I did expect David Byrne's latest collaborator to be off-the-wall - it would be surprising if it was otherwise. I wasn't however expecting St Vincent (aka Annie Clark) to be channelling the demented robot from Metropolis. However it was entertaining and she has a great voice and plays an interesting guitar which is quite staccato and electronic but done without being at all screechy. David Byrne is always completely barking and that is also very entertaining but even if it wasn't, his huge musical talent would allow him to get away with whatever stage presence he decides to adopt.
The band was extraordinary and I would have to say I have never seen a line-up that comes anywhere near it in terms of the particular mix of instruments. David played some (but not enough) rhythm guitar and St Vincent played the lead guitar role. There was a drummer and a keyboards player - so far so normal. The other eight members of the band all played brass instruments. A typical track might include a Sousaphone, two French Horns, two Trombones , two Saxaphones and a Trumpet. Add to this mix the choreographed moves of the band that accompanied every song and you have an original stage presence.
What was incredible from the music perspective was not that the band played a fitting backing for the new album which featured songs written with that line-up in mind but how well they played old Talking Heads covers, all of which sounded fresh and brilliant. I have to say at this point that 'Wild, Wild Life' was stupendous, possibly live track of the year, even in a year that featured a classic Neil Young gig.
Back to the start of the gig - there was no support act as such but a forest soundscape played featuring birds and insects. At about the time the gig was due to start there was an announcement by David Byrne from offstage that recording of the gig was allowed but that he hoped people would enjoy the gig directly with their brain rather than via a gadget. Thereafter as people were anticipating an immediate start to the show there was a further ten minutes of soundscape featuring a rainstorm that gradually faded back to birdsong. Then came the band who began with the addictive 'Who' from the new album and followed it with 'Weekend in the Dust'. The whole package just worked straight from the get go. The songs, the band , the vocals - as ever with a David Byrne show everything was planned and precise and musically outstanding. St Vincent was a great collaborator; she has a compelling voice and singing style and plays a wierd guitar style that is both raunchy and soothing at the same time. The next track was one of her songs before the brilliant and atmospheric 'Strange Undertones' from his last solo album.
The gig continued with a blend of songs from the new album, St Vincent songs, David Byrne solo album songs and Talking Heads covers all combined in a compelling and flawless set. Highlights from the main set for me were 'This Must be the Place', 'The Forest Awakes', 'Cheerleader', 'Outside of Space and Time' and as mentioned before the utterly perfect 'Wild Wild Life'. The encores included 'Burning Down the House' and 'Road to Nowhere' and encores don't get much better than that. Definite candidate for gig of the year.
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