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AUGUST 4th & 5th, 2005 (cont.)
ANAHEIM, CA - HOUSE OF BLUES
Mucho thanks to Tim and Monica for helping out in a pinch. They were able to get an ailing Moog fixed just before the 2nd Anaheim show, and a broken Roland D-50 repaired in time for the 1st Hollywood show, Tim and Monica transported them to Monica's husband Kevin at www.synthfool.com for repair. DEVO fans are some of the nicest people I've ever met.
I was able to meet up with someone who I saw my first DEVO concert with back in 1988. Bill Merritt currently lives in AZ, but saw DEVO with me in Raleigh NC way back then. I've just recently gotten in touch with after all those years, and it was great to see him again. Thanks for making the trek from AZ, Bill!
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AUGUST 6th & 7th, 2005
HOLLYWOOD, CA - HOUSE OF BLUES
JB and I were especially excited about the 2 DEVO shows in Hollywood, since quite a few of our friends & DEVO's friends & family were going to be there. There was also a great buzz in the press, with the LA Weekly publishing an interview with Jerry Casale a few days before the shows. Jerry is quoted as saying "(President) Bush
is an insecure, moronic, dickless spud who has to prove he's macho. There's nothing more frightening than a dickless, wimpy man who has to prove he's a god."
JB and I arrive at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood around 3 or 4pm on each night. After I get everything figured out with the guestlist, my videocam, tripod, etc., I go outside to walk the line of fans to see if I recognize any familiar faces. Tom Kiersted. and Pete-vo were both there, armed with ape masks to unleash on the unsuspecting crowd (and band!)....along with other Devotees who I recognized immediately. Also met Troy Martin, web designer for the band X, who graciously presented me with a gift - a mispressing of DEVO's Dev-o Live EP which has Side 1 pressed on both sides. Thanks, Troy!
Some notable faces at the Hollywood shows: Buzz of The Melvins, Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's, and Johnny Brewton of X-Ray Book .& Novelty Co (who printed the beautiful Club DEVO membership cards for this year's new membership kits). I heard a rumor that Alan Meyers was seen at one of the Hollywood shows. Can anyone confirm that? If so, please let me know.
I should mention that Jerry Casale slipped on a piece of torn yellow suit at one of the Anaheim or Hollywood shows. I can't remember which one, exactly...but the injury followed Jerry throughout the whole tour. I couldn't believe how dedicated he was to each performance, even when his back was causing him significant pain.
SEE PROMO VIDEO FOR SHOW/SUNSET STRIP.com
SEE A REVIEW OF THE AUG. 6th SHOW - BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
SEE ARTICLE ON DEVO'S NEXT ALBUM - BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
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AUGUST 10th, 2005
NEW YORK CITY - HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM
After a couple days off in LA, we fly to NYC on August 9th. Two DEVO related events are scheduled on the same day - The DEVO concert at Hammerstein Ballroom on the 10th, followed immediately by Mark Mothersbaugh's Postcard Diary art show at FUSE Gallery, which was also promoted as the official DEVO after party. Needless to say, my head felt like it was going to explode again.
The NYC show was a special event for Ray Amico, manager of DEVO's 2005 tour. Hint: He's got the barcode from DEVO's Duty Now For The Future LP tattooed on his ass! Not only was this his homecoming show, being from NY,
it was also the highpoint of his long-time DEVO fan dom.
(Read about Ray's DEVO-laden life). I met Ray at DEVO's show in NYC last year. Once you understand how deep his love of DEVO goes, you can see how his dreams had come true more than he could've ever imagined. We enjoyed having each other around to appreciate the fact that we were both living our teenage daydreams.
I'd set up my videocam & tripod by the soundboard, as usual. However, about 2 songs into the set, I realized that there was no way I was going to get a clear shot of the show without people being in the way, so I moved everything to a balcony seat to the side of the stage.
It was great to see Lizzy from Fischerspooner at the show. Hadn't seen her since last year's DEVO show in NYC.
Sometime after the show, I was told by Jessica DeNardo that I was sitting next to Moby, but I never noticed, since my eye was in the camera the whole time. I saw Moby last year at the NYC after party. Good to know he's probably a true DEVO fan.
The opening acts were much more bizarre & entertaining than I expected. Vic Thrill and the Saturn Missile provided their audio insanity, which was unexpected & a pleasant surprise... and Humpy The Munky (a female DJ dressed in a full ape suit) played tunes via a laptop computer while slinging bananas. Both acts hail from Brooklyn, NY. We're ALL De-vo.
Josh Freese joined Jerry Casale as the 2nd person injured on tour when he fractured the tip of his left finger, splitting the fingernail in half. Seems that he accidentally smashed his finger between a stick & the rim of a drum during Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA, leaving Josh in severe pain for the remainder of the set. It was unbelievable to see him finish the last 4 songs with only one hand as he soaked the injured finger in a cup of ice water, which some crew members were holding next to him. I've got the entire incident on video - including the moment Josh injured his finger, a shot of Josh with his finger in ice, and fantastic footage of him playing with one hand, shot from behind him onstage.
Read more about Josh's accident at Encirclepaedia.net.
After DEVO's set, I hopped in a cab and rushed to the Mothersbaugh art show at FUSE Gallery, which was already in progress, and packed full of Devotees.
Mark and Jerry showed up, DEVA performed (the female fronted DEVO tribute band), and much fun was had.
The band had the day off the next day, so I was able to catch up with my friend Steve Badamo and hang around the city with our pals Chris & Margaret.
Podcast Interview with Mark Mothersbaugh in NYC - CultureCatch.com:
HEAR PART 1 - HEAR PART 2 - SEE VIDCAST
See photographer Fracois' review of the show (in French)
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