Music on TV This Week: Devo
It's been 20 years since de-evolution champions Devo had released an album, and for its return, the band jokingly turns to the industry that's often cited for furthering the cause of de-voltion: Advertising.Instead of relying on original label Warner Bros., Devo leaders Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale reached out to advertising agencies to market their next release. Agency Mother won the account and the result is a 'test to learn' approach, where the band used focus groups and market research to determine everything from the songs that end up on the release, to the color of their famous energy caps (fans chose blue, inching out the classic red domes). The resulting release is reflective of its title, Something For Everything, mixing not only classic Devo sounds but also featuring input from Santigold and The Dust Brothers' John King. The strategy is nothing new, but Devo's tongue-in cheek honesty behind the process makes an interesting comment on the often rocky marriage between commerce and art.Part of any good music marketing scheme (even a fake one), of course, it to put the product in front of as many faces as possible. In that spirit, Devo plays Letterman on Tuesday night; performs and chats with fellow de-evolutionist Stephen Colbert for The Colbert Report on Wednesday; and then spreads the virus to daytime with an appearance on Regis & Kelly on Friday. By week's end, the Devolution Army should have enough recruits to be at full strength again. My blue energy cap is in the mail.Elsewhere, the Bonnaroo Music Festival just finished its 10th annual run, and like in the past, FUSE network was there to capture much of the action. On Thursday, highlights from the four day festival will be edited together for Live From Bonnaroo 2010, featuring live performances and interviews from the likes of Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Weezer and the duo of Damien Marley and Nas, who got a surprise introduction from Conan O'Brien, who manages to get at least one women to flash 'some boobies':Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 14
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Never Shout Never (REPEAT)
VH1: Behind the Music: Eve
Tuesday, June 15
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Vega
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: La Roux (REPEAT)
Wednesday, June 16
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Devo
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tokyo Police Club
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Gossip (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Broken Bells (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Devendra Bahnart
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: She & Him (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Friday, June 18
CMT: CMT Crossroads: Keith Urban, John Mayer
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Devendra Bahnart
NBC: The Today Show: James Taylor & Carole King
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Roots with Yim Yames
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Xx (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Hockey, Counting Crows, Melody Gardot (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Devo
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Crash Kings
Saturday, June 19
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Jay-Z (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Nick Lowe, The Swell Season (REPEAT)
Sunday, June 20
HBO: Treme: Various Artists from New Orleansdrake lelane
curator of the music/soundtrack blog thus spake drake