15 Dec 2011 Occupy the State Theatre? Not me!
Devo, the band best known for its late 70s/early 80s hits such as “Whip It” and its unusual-for-the-time outfits (remember the red “energy dome” hats?), is one of the musical acts slated to participate in the “Occupy This Album” musical compilation to benefit the Occupy Wall Street mob (via its pass-through moneyman, the Alliance for Global Justice).
If only the members of Devo could walk the walk instead of just apparently talking the talk.
Devo is performing tonight near my house at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia. Tickets are $57 (plus a $10 processing fee though Missiontix) — too rich for my budget. But the ads for the show also hype an additional “meet the band” option for $120 (plus $10 processing).
For more than double the price of an already-expensive ticket, the pricier upgrade gets the lucky holder the show, one free drink and the alleged ability to hang out with the band at some point during the evening.
For $63 more, Devo should be making me dinner! A free drink? That’s nothing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the club is eating the cost of that anyway.
Devo, which has allied itself with the enemies of income equality, is essentially creating a caste system in which fans with more disposable income can shake a hand, maybe get a photo and tell the performers how great they are. That seems awfully 1% of them.
Then again, Devo gets its name from co-founder Gerald Casale’s belief that people are actually de-evolving. Maybe this is just their novel initiative to take advantage or mankind’s retreat and redistribute income on a small scale — and through their bank accounts.
Whatever the case, it’s both odd and hypocritical to be so critical of the rich while charging prices that only the rich (or stupid) can afford. At least it’s not compulsive. Even fans of their music, like me, have the “Freedom of Choice” to not go — and I won’t be.