Devo Returns to Akron After 18 Years With Family on Stage

After 18 years away, one of Akron's most famous bands is finally coming home, and they're making it a family affair.

Devo, the pioneering new wave band that put Akron on the music map, returns to the Akron Civic Theatre this spring. The homecoming gets even sweeter with the opening act: Massive Hot Dog Recall, fronted by Al Mothersbaugh, cousin to Devo's Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh.

For Al and his Kent-based band, this gig represents a massive leap from the local club circuit they've been rocking for years. Their self-described "Midwestern Trashcan Trombone Rock" sound will get a chance to shine on one of the region's biggest stages.

The family connection runs deep. Al already shared the stage with his famous cousin Mark at the 2024 DEVOtional event, where Mark joined them to sing "Gut Feeling." That performance gave everyone a taste of what the Akron Civic show promises to deliver.

Despite the high stakes, Al and his bandmates are keeping their cool. "We've put the work in, so we feel loose and just want to have fun," he said.

The band knows a thing or two about resilience. When their original lineup broke up in 2022, Al quickly regrouped with musicians from another local band, Xtra Crispy. The new configuration kept both projects alive, with the same players performing in both groups.

Sunny's Take

There's something beautiful about a homecoming that celebrates both roots and growth. Devo left Akron for California decades ago, chasing bigger dreams. Now they're returning not just as legends, but as family members supporting the next generation of local musicians.

Al says distance and time haven't weakened the Mothersbaugh family bond. "We remain a very close-knit group," he explained. "They have been managing those family dynamics for fifty years now."

The show proves that success doesn't have to mean leaving your hometown behind forever. Sometimes the sweetest victories happen when you circle back to where it all began, bringing new stories and lifting up the people still carrying the torch.

A few tickets remain for fans wanting to witness this musical family reunion.