A few weeks back I went to go see David Byrne at the Davis Symphony Center for the first of two nights here in San Francisco and I’m surprised I never got around to writing something up on it. It was an absolutely incredible show for a Monday night affair, and it was my first time getting to see David Byrne perform musically (I saw him speak at SXSW 2007 about the death of record labels; that was pretty cool). On this tour, he’s performing new music from his recent album Everything That Happens Will Happen Today along with some of the classics while being surrounded by a largely nondescript set of session musicians and three performance dancers that improvise ballet pieces around the stage set to the music piping out of the PA. It was kinda weird, to be honest. But then again, it was also incredible. Seeing “I Zimbra” live was straight-up powerful, and they even played a few real bonuses that I never thought I’d hear like “The Great Curve” off Remain in Light. The new stuff sounded pretty good, too.
For the encore, the Extra Action Marching Band came out by playing down the aisles and bringing the crazy drumline / burlesque show to the stage, which culminated into an epic performance of “Burning Down the House” with the full Byrne band. It was a seriously awesome time. Check out this clip from that encore:
David Byrne Burning Down the House [YouTube]
I was so pleased to see Byrne has continued to play with the same boyish enthusiasm that made him such a magnetic figure in the first place. Go catch him on this tour if you’re a fan at all. Great stuff this time around. I need to pick up that new album once and for all.
David Byrne Fall 2008 Tour Dates
October 2008
29 – Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall
30 – Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
31 – Boston, MA – Wang Center
November 2008
1 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Spa Resort and Casino
3 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theatre
5 – Albany, NY – Empire State Plaza
7 – Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Music Hall
8 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
9 – Washington, DC – Warner Theater
28 – Buffalo, NY – Center for the Arts
29 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre
30 – New Bedford, MA – Zeiterion Theatre
December 2008
2 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre
4 – York, PA – Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
5 – Mashantucket, CT – Fox Theater at Foxwoods
7 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
8 – Raleigh, NC – Meymandi Concert Hall
9 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
10 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
12 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Theater
13 – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater]
Bonus: here are my grainy cell phone photos from the event. I know they don’t look pretty but they still capture the awesomeness that was occurring onstage.
