David Byrne Brings Bliss to Radio City Music Hall

Written by Ava Bandelli

Going on tour is never easy; exhausting yourself on stage for at least an hour a night, resting in places that aren’t home, and traveling around the world for months on end is not for the weak. So, when I watched a 73-year-old David Byrne put on an entire choreographed performance that lasted two hours, I was in disbelief.

Before the show, Byrne provided a brief PSA encouraging the audience to engage with the performance, specifically by dancing to the music. Without taking the stage, he fostered a strong sense of community between the crowd and Bryne and his band.

Bryne is backed on stage by 13 talented musicians, all of whom dance, sing, and play their own instruments. To create an immersive experience for the audience, the staging includes spatial and interactive visuals behind the performers.

The show began with “Heaven,” a slower-paced, more emotional song about life after death, which deviated from the rest of the concert’s offerings. Throughout the set, he alternated between Talking Heads tracks and his solo work. 

The song to get people on their feet was a Talking Heads classic, “This Must Be The Place.” The song holds nostalgic value for many, including myself, as it discusses the feeling of being at home, whether that be a tangible place or an intangible feeling. I found myself entrapped in a free-moving dance with tears running down my face, acting out Byrne’s hope for his performance. 

Byrne also played a unique rendition of  “Hard Times” by Paramore. It is not often that older artists cover newer groups (excluding Johnny Cash). As an avid concert-goer, I’ve noticed that there is an expectation among artists performing in New York to bring out a special guest during their concert. To no one’s disappointment and some’s surprise, the lead singer of Paramore, Hayley Williams, joined Bryne on stage to perform the cover of her song. 

The crowd, mostly older individuals, did not appreciate the cover as much as the other songs that came after, “Psycho Killer” and “Once in a Lifetime.” These songs prompted the majority of the audience to rise from their seats and join the party.

Continuing Byrne’s theme of intertwining the new with the old, during the encore, Byrne performed “Everybody’s Coming to My House” followed by “Burning Down The House.” As the 13 members with Byrne bowed to the audience, I couldn’t help but feel as though I had just watched a broadway show and not a concert. It was abstract and unusual, but also exceptional, descriptors that were completely authentic to the musical legacy of Byrne himself. 

Tickets for the remainder of the Who is the Sky tour can be found here.