September 22, 2008 19:58

Devo 'Whip' Street Scene into a frenzy

New wave icons one-up San Diego festival's younger bands

DEVO delivered an impressively loud and explosive performance Saturday night (September 20) as the main headliners at San Diego Street Scene.

The new wave icons showed the younger bands a thing or two with their frenetic fusion of electronic dance-punk that was watched by members of The Hives, Cold War Kids and Eagles Of Death Metal.

Wearing their trademark yellow hazmat suits and red cone hats, the band ran through classic tracks including 'That's Good' and 'Peek A Boo', with an elaborate video display and a driving rhythm section that pumped heavy grooves throughout the festival grounds.

"Here's one you might remember," frontman Mark Mothersbaugh said when the band launched into 'Whip It', and the crowd went wild.

The groundbreaking band attracted young and old alike, with a seasoned fan shouting to young punk rockers dancing in the crowd, "You're seeing history!"

The band were accompanied by an elaborate video display that included mock 1950s-style public service announcements, and did their trademark robot-like dance moves to nearly every song.

DEVO replaced Saturday night's originally scheduled headliners, The Black Crowes, who cancelled due to illness.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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