Review: David Byrne, Royal Concert Hall
WITH the likes of Neil Young and Jarvis Cocker on their way, it's already looking like a great year for gigs in Nottingham. But everyone's got their work cut out to top David Byrne's show on Saturday night. It could well be the gig of the year (and, yes, I know it's only April).
Promised an evening of music by Byrne and Brian Eno, you'd be forgiven for expecting stultifying arty worthiness.
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David Byrne
But Byrne tore up the house with a show that was colourful, exciting, funky, funny and clever, bringing his audience to their feet, never to sit down, with a devastatingly powerful version of Talking Heads' Crosseyed And Painless.
Earlier, Byrne and his band, dressed in brilliant white, blasted out an exuberant I Zimbra, a stunning Houses In Motion and an astonishing remake of Help Me Somebody from the ground-breaking My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts, Byrne hysterically wailing as he took the place of the record's recording of a manic radio preacher.
The haunting Heaven, and folky new songs like One Fine Day and My Big Nurse, provided quieter pleasures. Drummer Graham Hawthorne, percussionist Mauro Refosco and bassist Paul Frazier's warm precision brilliantly accompanied witty New York choreography performed by dancers Lily Baldwin, Natalie Kuhn and Steven Reker.
But it was in the later stages that things really took off. Once In A Lifetime's scything funk, pop smarts and arty experimentation are as gripping now as ever, Life During Wartime is still surreal and ominous and an eerie re-arrangement of Born Under Punches was spine-chilling.
The barnstorming encores – Take Me To The River, Air, The Great Curve and the hilarious, tutu-clad Burning Down The House – were followed by the Twin Peaks-esque mystery of Everything That Happens.
5 Comments
by Ann D, Tier 1
Monday, April 20 2009, 7:27PM
“Having seen this show at Birmingham Symphony Hall a week earlier the sound initially at Nottingham was a bit rubbish in comparison. However, from where we were sitting (first tier) it sounded like the engineer got it sorted out after a track or so. OK it would have been better to have got it right form the start but still a fantastic night. Praise to the audience at Nottingham too; much more up for it than in Birmingham.”
by Mary Berry, Nottingham
Thursday, April 16 2009, 8:24PM
“I too was sitting in the first tier and although I do not think the sound was distorted I would tend to agree more so with Paul B, I thought the backing tracks over powered Mr Byrne's lyrics in places, even to the extent when he introduced the band I only managed to pick one name out ! In answer to Martin Sherwood the sound was definately crystal clear?? My 4 year old daughter has a nurses out fit but that doesn't make her a nurse !!
Please come back soon David”
by Martin, Sherwood
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 10:11PM
“Paul B - ;the sound was very poor?' Not from where I was sitting, which was about 10 seats from you! It was the best sound I've ever heard in that venue, having seen many gigs there. I own a recording studio, so think I know what I'm on about!
A fantastic show, brilliantly presented, crystal clear sound and great musicians. Please come back soon David!”
by Dale Martin, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 8:53PM
“David Byrne, what a man! What a show! The man is a modest genius, who has such invention, to go with his musical talent. I loved every minute of this concert.
For mega fans such as myself, getting the chance to here songs like Help Me Somebody & My Big Hands live, was amazing,
The vision of DB to have such crazy dancers, & then incorporate the backing singers into the dancing, was just plain brilliant. for me, the concept was right up there with Stop Making Sense. In fact, this show had something that that show didn't, & that was humour. I have never been to a concert & laughed so much. I never knew you could have such fun performing on office chairs :-)
All I can say, is David, PLEASE, PLEASE don't make me wait another 16 years before you come back to Nottingham.
Dale Martin (Nottingham)”
by Paul B ( Norwich ), Tier 1 Row G 28
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 8:38PM
“Although I agree with the review and am a huge David Byrne fan I feel gutted that the sound quality of the gig was in my opinion very poor. From the very first track and for most of the others David¿s vocals were over shadowed and very hard to pick out because of the loudness of the accompaniment. It even sounded a little distorted in places. Having seen David in the UK 4 times now, 3 of which were at the Royal Concert Hall I am reluctant to blame the venue so I must blame the sound/mixing engineer for not making the gig as memorable as I would have hoped. Having waited 4 and half years since seeing David perform in Leicester with the Tosca strings ( which was a fantastic gig ) and reading reviews of tour dates so far I was very excited only to be let down by the most important part, the sound !! I spoke to a few people around me who also thought this too. I am keen to hear if any other fans that were there were disappointed with the sound quality? For reference I was sitting in the centre of the second row of the first tier (great tickets I thought).”