Devo Stops By Brewer Recording Studio To Lay Down Some Tracks Before Tuesday’s Concert

Devo, the always interesting new wave band from Akron, Ohio, who penned the super-catchy earworm "Whip It" and who on Tuesday night will be performing with Billy Idol at the Maine Savings Amphitheater, stopped in to a Brewer recording studio Monday to lay down some tracks for new music they're working on.

Read More: Billy Idol Is Up Next at the Maine Savings Amphitheater

While band members went their separate ways in the '90s, some still come back together to perform in special concerts. They may not have been sporting their iconic red flower-pot hats or white jumpsuits, but they were seeking to create new music together and looking for a place where they could do so while touring.

That's how Gerry Casale, Josh Hager & Paul Hager found themselves at Main Street Music Studios in Brewer, according to studio founder Andrew Clifford.

Devo Stops By Main Street Music Studios, Andrew Clifford

"Gerry texted me to tell me he was coming up to do the Waterfront show. They're working on a new project...It sounds incredible. It's really interesting stuff. I was into it...It's not exactly what they've done in the past, but it was really killer...They're just really great guys... It was fun. They were awesome to work with."

Clifford says Devo spent about half a day laying down some vocal tracks and then some guitar tracks. But since the band hadn't brought any of their own guitars, Clifford said he had to bust out a really special guitar for the musicians to borrow.

"My dad passed away a few years ago. He was a jazz guitarist who played for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Chubby Checker. He left me his amps and his guitars, and I haven't really looked at his guitars since he passed. And when Devo came for their session, I think they assumed I had instruments here. In reality, I do have synthesizers, and we capture vocals, drums, and stuff. But the guitarist didn't bring any guitars."

Devo Stops By Main Street Music Studios, Andrew Clifford

"So I pulled out my dad's Gibson Super 400, which is like an extremely rare guitar....and the guy was like 'Are you kidding me?!' So we set it up with one of my dad's vintage amps, and he loved the sound so much that we actually added and re-tracked some of the guitar parts through my dad's guitar, which is gonna make the record, which is so special to me. It's so special. So cool...I’d love to think Dad is smiling down on this moment."

Devo Stops By Main Street Music Studios, Andrew Clifford

"It was funny to watch them mess around. We have a very vintage Moog synthesizer that's kind of rare. And they were drooling over it, and they actually added that to the album, too. They were sound designers. It was very cool...The front-of-house engineer was really cool. He does sound for Devo but also for Beck, Avril Lavigne, and the Goo Goo Dolls. So I got to know him pretty well."

Clifford says it's not unusual for artists who are working on music while on tour through the northeast to seek out spots to stop and record. He says there's definitely been an uptick in activity since Waterfront Concerts came about.

Read More: Matt Rife Stops by Portland Pie Company Ahead of Bangor Show

"All the time, especially if they're here on tour, going up through Maine to Canada, or at the Waterfront. That's created a lot of opportunities."

He says the guys from the band seemed very excited to be playing in the Pine Tree State.

"I gave them a ride back to their hotel, and we happened to drive past the venue, and they were psyched to see it. I was explaining to them how far the venue has come along since day one and they're psyched to play!"

Devo At Main Street Music Studios, Andrew Clifford/Amy Sussman, Getty Images/Canva

Gerry himself even sent Clifford a personalized review that stated:

"If you are a recording artist and find yourself in Bangor, Maine, there's only one place to go: Main Street Music Studios! Say hello to Andrew there for me."

--Gerald Casale (Founder of Devo)

Get our free mobile app

You can check out Devo, who were on tour earlier this year with the B-52s, and are now on tour with Billy Idol (until they break off to do their own thing later this fall), Tuesday night, August 11th. at the Maine Savings Amphitheater.

Devo Stops By Main Street Music Studios, Andrew Clifford

The folks at Main Street Music Studios will be hosting a cool event later on this month, with multi grammy-award-winning saxophonist. Jeff Coffin, who you may know from Dave Matthews and The Flecktones. Coffin will be joined by Grammy-winning drummer from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Roy Wooten, for a special clinic to be held at Main Street Music Studios on Tuesday, August 25th.

You can find out more information on that event here.