Of all the musical icons performing today, David Byrne remains one of the most inventive. More than five decades after first emerging with Talking Heads, he’s still redefining what a live show can be, proving that age has done nothing to diminish his creativity or his ability to surprise an audience.
Having never seen Byrne perform live before, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect – but what unfolded over the next two hours was a masterclass in live performance, blending music, movement, theatre and visual art into an experience unlike anything else currently touring. Avant-garde and intelligent without becoming inaccessible, Byrne demonstrated why he remains one of the most original creative minds in popular music.
Bringing his Who Is The Sky? tour to Cardiff for the second time this year, Byrne delivered a visually captivating, musically accomplished performance. Opening with the beautifully understated Heaven before steadily building in scale, energy and ambition, this is an immersive theatrical production where every element serves the bigger picture.
Dressed in his now signature blue suit, Byrne cuts an instantly recognisable figure. The staging is simple, allowing the movement of the musicians and dancers to become part of the storytelling. The musicians are brilliant in their own right: each meticulously choreographed yet completely natural, they flow effortlessly around the stage, constantly reshaping into a series of living tableaux.
What has always set Byrne apart is his ability to create an experience rather than simply perform a catalogue of songs. Every lighting cue, every musical arrangement and every movement feels purposeful – the music equivalent of Matthew Bourne, perhaps – and Byrne continues to reinvent familiar material. His stage presence is understated rather than commanding, holding sway with the audience without rock-star theatrics and making every song feel like part of a carefully curated narrative. His rapport with the audience is funny and warm, too: Cardiff is a pink city, apparently.
The setlist balances newer material with many career-defining songs from Byrne’s catalogue. And She Was, This Must Be The Place, Once In A Lifetime and the euphoric Burning Down The House prompt huge reactions from a capacity crowd; songs from Who Is The Sky? sit comfortably alongside the classics, and feel like a natural continuation.
In an era when many heritage artists rely on familiar hits and carefully packaged nostalgia, David Byrne was stylish, inventive and mesmerising. One of the best gigs of the summer, and an unforgettable live experience.
David Byrne, Cardiff Castle, Sun 26 July
words ANTONIA LEVAY photos TIM ALBAN
