. I was totally amazed what all they could do with trash bags. They put the accent mark in garbáge.

Originally posted by revcbl:
Me again.
Yes, I am new to this board- I don't usually post to things like this and I just joined because I was pissed off. Now we're rollin'.
So, to take issue with some of the above comments:
"Washed up" No no, my friend. Washed up is being so hung up on the music of your youth that you're willing to pony up $55 when there are other bands, just as good for a lot less (see also Rolling Stones, New York Dolls, et al.). The problem is most people stop discovering new music in their college years. Evolve, dammit.
Now, going to see an older band can be great. I saw the Rezillos play at Black Cat a few years ago and they rocked. For all I cared they could have been animatronic replicas of the original members, and no, I didn't really want to hear their new songs– I wanted to hear the "hits." However, those folks dragged themselves all the way here from Scotlandia or some such for about 12 bucks. What's Devo doing that cost so much? Man Or Astroman carted around all that freakin' gear and stage show stuff for a bargain price. Has the cone hat futures market driven prices that high?
I don't care how much U2 charges. I ain't goin' to see them either, and whatever the ticket price, it's too much. My point is that even the best band in the world (and for the record, that will always be the Ramones) isn't worth the money.
The idea that Devo were taken advantage of in the early years is a little suspect. I'm sure the royalties have been rolling in, and the members haven't exactly been idle since then, so we're not talking about Blind Lemon Jefferson here (barring some type of Willie Nelson-style tax difficulties, which I can't speak to). If Devo's that great (and they probably are) they could just rent a nice bus, call ahead to say they're coming, and we'd show up. Young punks all over the country are doing the same thing as I write this, playing for gas money in nowhere towns. With Devo's draw, they probably wouldn't even have to sleep on peoples' floors or anything. Jonathan Richman's been doing it for years, and I don't know how much he's charging now, but it ain't no $55.
Whoever's responsible for the prices, send 'em a message. Don't go. And for god sakes don't start using L.A. as a benchmark for music prices. Do that and the bastards have won.
Selah,
Rev. Chris

Wow someone has issues! How about people pay for and go to whatever shows they want to and not get all pissy about what other folks choose to do with their entertainment dollars. Who gives a rat's red ass what I listen to or when (if I have) stopped listening to 'new' bands. Last year I went to everyone from Arlo Guthrie to Marilyn Manson to Old Crow Medicine Show to The Secret Machines (plus another 47 shows). I am sure everyone on these boards could target at least one show I saw as a 'you have to be kidding me' show. However most of the regulars know that what I choose to go to is irrlevant to any damn thing. Did I actually make a point? Oh yeah, I'll be at the Devo show on Sunday…

DB

Originally posted by bearman:
Decent show, but 1 hour and 5 minutes? Whoah.

And trouble with their opening video was not a very good sign,either….man,55 clams…I just didn't see 55 bucks a head up on the stage…..but,I did enjoy the music and the song selection was pretty damn cool…

Setlist was great, I heard pretty much what I had hoped to hear, but that being said…it could have been amazing and instead I thought it was merely OK. I was impressed at the one-handed drummer's performance during "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy".

What all did they play?

I don't ever recall DEVO having openers during their heyday and they were never known for doing lengthy shows either. But will agree the ticket price is a bit hefty, but The New York Dolls did around 75 minutes the other night.

I pulled out some old tickets stubs that go back to 82 and DEVO was getting $11.50 for a show in 5K theater on the "Oh No It's Devo" tour. Which adjusted for inflation is $23.33 in 2005. Some Ticket prices have definitely outplaced inflation.

For the shows I still ticket stubs for 82/83 DEVO was about the median price.

The Clash (82) - $11 (Small Theatre)
The Who (w/ The Clash, Eddie Money) at the Pontiac Silverdome (80K) - $15
Gang of Four (83) - $8.50 (club show)
Ramones (83) - $10
U2 (83 War Tour) - $10.50 (Small Theatre)
New Order (83) - $11 (Club show)
The Police (83) - $12.50 (Joe Louis Arena)
Talking Heads (83 Stop Making Sense tour) - $13.50 (Pine Knob smiliar to Merriweather)

Most of those bands were at or near the peak of their popularity, so on thier way up. And the Summer of 83 was a great time, turned 21 and on one weekend saw Bowie, The Police and Peter Gabriel.

And speaking of how ticket prices have inflated… Paul McCartney 1990 $28.50 floors adjusted for inflation $42.50

It was kind of funny when the video intro screwed up. Not so funny when I realized there would be no visuals at all. Everything they played was great. They just didn't play enough of it. I couldn't believe they walked off the stage after 50 minutes. The encore pushed it to just over an hour, but it was still way too short.

I won't post any attempt at a setlist. Better to leave it as a surprise for those going tonight. I will say that it was about 85% from the first 3 records.

Like bearman said - It was a good show, but it coulda been great. Hopefully, they'll at least get the video working tonight.

I'm sure tonight will be a better show. I just hope they play longer.