Tales From the Devolver Side. The 2nd Annual Devolvoween Ball, Oct. 27th, 2001, White Rose Motorcycle Club, Jefferson, PA

     Good morning people. I haven’t made a visit to these confines in a while but to quote George Costanza, “I’m back baby!” And I’m going back even further than normal as I make a long overdue trip to the Devolver archives within my mind. So allow myself to present the for the first time ever, the inside dirt of what I consider the peak show of the Devolver Golden Age, Devolvoween, Oct. 27^th, 2001, Live at the White Rose Motorcycle Club in Jefferson, PA.

     Things were really cooking within the Devolver world. They were playing and touring more than ever. Once a month, they were playing at The Old Mill, Kclinger’s, Lupita’s, and the Depot. We had a steady stream of income to think about other things. Like buying a van. But before that, we have a show to plan.

     We had Halloween the year before at the Bair Firehall. We were looking for something bigger and better. C and B knew a gentleman named Ryder, who was the head of some committee within the White Roses Motorcycle. They got the ball rolling on us renting the venue. Then, we got B Street Subs as a sponsor. They paid for a tiny, tiny, ad in the Merchandiser and sold subs at the show. The Jay Dewald Experience was opening and we were borrowing Groovin’ Seeds’ PA.

     The first problem arose during the soundcheck. Myself and C were about to leave to run an errand. As we were about to leave, DePalmer rolled up and something told me to not leave just yet. He was throwing a fit about us using his PA (It was actually paid for by his Dad because he didn’t really work). Don’t remember the details but I do remember it was stupid. Crisis solved; let’s get on with the show!

     This show was a blast and a half. I was out of my skull on an MX Missile. I was somewhat stressed the first set but got a really quick massage from someone and all the serotonin in my body came rushing out in a wave. I remember someone asking if we could smoke. I replied I’m in charge so sure, why not. The one rule the band had was no one besides the band backstage. So I had to put on my Management cap and be an asshole to people. A lot of people wanted to hang out and especially have a backstage lammy. To quote Chuck Berry, “Too Much Monkey Business.”

You can stream it here

https://archive.org/details/devolvermusic2001-10-27

10/27/01 The 2^nd Annual “Devolloween Ball” at White Rose Motorcycle Club, Jefferson, PA

Jay Dewald opened on acoustic

I: Looking Blind, Werewolves of London, Side Of a Mountain, Jam->Strange Red Afternoon->El Nino->

Shutdown, Thread, Bubble Speak->Dehydration->Miss You*, Psycho Killer**

II: Back In Black^, Funk II->Everything Comes Around, Coming Home*, Pedelic Sax*->Spacey Jam*->

Funk II*, China Cat Sunflower^^->I Know You Rider^^->Drumz, Careful With That Axe Eugene

->Surprise Surprise^^^->Glass Hawk, Edge Of Town*

E: Turnaround*->El Nino

*w/ Ben Plesic on alto and tenor saxophone

**w/ special spooky “Halloween” ending

^First time played; AC/DC cover

^^First time played; Grateful Dead cover

^^^unfinished

Memories scattered from throughout the night.

·         Jake having me run the sound while he did the costume contest. I did not know up from down and couldn’t hear anything. Meanwhile, someone who really wanted a lammy kept talking to me and feeding me all this bullshit.

·         Zach, nervous as all hell, as he was about to go out and sing Back in Black. He was going to be just singing, not playing the bass. He went out there and did a Lead Singer Performance for the ages. I really wish video of this performance existed. It was crazy.

·         All sorts of insanity going on at the soundboard.

·         That kid from Gettysburg dressed as the Hooters Girl. Dancing like a maniac at the beginning of the show and stone cold passed out by end of second set. I saw B looking at him to make sure he was still breathing and I replied I just did the same thing.

·         Counting the money in a locked car after the show.

·         Kyle and Megan getting into a big fight. She never really seemed to be into the band or their music. Which can be an issue when you are dating a member of the band. Her costume was a zombie schoolgirl with a pencil sticking out of her head. Lots of yelling and drama, late.

·         Chad C and Tom helping with the parking. Funkbot parking his car in the driveway, blocking the exit and entrance.

·         The crowd’s reaction when the band goes into I Know You Rider. Get chills just thinking about it.

It is amazing how much the brain can retain.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll