Night one of David Byrne’s two-night stand at The Fox Theatre was a raucous, loud, and jubilant evening of music as the Talking Heads frontman rolled out some of the band’s classic hits as well as his own solo work.
The “Who Is the Sky Tour?’ in support of his new solo album might feel a little familiar to anyone who saw the “American Utopia” tour, its Broadway incarnation, or Spike Lee’s documentary film about the show. Byrne and a cadre of musicians, vocalists, and dancers bring the songs to an empty stage with a giant projection wall behind them. Everyone’s carrying their instrument and wearing a mic, so the troupe can move freely across the stage.
This choreography, Byrne’s banter, and carefully chosen projections bring a theatricality to the proceedings, quite unlike anything you’ve probably seen at a rock concert.
At 73, Byrne might be silver-haired, but his voice is still as distinctive and rich as it ever was, and he’s front and center for the two-hour show while also allowing each band member a moment to shine.
Out of the 21 songs performed, 10 of them were Talking Heads’ biggest tunes and, of course, had the crowd screaming the lyrics and dancing in the aisles. At some point, the ushers just seemed to give up because there was no containing this mostly GenX crowd.
“This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody),” “Slippery People,” “Life During Wartime,” “Psycho Killer,” “Once In A Lifetime,” and “Burning Down the House” seemed to have an extra edge and urgency. Solo work like “Independence Day,” “My Apartment Is My Friend,” “Don’t Be Like That,” and a stirring version of “Strange Overtones” from his Brian Eno collaborations all fit neatly together in the setlist.
Drone footage of an Atlanta suburb, photos from the soaring atrium at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown, and a projected “Atlanta Kicks Ass” message helped ground the show in the city. There was also a political undertone to the show as a montage of protestors pushing back against ICE raids and the message “Make America Gay Again” brought cheers from an already charged-up audience.
Finally seeing Byrne live was on my bucket list, and I have now euphorically crossed it off. If you can get a ticket for tonight’s show, you will not be disappointed. Just be prepared to sing and dance. Because, contrary to the lyrics of “Life During Wartime,” this is a party, a disco, and an affirmation that Byrne’s new wave world sound is still as potent as it was 50 years ago.