Copyright Westword
On the opening night of “An Evening with David Byrne” at the Bellco Theatre on November 6, the former Talking Heads frontman set out to remind audiences of their shared humanity, delivering a performance that was equal parts theatrical, political and profoundly moving. Before the lights dimmed, the venue was filled with the sounds of birdsong and visuals of ice melting, an atmospheric prelude that grounded the audience in the natural world. Then Byrne opened with a tender rendition of “Heaven,” accompanied by a nontraditional band whose members doubled as choreographed dancers. As an image of Earth appeared on the screen, Byrne remarked, “There she is, our heaven…the only one we have,” before launching into “Everybody Laughs,” from his latest album, Who Is the Sky?. Was Byrne already signifying the decline of the environment? Throughout the evening, Byrne blended art, activism and music with his signature wit and curiosity. Political statements such as “Make America Gay Again” and “Congratulations humanity, we made it” flashed across the screen, underscoring the show’s sociopolitical edge. Musically, Byrne and his ensemble fused funk, Latin rhythms, cumbia and 1980s pop with an indie sensibility, creating a rich and celebratory soundscape. In one particularly poignant moment, Byrne projected a clip of Italian neighbors singing from their balconies during the COVID-19 lockdown; a scene of collective resilience. “They were celebrating Liberation Day. A liberation from fascism,” he explained, reflecting on humanity’s capacity for joy, even in confinement. Despite the heavy themes, Byrne consistently pulled the audience back into the present, turning despair into something whimsical and life-affirming. The setlist balanced new material from Who Is the Sky? with such classic Talking Heads favorites as “Psycho Killer” and “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” Before performing “And She Was,” Byrne shared its origin story: He’d once known a high school classmate whose joyful outlook fascinated him. “It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy,” he said, “but I felt like she knew something I didn’t.” Her tales of lying in the grass beside a Yoo-hoo truck while on LSD inspired the song, which brought the entire audience to its feet, singing along to every word. At 73, Byrne remains a tireless performer: dancing, singing, playing guitar and leading intricate choreography. Backed by a dynamic ensemble of percussionists, guitarists and vocalists, each equally animated and precise, the show became a communal experience that felt, at moments, almost spiritual. With “An Evening with David Byrne,” the artist proves once again that empathy, curiosity and politics are not only compatible with art, they’re at its very foundation. See more photos from the show below:
