David Byrne at Chastain Park, Atlanta, September 20, 2008
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If you've been to my MOG page and looked around at all, you've probably seen up at the top where I wrote the following: "Band I most regret never seeing live: Talking Heads." Well, after the David Byrne show this week I think I can safely erase that message. Even though Tina, Chris, and Jerry were not there, I think it's safe to say this show was the closest thing I'll ever see to a Talking Heads reunion tour, and let me say right now, it was awesome! I've commented before that I've been trying unsuccessfully to see Mr. Byrne in concert for fifteen years now, and although I would've much rather been there in the past, this show was definitely worth the wait.
As you may or may not know, David recently did an album with Brian Eno, and this tour was billed as "celebrating the music of David Byrne and Brian Eno." Since Eno worked on several TH albums in the past, that means that a lot of those old songs were dusted off and played, as well as some other oldies.
More on the specifics of the set list a little later. Instead, I wanted to turn attention to the amazing show that was put on. In every way, I would describe this concert as "perfect," or at least as close as you can get. First, the venue was an amazing outdoor amphitheater in Atlanta. The seats provided plenty of room on all sides, so comfort was not an issue. The weather was perfect—cool and crisp—and the audience was full of hardcore fans. More on that later, as well. The stage was a pretty stripped-down affair, no bells and whistles. Everyone came out wearing white suits. In addition to the five-piece band (David on guitar, a bass, drummer, piano, and percussionist) there were three backup singers and three dancers. The playing was tight, the music mixed well, and his voice sounded great.
In all my life I've been to exactly one other show that had choreographed dancing (for the record it was Phil Collins back in the day) so I was a little unsure of what to expect with the dancers. They ended up being very enjoyable. Their routines were quirky in a very David Byrne sort of way, often involved the rest of the band (including David himself) and were not at all pretentious, gaudy, or stupid.
The songs he played were great. I don't remember the exact order he played them in, so I'm not going to try, but I will list them here according to what album they were off of. Some of them you'd expect. Others surprised me (for example, even though I knew he was going to do it, actually hearing a song off of My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. That was just cool.)
From the new album, Everything That Happens Happens Today:
Home
My Big Nurse
I Feel My Stuff
Everything That Happens
Life Is Long
River
Strange Overtones
One Fine Day
From My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Help Me Somebody
From The Catharine Wheel
My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)
From More Songs About Buildings and Food (Talking Heads)
Take Me to the River
From Fear of Music
I Zimbra (and this one was just freakin' awesome)
Life During Wartime
Heaven
From Remain in Light
Crosseyed and Painless
The Great Curve (my favorite TH song of all time. How awesome is that?)
Once in a Lifetime
Houses in Motion
In the end, the crowd enthusiastically loved every minute of it, and you could tell David was honestly surprised and touched by the warm reception. He received something like three standing ovations throughout the show (most after doing some of the more well-known and loved TH numbers) and was left speechless. At the end of the set there was the usual planned encore, but the crowd wouldn't let him finish. We kept cheering until he came out again. You could tell this one wasn't planned because the drummer had already changed out of hit outfit into shorts and a T-shirt! They played two songs on this encore, and left again. But the crowd wasn't finished, and they came out a third time and played one song, which was, as David said, "the only other song we know. After this, there's nothing left." They played it, and then finally the show was done.
This concert was more than I could've ever hoped for. After 15 years of waiting I was not disappointed at all, and I only hope not to wait another 15 years before I see him again!
Comments (10)
This was great to read, I know how much you have been looking forward to this day and I am glad it met your expectations!
Chuck I bet your going to have a 'stiffy' for about 3 weeks.
Lucky dog.
Coop, it more than met my expectations. I can probably name on one hand the number of shows I've been to that completely lived up to what I was hoping for, and this was one of them.
Chris, all I can say is that it left me very, very satisfied.
I bet.
That's wonderful that not only were you not disappointed but he played what sounds like an astounding show. I saw him about 3 years ago and kept wondering why I'd neglected him after the Heads - he was charismatic, had great songs, and played wonderfully eccentric guitar. I guess you had the same emotions only x100. Maybe some of these shows are on YouTube or other places.
Damn, vikings get to go to all the good shows. Excellent reportage Groonie.
So jealous! I'm glad your experience was a good one - Chastain has a reputation of being a great venue that attracts the worst crowds. I blame it on the dinner seating that they sell to the businesses, which attracts the wine and cheese crowd who talk through the whole show. Maybe that's not so much an issue since the economy is in the shitter.
Sounds like such a great spread of his work. I've only seen Byrne live on TV on that show "Sessions at W 57th" and he was pretty incredible. He knows the right mix of entertainment and skill - and as we've discussed before, how to make it unpretentious!
Groony, Cody is on to you like butter on baguette. ;d
no accompanying tunage?
i am happy for your realising your dream live show. i've hardly seen anyone because of where i am located, which is just cool, but of course i'd have loved to see my teenage idols, too, mostly bands from the '80s. what i'd give to travel back to an awesome Cure / Smiths / New Order concert.
Sweet...I'm glad for you.
Jonh: I'll admit I was expecting a good show, but not as great as the one I saw. and I have a feeling if the TH tunes weren't included I would have still had a great time, but not as much. Still, what you said rings true. Good songs, "eccentric" guitar (a great word to describe him. He's "eccentric" in every good sense of the word).
Cody: Thanks. and don't worry. Your time will come!
Contra: the wine and cheese crowd were there in force, but they seemed to be having as good a time as the rest of us. I thought that whole scene was kind of coo, but kind of strange at the same time. I mean, they sell flowers and candles there, for God's sake! For a concert!
poe: while Charleston isn't as quite off the concert road as Cambodia is, we don't get near as many shows here, either. So I know what you mean at least a little. I thought about actually uploading the tagged song, but didn't want it to get in the way. the title of the song, not the lyrics, were what I was going for.
annie: thanks!