TORONTO - David Byrne is not a performance artist in the traditional sense of the word.
But, man, does the onetime frontman of cherished New Wave act Talking Heads and a hugely successful solo artist in his own right know how to turn a live performance into an bonafide art form.
If only every musical act could put so much thought into and exude so much energy and passion during their concerts.
The still-vibrant 56-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist pulled into Massey Hall on Wednesday night with his so-called Songs Of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour - in honour of the duo's first album in 27 years, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (online now and in stores Nov. 25), and brought seven musicians (some who danced) and three dancers (some who played instruments) along with him.
As you might have guessed the tour's title meant that Byrne's 20-song set was culled from his collaborations with superproducer Eno over the years - Talking Heads' three albums between 1978 and 1980 (More Songs About Buildings And Food, Fear Of Music, Remain In Light), the 1981 Byrne-Eno project, My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts and eight tunes from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.
Helping to signal the fact that this was going to be a highly theatrical event was the fact that everyone on stage was decked out in blinding white attire and from the opening strains of the superfunky Strange Overtones, you just knew that Byrne and his merry band of performers were going to get their serious groove on and drag the audience, surprisingly just short of a sell-out, along with them over the course of one-hour-and-50 mintues including three encores.
Mind you it took a Talking Heads song, Houses In Motion, before the crowd actually began clapping enthusiastically along, and another one - Crosseyed and Painless - before a healthy number actually stood up and started dancing.
By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet and crowded at the front of the stage.
Byrne initially acted as a sort of master of ceremonies as stragglers took their seats, joking that he would explain "the menu" of music that we were all about to hear.
"I'll be your waiter," he chuckled. "We appreciate your patronage."
Sense of humor aside, there is a genuine playfulness and sense of fun about the way in which Byrne performs his unique brand of punk rock, New Wave, funk, gospel, soul and world music.
Here is a guy who isn't afraid to perform choreographed dance moves with his dancers or fall back into their arms when the song calls for it.
It's also a testament to his vitallity as a songwriter that the new material stood up nicely alongside older Talking Heads hits like Once In A Lifetime, Life During Wartime, the celebrated cover of Al Green's Take Me To The River, and Burning Down The House, all of which garned the biggest crowd response Also good were the single Ghosts track, Help Me Somebody, and My Big Hands (Fall Through The Cracks) from Byrne's soundtrack commissioned for the 1981 Twyla Tharp dance production, The Catherine Wheel.
Particularly noteworthy new songs were the aforementioned Strange Overtones, Never Thought - a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Whatever Happens that's so good it should just be on the regular version - and the truly powerful I Feel My Stuff.
Unfortunately, after the triumphant Burning Down The House closed the second encore, Byrne returned to close the show on a sombre note with Everything That Happens, a song that was sweet but didn't really sum up the otherwise exuberant and joyous performance we had all just witnessed.
SETLIST:
Strange Overtones
I Zimbra
One Fine Day
Help Me Somebody
Houses in Motion
My Big Nurse
My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)
Heaven
Never Thought
The River
Crosseyed and Painless
Life Is Long
Once in A Lifetime
Life During Wartime
I Feel My Stuff
FIRST ENCORE:
Take Me to the River
The Great Curve
SECOND ENCORE:
Air
Burning Down the House
THIRD ENCORE:
Everything That Happens
