 "LIVE" | 2006-08-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: AKE83SJXWEVDS |
Devo Live is the fourth home video release by new wave band Devo, and their second DVD. Devo Live contains an entire performance from their 1996 reunion tour with Lollapalooza, filmed at Irvine Meadows, California. It was released in 2003.
The film details an entire live performance from Devo's 1996 reunion tour with Lollapalooza, opening for Metallica. The band performs a stripped down set consisting of songs from their first four albums. The band is in strong form and very energetic. However, the film itself has been criticised by fans for being poorly edited with rapid-fire cuts. Another criticism has been levelled at Rhino Records for their delays in producing the DVD and erronious packaging
Lolla Theme
Whip It
Girl U Want
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Uncontrollable Urge
Blockhead
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA
Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)
Gates of Steel
Come Back Jonee |
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| "Even In Transition, DEVO's Music From 1980 Is Still Fresh!" | 2005-12-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: AKO99RTX1DSHD |
| I saw Devo live in 1979 and in late 1980-early 1981 (and 2005 as well!). This video covers a show that is clearly transitional for the band. The "devolution-" heavy aspects of the early shows and the costume changes are missing, as is the more elaborate stage sets of the later shows. Filmed in a small theater, the music remains as vital as ever. The "pre-concert" music is missing, but the closing "Corporate Anthem" is included. Perhaps two hand-held cameras provide close-ups of the young band (weren't we all young back then?) and a camera set in the balcony provides the usual, low-quality distance shots we're used to from small theater concert footage. Their 3-guitar assault blazes in full for most of the show, while Mark keeps in shape with jumping jacks and crawling around. The few audience shots give a good time-frame for the concert, as the hair is feathered and the clothes are preppy. The bonus footage of the M-80 concert is a real treat. In black-and-white, it has two great favorites from their early shows, "Praying Hands" and "Shrivel Up." The opening, "Star Wars- style" prologue will come as no surprise to those who have seen Devo recently or even paid any attention to their music throughout the yaers. This DVD is a MUST for all Devo-tees. |
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| "Party on SPUDS!" | 2005-12-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3TEZY5YIWI1GN |
The sound quality is fantastic!
The audience is stoked!
The Beer is flowing!
DEVO, in their First Public performance in years shows the Headbangers at Lolla '96 what DE-evolution is all about.
All that was missing is Alan Myers on Drums! (Oh! That Alan!)
Though Josh does give us a good show, its just not the same without Alan.
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 "DEVO have never sounded better!" | 2005-10-24 |
| - Reviewed By moltar69 |
This is such a strange show. The DVD shows a special performance that DEVO gave at Lollapalooza in 1996. It is strange because this is one of the finest DEVO performances I have seen, given in one of the worst settings.
Why is the setting wrong?. First off, DEVO is playing at an outdoor amphitheater (then called Irvine Meadows) during the day light hours. There are no visuals, lights, or movies to go along with their set. They were not allowed to set up any of their set pieces, so the performance is simply the band in raw form without even a backdrop. Another interesting aspect to the show is that DEVO is opening for bands such as Metallica, Soundgarden, and Rage Against the Machine. It was odd to watch Mark Mothersbaugh make his way through the audience during "Jocko Homo" and ask the confused mulleted metal heads, "Are We Not Men?" At one point during the show a member of the band (I think it was Gerry) refers to the audience and quips, "De-evolution is real. We see evidence of it here today!"
On the positive side, in spite of these drawbacks, this is one of the finest DEVO performances ever recorded. Of all the live DVDs, this is the best the band has sounded. In my opinion, the band never sounds better or more powerful than when Josh Freese (Vandals, A Perfect Circle, and many more) is drumming for them. This is one of the few places where one can hear DEVO with Josh on the skins. At the same time, the band seems to take all of the factors stacked against them, and put all of their energy into giving the audience one of the best DEVO performances ever. If you are a DEVO fan, then you are going to want to see this DVD. I did take off one star, because the setting for the performance is a bit off-putting. Regardless, that should not hold you back from watching and, more importantly, listening to this energetic performance.
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| "very good" | 2005-08-31 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1I64C6B3UOLIQ |
| Always is a pleasure see and hear old songs... Essencially, this dvd is a great show, good sound and good video, although some classic songs, as "working in a coal mine", were absent. It is recomendable to remember old times |
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 "Better than nothing" | 2005-04-27 |
| - Reviewed By texsteve |
Oh, GOD! They got OLD! I didn't know they were going to AGE, like other pop stars. NTL, they still perform with all the spirit of their younger days. They must have grown in their skill, but they don't show off or elaborate, in keeping with their style. You gotta respect them resisting the urge.
Still, seeing them with guts and thinning hair detracts. And the venue is the last one in the world I'd have chosen to record "for posterity." It's a bare-bones, Lalapalooza stage with midday sunlight; it makes them look smaller. I've seen them live a few times, and this just ain't how a the shows I've seen felt.
Ultimately, it's kinda sad to see them stripped-down, playing their hearts out to a bunch of obviously non-fans who are largely tolerating them, about as mis-presented as possible. Audience-interaction-synergy was always a major element, and this audience just ain't into it.
But if you want a DVD of old DEVO doing their old numbers as well as they ever have, and you don't care about the venue, get it. I'm still happy to have it. |
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| "Superb performance and powerful sound" | 2005-03-21 |
| - Reviewed By jvframe |
We witnessed DEVO as they rocked Brisbane (Australia) in February 1982 - the souvenir DEVO-T-shirt still fits and has survived countless washes, and like my memories of that spectacular it hasn't faded. DEVO sound just as powerful in this 1996 show as they did in '82, but back then I had no idea that I really needed long-distance glasses (I could just make out what was happening on stage). I loved DEVO"s "Uncontrollable Urge" in the film "Urgh!", but this DVD gives us 20/20 vision of DEVO-Live which fully compliments the astonishing wrap-around 5.1 walls of sound. I watched it for the first time tonight and loved it more and more as the show progressed. Josh Friese as guest drummer continues the very high standard set by Alan and David, providing a solid energy-packed base against which each of the rest of the band gives his all. I am completely satisfied, and greatly appreciative that DEVO have given the world this memento.
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| "U Don`t Own This Yet? R U Kidding Me? U Must B Kidding Me!!!" | 2004-06-03 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| DEV-O Live from Lollapalooza `96 at Irvine Meadow`s, CA !! No gimmicks here, just the men who made the music in a classic, high energy performance. The setlist contains only early Devo material, featuring killer renditions of Whip It, Girl U Want, Satisfaction, Uncontrollable Urge, Blockhead, Mongoloid, Jocko Homo, Smart Patrol/Mr.DNA, Gut Feeling/Slap Yer Mammy, Gates of Steel, and Come Back Jonee. If you missed the opportunity to see one of the best live bands ever, this is your chance to be even more jealous of all of us who did. With apologies to KISS, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, The Who, Bowie and the other 300+ bands I`ve seen in concert, DEVO`s `82 show at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA is still easily the best concert I`ve ever seen. It`s a shame the band didn`t get to play a full 90-120 minute set at this show, but this DVD is a bargain for all the mutants of this beautiful world we live in. |
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| "It's good to be Devo" | 2004-05-28 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| Low priced, well recorded, what more could you ask for? If you're a fan, this is a MUST. Just for the crazed version of "Smart patrol/Mr DNA," should everyone be made to watch this once. DEVO pogos like it's the late seventies, before domes, treadmills and syncro-screens were a part of the act. This is DEVO stripped to an electric essence, with a sweaty midday sun bearing down on them. And they rock as if they are out to win over a crowd of newbies. That they were playing for a crowd that was more likely there to see Metallica doesn't seem to matter one whit, and there are more than a few faithful in the crowd ready to shout back "WE ARE DEVO!" If this sounds like a good way to spend under 15 bills and get a solid (almost) hour of DEVO's best, you can't go wrong here. |
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| "DEVO DELIVERS THE GOODS LIVE" | 2004-04-15 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| It's a good time to be a Devo fan. April '03 saw the release of the "Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!" book (by Dellinger and Giffels) and "The Complete Truth About De-Evolution" DVD in November '03. This past February the spuds followed that up by dropping their "Devo Live" DVD. Even though this concert is from '96, the band (with Josh Freese on drums) powers through an awesome 11 song set (55 minutes) that leans heavily on their early material. While most of the band were approaching 50 at the time of the show, Devo delivers the goods (to a Metallica/Lollapalooza crowd no less!!!). Did I mention it's a good time to be a Devo fan? |
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