REVIEW: ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ as poignant as ever
Photo: David Byrne’s American Utopia features, from left, Jacquelene Acevedo, David Byrne, Mauro Refosco, Chris Giarmo, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy © 2019 / Provided by BBB with permission.
NEW YORK — David Byrne’s American Utopia is back on Broadway and better than ever. The stirring song cycle, featuring infectious rhythms and moving lyrics, first played Midtown Manhattan in 2019. Its return engagement had been delayed because of COVID-19, but it’s now earned a rightful spot amongst the marquees, this time at the St. James Theatre. Masks and vaccine cards are required, of course.
Byrne, a successful solo artist and former vocalist for the Talking Heads, has crafted a 100-minute evening of original songs and classic hits, all of them dissecting and commenting on the fabric of American society. He doesn’t offer definitive diagnoses, treatments or prognoses, but he does ensure that moments don’t pass without contemplation and human-to-human interaction. He’s not partisan, but clearly promotes American ideals — like voting and connections between people — as the answer to the messes in society.
The performance piece opens with a slower-paced tune called “Here,” in which Byrne, at center stage, sings an ode to the brain and its many possibilities. It’s a centering song, one that ushers audience members from the busyness of their everyday lives to a place of meditative calm, inviting them to stay focused on the present moment and this experiment in deep thought.
What follows is a series of tunes, most of them upbeat and a few brooding, that reinforce that central thesis of connections. The singing, all of it live with no backing tracks, comes from Byrne and a marvelous band of dancers and multi-instrumentalists. They all wear gray suits — in very Talking Heads fashion — and their choreographed movements take place on an empty stage against a three-walled curtain of what looks like dangling chain necklaces.
Of the many highlights, “I Zimbra” is earthy and forceful, perfectly displaying the collective skills of the community of performers on stage. A special shoutout to dancers Chris Giarmo and Tendayi Kuumba, whose movements are synchronous fun, accenting the words and beats of the band on stage. Annie-B Parson has outdone herself with the musical staging and choreography. Try to listen to “I Zimbra” without tapping and dancing along.
Much of the theatrical work feels abstract in nature, as if a gallery at the Museum of Modern Art has blown up and become animated. This should not come as a surprise for fans of the Talking Heads and Byrne’s solo records because he has always been the progenitor of art rock for decades, and American Utopia feels like one of his most complete visions. It’s a reckoning, a journey, a dream and an experiment. It’s also so much damn fun and so damn moving.
The Talking Heads selections in American Utopia are some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Once in a Lifetime,” “Burning Down the House” and the encore of “Road to Nowhere.” They seamlessly sit alongside the newer entries, making for a full and fulfilling evening of important, soul-searching music.
“Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)” utilizes the full space of the St. James Theatre stage, which is much larger than the Hudson Theatre, where American Utopia played previously. That is not the only update. There are also new additions to the names in the powerful protest song “Hell You Talmbout,” originally written by Janelle Monáe and serving as a reminder of the people who have died from police violence in the United States.
David Byrne’s American Utopia was poignant when it first played Broadway two years ago, and it has only grown in its poignancy after the news events of 2020 and 2021. Byrne’s lyrics and calls for connection amongst humans are even more needed in the face of a global pandemic that has devastated families and separated individuals from talking and seeing one another. This is a show made for not only the current moment, but many moments. It’s a concert experience that speaks to the changing times and the uncertainty ahead. As Byrne reiterates during the show, American Utopia is ultimately an endorsement of the idea of possibility and change.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
David Byrne’s American Utopia, featuring David Byrne, continues through March 2022 at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. Running time: 100 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
