April, 2026
Over 50 years after the formation of the band DEVO, a group whose art and music were spurred on by the Kent State University massacre where a couple members of the group attended, the political and commercial pop music climates in the United States are seemingly just as bleak. This might make the project helmed by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale who cited a societal de-evolution for their satirical and at times abrasive group even more appreciated, if not more necessary, today.
While those with only a surface level familiarity with the group might most recognize songs like “Whip It”, or “Uncontrollable Urge” (aka the opening song to the long running visual smorgasbord of de-evolution in action that occurred nightly on Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness show), DEVO may one day be best remembered as the group whose angular keyboards and contrarian arrangements had at least a small part in inspiring many of the most trailblazing musical projects that came afer them.
Currently, in the wake of a recent documentary on the band which is undebatable essential viewing and in the midst of a western US bookended by appearances at the Coachella Music Festival, the band has their sites set on Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort & Casino Grand Theatre stage for a Saturday night performance on April 4th.
While the band started their farewell tour in 2023, the explosive response and eclipsing thirst for the band’s performances has led to a renewed energy, not to mention references by members of possibly wanting to tour for another 50 years.
DEVO will perform on Saturday, April 4th at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno. Tickets are available here.
