Tuesday, February 10, 2009

David Byrne is a God

The medium is the medium … David Byrne uses PowerPoint itself to subvert the computer projection software.

T and I went to see David Byrne play tonight at Hamer Hall on his Songs of David Byrne & Brian Eno tour. I have been a big fan of David Byrne and Talking Heads since I was about 9 or 10, when I first listened (repeatedly) to my older brothers' Stop Making Sense and Little Creatures tapes on a swimming camp. 

The set list was mostly from this years' Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. I like some of this album, especially Strange Overtones, I Feel My Stuff and Poor Boy, and they were great live. Still, I was very excited by the prospect of some Talking Heads numbers, and some from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. In addition to the songs from Everything That Happens above, highlights for me included: 
Many of the songs were accompanied by dancers that often involved Mr Byrne in the choreography. At first I thought it didn't work, but it grew on me and after a few songs, the movement really started to work for me - especially when the Road to Nowhere run was incorporated. 

Thanks David - I also really liked how you matched your white hair with everyone onstage wearing white. 

6 comments:

Cindy said...

They don't come much cooler than David Byrne, do they? I think I liked the idea of the dancers more than the reality, but it all came together for Air (one of my favourites).

Caroline said...

Yes, they were very good during Air. I liked how the backing vocalists were involved in the choreography too.
If only they had played Burning Down The House (they've been playing it at other shows) and my absolute favourite of all time, Mind.
Where were you sitting?

Theresa said...

Sounds like a pretty cool show!

Cindy said...

In the back left corner, near the exit - I spontaneously bought the tickets only a week ago. I would have loved to see Burning Down the House!

Caroline said...

Tim and I were up the top too, on the centre aisle of about the fourth row. I could have done without some of the new stuff and replaced it with more TH - oh to have the power of writing the setlist!

Caroline said...

Sorry, did you mean in the stalls or up top?