Devo played on Saturday night at Dundas Square. Once again, the sound was great, the streets and square were full. At the moment I haven't got a bike lock or a bike that I feel comfortable locking up in public. So, I had to stand with my bike. After a few forays to the east side of Yonge, I picked a spot on the relatively uncrowded southwest corner of Yonge and Dundas, resigning myself to watching the show on the big screens. Certainly, it was not as deafening as the east side of Yonge but it was still loud. I almost put my ear plugs in but I abstained.
Their performance was super tight. They must be able to play these songs in their sleep after more than 30 years of being a band. I can't imagine they get too excited to play the same songs they always play but their blasé faces and robot like facade lend an air of reassuring sincerity to the concert. They take it very seriously. They don't get excited. Banter with the crowd is pretty minimal. The main thing is the songs are great and they perform them with great precision and I would say, a large measure of dispassion. Their vibe demands a lack of emotional connection and simple technical adherence to patterns and playing your part in the larger context of the band.
They seem to have picked up the quick costume changes of Noh theatre. Did they start off wearing ten layers? I never saw them doffing or tossing garments but I was also spending a fair bit of time watching all the people stroll by. Almost every song had a different outfit. I especially liked the elastic, patella-encircling garters of the last songs. Yellow raincoat-like shirts, grey long sleeve luge shirts, It looks like they are sponsored by Adidas now. Very athletic, light fabrics for the most part.
The crowd was well behaved and very smokeless compared to the Thursday show. Way to go Devo. We probably won't cross paths again but you guys were great.
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