David Byrne

(On Cable TV, April 2022) There’s no sense in pretending otherwise: I watched American Utopia less for a David Byrne concert than for Spike Lee’s direction. It’s not that I don’t know Byrne or his work – there are at least three songs in here that I recognized – but more that he’s not really anywhere near my list of favourite artists, and concert films are invariably aimed at fans. As such, what struck me about American Utopia is how clearly and specifically it aims at Byrne fans: there are pauses for applause, cheers and whoops that are mystifying if you’re not already invested in Byrne’s career, and the pandering to people who already have a parasocial relationship with the artist can be very curious. This being said, I’m marginally closer to being a Byrne fan after seeing the concert: While the music isn’t always to my liking (even if “Lazy” is an old-school favourite), Byrne himself is a likable presence, with his age adding gravitas and contrast to his lighter moments. His humanistic approach is refreshing even when it has to engage with American politics, and his take on Janelle Monáe’s “Hell You Talmbout” is a highlight that also helps explain why Spike Lee directed the film. If you stop to read on American Utopia’s production, the technical elements of the concert (with dynamic lighting and wireless musical instruments allowing for musical performances to be blended with choreography) are quite amazing in their own ways… and transparent enough to allow the result to speak by itself. Even if you feel like a newcomer to Byrne’s music, his silver-suited candid patter will win you over.