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David Byrne at Celebrate Brooklyn
Ex-Talking Head will open the 2009 Celebrate Brooklyn season
David Byrne at Chicago’s Civic Opera House, October 2008 (Photo: Danielle Spencer)
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“Strange Overtones (Live Version)”
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“One Fine Day (Live Version)”
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David Byrne has made it clear that the Talking Heads will not be joining the likes of The Police, the Pixies or the Sex Pistols in the ranks of unlikely reunions. Byrne has been zooming along from project to eclectic project in the years since his seminal band’s demise, much of it veering far from that influential sound, and often away from music altogether. The sound installation, Playing the Building, running a record label, making paintings and the devising of bicycle racks for New York City sidewalks to name but a few. The guy seemed to have the Talking Heads well in his rearview mirror. Until last year, that is when he made Everything That Happens Will Happen Today with Brian Eno.
The excellent record was the duo’s first collaboration in twenty-five years and has in turn inspired a unique kind of tour. When The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno landed at Radio City this past winter the results were most noteworthy. For starters: ELEVEN TALKING HEADS SONGS! Sorry, was I shouting? I suppose you can guess where I was that night. He also wowed the faithful with a handful of songs from the landmark Byrne/Eno album, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Those are songs that were largely comprised of “found vocals” and a whole slew of musical experimentation, much of which would influence both electronica and hip hop artists to follow and no mean trick to replicate on stage. Yet, Byrne and his crack band of musicians and dancers and dancing musicians found a way to make it work.
Fortunately, Mr. Byrne and company are swinging back through for a couple of late spring shows in Jersey City and the opening night gala of the Celebrate Brooklyn season. The idea of this show coming to the Prospect Park band shell to benefit Celebrate Brooklyn is one that Brooklyners should be very enthused about. You would be hard-pressed to find a more creative trio of albums than the Talking Heads records produced by Brian Eno. More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light rode in on a post-punk wave during the height of disco and heavy metal and were lightning in a bottle. Ironic social commentary colliding with cutting edge production and tribal rhythms that both rocked and could be danced to, those albums brought the musical 70s to a close with emphasis. And those songs will be aired out in glorious fashion on a summer night, amidst the fireflies in Park Slope. The fact that the show will benefit the park itself and cycling and recycling causes is just one more reason to embrace this New York City icon. And did I mention that the price of admission is a $3.00 suggested donation?