Devo’s 50th Anniversary Show at Promowest Pavilion opened with a 70’s looking stag movie called the Rod Rooter Video. The Rod Rooter Video depicts a cornball record industry’s climate which existed while Devo were burgeoning Northeast Ohio visionaries. Rod Rooter is a corny music executive who is lecturing Akron’s iconic art performers about marketing. Rod Rooter resembled an unlikable, uncouth predator in a porno movie.

Rod Rooter tells DEVO the Akron legends should aspire into being Kid Rock. While I doubt Kid Rock made music in 1977. Rod Rooter Video’s satire is mocking an embarrassing element from the 70’s and the music industry that still exists.

After this out of touch, and artless cornball lectures Devo, Devo took the stage with the relevant Don’t Shoot. Don’t Shoot reminded everyone Devo’s subversiveness was an Ohio cultural response after the National Guard killed people in Kent, Ohio during the Nixon 70s. We’re thinking about Trump’s disingenuous Ice Raids which compelled Trump into invading California with the National Guard.

Rod Rooter Video’s corny conversation exemplified the end of the 1970’s. Rod Rooter’s Video showed that cornballs executives didn’t learn anything from the Vietnam protests, black liberation, queer and feminist movements. Punk rock rejected cornballs like Rod Rooter. Devo is new wave art project with a late 1970’s punk understanding.

Rod Rooter praised Kid Rock while demeaning Devo in the Rod Rooter video. Devo’s introduction video created an immediate diagnosis of something which is wrong right now: Who the fuck let the morons in charge again?

Trump’s sending in the National Guard as part of his ICE Raids. If you’re from Ohio, Kent State should be part of your understanding of something which affected our state’s influential musicians’ understanding of the world.

Devo influenced Nine Inch Nails, Black Keys etc. This song “Don’t Shoot” was a 2010 commentary about the post 9-11 police state created by George Bush. Devo reminded everyone of Kent State.

“Don’t Shoot” isn’t the song Devo is know for. “Don’t Shoot” is part of the Ohio rebellion Devo pioneered. Devo played five lesser knowns songs where Devo’s costume and visuals set up the Devo experience. Once Devo’s art, and presentation was fully understood in a familiar but new capacity. Devo played the hits.

I felt like I’d taken the COTA number 2 into an art installation and then Whip it played.

“Whip It” was followed by Satisfaction, Uncontrollable Urge, Mongoloid.

Gerald Casale of Devo then said:

“Q. Do you think Devolution is Real.

Yes. Look at Washington D.C?”’

We agreed with rejecting the alt-right.

“Q. Are we not men?

 We are Devo?”

Devo nurtured people from Ohio’s understanding of subversive comedy. If you wanna know a difference between the Black Keys and other rock’n‘roll stars. Ohio's Black Keys' role models in presentation: Devo.

People in Akron know it's either work rubber in Goodyear or become the next Devo.

Devo is Ohio's Kraftwerk.

Black Keys needed humor.

I looked a Devo’s influence on Patrick Carney of the Black Keys while Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh wore glasses and stood near Devo’s drummer while slightly mocking something without making a joke song. I’ve watched Black Keys and Devo play in Akron.

Devo played Gates of Steel. I’d become intrigued by Devo’s musicianship during Q. We Are Devo because of a unique guitar and keyboard overlap riff. I contemplated the exact process of that riff. Devo made a sound people hadn’t heard.

I call the anti-Devolution song “Q We Are Devo” out of political correctness. I’ve discussed Turnstile and Sinkane as a study of sounds that musicians find after playing Hardcore punk. From “Q. We Are Devo” into “Gates of Steel,” Devo played extended instrumentals which sounded avant-garde. We knew Devo is art school smart.

I hadn’t heard them rip it up and start again. Devo weren’t hardcore. Still, in the spirit of reinventing music, I could see an evolution from Velvet Underground’s white noise via late 70s Punk into Nirvana’s Devo covers.

Devo chanted O-H I-O. I thought about Akron/Columbus. Mark Mothersbaugh changed costumes into a cheerleader for awhile.

Columbus, Ohio’s best Devo influenced band:

Columbus Discount Records’ band Pillowtalk.

Bump Pillowtalk’s Downtown Unga Wunga 7 inch. Pillowtalk played synthesizer blues scales while a brat yelled, “YEAH.” I picked Pillowtalk because Devo’s scream said “Yeah” while Mark Mothersbaugh played a keyboard and sang “Yeah.”

Devo’s set climaxed at “Gates of Steel.” Devo presented their signature energy domes and the audience adored energy domes during Devo’s explosion from their classics.

Devo left the stage and returned for encores which included Freedom of Choice. I basked in the idea of energy dome while Beautiful World permeated our spaces.

Devo was known for their Boogi Boy character who was a suburban Ohio white male. Booji Boy made an appearance in front of a picture of World War II’s Genocide Adolf. I contemplated the idea of Devo’s Style Wars: Who would you rather influence Booji Boys? Devo or Kid Rock?

Devo could win the soul of Bouji Boy. Nickelodeon’s Rugrats theme music is composed by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. If a kid was reared from Rugrats and then discovered Devo, in the least, Booji Boy would eat Burger King’s Impossible Whoppers while rejecting stupidity which breeds fascism.

It felt like Devo defeated devolution with their 50th anniversary performance at Promowest Pavillion.

Devo left the stage. I’d watched Ohio’s Kraftwerk who could rock the Descendents neighborhood. While satisfied I saw a legendary band perform which made me feel smarter…

I realized I didn’t need to Lyft or Uber. COTA extended its bus services until past 11 Monday-Saturday. I jumped on the Number 2 determined I would improve our existences.

Devo reminded me of why I love Ohio music.