When David Byrne toured 2018’s ‘American Utopia’, it felt like a career renaissance for one of music’s most eclectic men. What started in theatres eventually ended up as a globe-spanning arena tour and feature-length concert film, not to mention an extensive Broadway run. To say expectations are high for his new shows would be an understatement, then.
In some ways, not much has changed – there are still no wires in sight on stage and the band are free to wander about untethered by drumkits or mic stands. The innovation this time around isn’t in the stage setup itself, but in the giant wraparound screens which cover the entire back and side walls, broadcasting song-appropriate imagery throughout. The earth rises over a moonscape as David walks on, slogans pop up during new song ‘T-Shirt’, David’s apartment is shown in 30ft technicolour glory during ‘My Apartment is My Friend’. Coupled with his headset mic and blue suit, David sometimes feels like the world’s most musical TED Talk host.
The images add to the theatrics of it all, but it’s David’s back catalogue, both solo and with Talking Heads, that make this one of the best shows in the world. Cuts from new album ‘Who Is The Sky?’ sit alongside cult favourites from across his solo career, with ‘Strange Overtones’ being a surprise singalong highlight for those who have come to worship at the altar of David Byrne. There’s time between songs for an anecdote or two as well – hands up who had “discussion of the Buddha’s retractable penis” on their conversation topic bingo card?
All that being said, we’ll cut to the chase – yes, he plays a slew of Talking Heads tracks and yes, they sound just as good as they did when they were first recorded. David has the rare ability to rework a song just enough for it to sound fresh, without losing the essence of what makes it a classic. ‘Houses in Motion’ almost becomes beat poetry at times, while ‘This Must Be The Place’ is transformed into a full-bodied, euphoric experience more akin to a religious experience than a song.
By the time the knockout blow of ‘Burning Down The House’ rings out, everyone in the venue is dancing along like nobody’s watching and cheering so loud that David’s final “thank you” can barely be heard over the crowd. We’ve been known to be a bit overenthusiastic here at Dork, but trust us when we say that this is a show you absolutely do not want to miss.
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