David Byrne Kicks off American Utopia Tour

Talking Heads guru David Byrne kicked off his solo American Utopia tour at Red Bank, NJ’s Count Basie Theatre on Saturday night. American Utopia is the first album by him to be released in 14 years and is officially out March 9.

Byrne describes this tour to be the most ambitious stage show he’s done since Stop Making Sense. It features 12 musicians playing wirelessly, accompanied by a dramatic light show that throws shadows and shapes amongst metal string curtains.

Byrne and his live collective have created an art-rock experience that elevates all the senses. The visual performance was just as important as the sound. The setlist was blessed with plenty of classic Talking Heads songs alongside songs off American Utopia and other solo work, including “I Should Watch TV,” originally written and performed by him and St. Vincent. However, being a completely wireless show with no amps or pedals, the songs were reinvented in masterful and innovative ways.

Byrne performed a total of 8 Talking Heads songs which included “Slippery People” that was set to some brilliant choreography, a unique and special pairing of “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)” and “Once in a Lifetime” during which Byrne worked his famous spastic dance moves.

Setlist – By Setlist

The set also had live debuts from the new release which translated remarkably well into a live performance. He also covered a few songs like “Toe Jam” by Brighton Port Authority, (his collaboration project with rapper Dizzee Rascal), and “Hell You Talmbout” by Janelle Monae. Both of those covers were live debuts for the solo musician.

To personally capture a live performance that isn’t afraid to push boundaries and is unparalleled to the album recordings, catch Byrne and his 12-piece band at one of the dates below. The tour will strech through till the end of August.

David Byrne 2018 Tour Dates

3/3 – Red Bank, NJ, Count Basie Theatre

3/4 – Wilkes-Barre, PA, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

3/6 – Buffalo, NY, Center for the Arts

3/7 – Hershey, PA, Hershey Theatre

3/9 – Waterbury, CT, Palace Theater

3/10 – Kingston, NY, Ulster Performing Arts Center

3/16 – Santiago, Chile, Lollapalooza Chile

3/18 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lollapalooza Argentina

3-19 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, Teatro Gran Rex

3-20 – Montevideo, Uruguay, Teatro de Verano

3-24 – Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lollapalooza

4/3 – Mexico City, Mexico, Metropolitan Theater

4/5 – Monterrey, Mexico. Auditorio Pabellón

4/7 – Guadalajara, Mexico, Corona Capital Guadalajara

4-14 – Indio, CA, Coachella

4-15 – Tucson, AZ, Centennial Hall

4/17 – San Diego, CA, San Diego Civic Theater

4/18 – Las Vegas, NV, Smith Center for the Arts

4/19 – Mesa, AZ, Mesa Arts Center-Ikeda Theater

4/21 – Indio, CA, Coachella

4/24 – Dallas, TX, Winspear Opera House

4/25 – Oklahoma City, OK, The Criterion

4/27 – San Antonio, TX, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

4/28 – Houston, TX, White Oak Music Hall Outside Lawn

5/4-6 – Atlanta, GA, Shaky Knees

5/6 – Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium

5/8 – Asheville, NC, Thomas Wolfe Civic Auditorium

5/9 – Charlotte, NC, Ovens Auditorium

5/10 – Durham, NC, Durham PAC

5/12 – Washington, DC, The Anthem

5/13 – Pittsburgh, PA, Benedum Center for the Arts

5/15 – Milwaukee, WI, Riverside Theater

5/16 – Madison, WI, Orpheum Theater

5/17 – Minneapolis, MN, Orpheum Theater

5/19 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, TCU Place

5/20 – Edmonton, Alberta, Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

5/21 – Calgary, Alberta, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

5/23 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Queen Elizabeth Theater

5/24 – Seattle, WA, Paramount Theater

5/27 – Portland, OR, Keller Audiorium

5/28 – Eugene, OR, Hult Center

5/30 – Salt Lake City, UT, Capitol Theatre

6/2 – Chicago, IL, Auditorium Theater

6/5 – Des Moines, IA, Des Moines Civic Center

6/7 – Kansas City, MO, Kauffman Center for the Arts

6/8 – St. Louis, MO, Peabody Opera House

6/9 – Indianapolis, IN, Farmers Bureau Lawn Amphitheater

6/14 – Oxford, England, New Theatre

6/15 – Glasgow, Scotland, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

6/17 – Birmingham, England, Birmingham Symphony Hall

6/18 – Manchester, England, Manchester Apollo

6/19 – London, England, Eventim Apollo

6/22-23 – Prague, Czech Republic, Metronome Festival

6/25 – Zagreb, Croatia, IN music Festival

6/26 – Wien, Austria, Museumsquartier

6/30-7/1 – Ewijk, Netherlands, Down the Rabbit Hole

7/5-8 – Werchter, Belgium, Rock Werchter

7/6 – Roskilde, Denmark, Roskilde Festival

7/5 – Gdynia, Poland, Open'er Festival

7/11 – Oeiras, Portugal, Cool Jazz Festival

7/13 – Bilbao, Spain Bilbao, BBK Live Festival

7/13-14 – Barcelona, Spain, Cruilla Barcelona

7/17 – Zürich, Switzerland, Theater 11

7/19 – Ravenna, Italy, Ravenna Festival

7/20 – Perugia, Italy, Umbria Jazz Festival

7/21 – Trieste, Italy, Piazza UNita

7/27 – Camden, NJ, XPoNential Music Festival

7/31 – Boston, MA, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion

8/1 – Shelburne, VT, Shelburne Museum: The Green

8/3 – Toronto, ONT, Sony Center for the Performing Arts

8/5 – Canandaigua, NY, Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center

8/8 – Grand Rapids, MI, Devos Performance Hall

8/10 – Detroit, MI, Fox Theater

8/11 – Huber Heightes, OH, Rose Music Center

8/12 – Cincinnati, OH, PNC Pavilion at Riverbend

8/16 – Oakland, CA, Fox Theater

8/18 – San Jose, CA, City National Civic Auditorium

8/21 – Sacramento CA, Community Theater

8/24 – Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl

8/28 – Morrison, CO, Red Rocks Amphitheater

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