Devo - Satisfaction : Live At Mabuhay Gardens 03/08/77
- Written by Dave Armour
Putting aside the pictorially inaccurate sleeve photos (how hard can it be to find a picture of Devo in yellow suits?) and absence of any sleeve notes or credits, a welcome, legit (of sorts, I doubt the band had anything to do with it) reissue of this soundboard recorded bootleg Clockwork, featuring an amalgam of two performances at this legendary punk venue (“Crime returns next Thursday and Friday….” we’re informed by the slightly dazed sounding compere at the end).
This release captures Devo arguably approaching their peak, having removed the chaff from their live set and with Alan Myers now firmly ensconced at the drums, powering through most of the songs that were to become their debut LP.
In contrast to the slightly plodding versions performed by the same line up a few months earlier, (issued in 2014 on the Miracle Witness Hour LP), songs such as 'Uncontrollable Urge' and 'Smart Patrol/Mr DNA' have dramatically increased in tempo and bristle with punkoid energy and conviction, whilst primitive and temperamental synths bubble away in the background.
On stage banter is fairly minimal, mainly along the lines of “Are you Devo? We’re really Devo” from a clearly adrenalised Gerry Casale, but the audience are certainly enthused, participating with gusto during 'Praying Hands'.
Highlights include 'Jocko Homo' stretched out over seven minutes with additional chants of “White dopes on punk!”, Bob 1’s 'Mr DNA' guitar solo resembling the death rattle of a walrus and the definitive Booji Boy encore of 'Words Get Stuck In My Throat'.
Although appearing to have been mastered from vinyl (judging by a couple of “pops”) this is an excellent snapshot of Devo and the only live documentation from this era physically available while Live: The Mongoloid Years remains out of print.
Satisfaction : Live At Mabuhay Gardens is available from amazon.