Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour
The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour is a 2008–2009 promotional concert tour of music co-written by David Byrne and Brian Eno with performances by Byrne. In addition to being a retrospective of the duo's collaborations, the tour promoted the album Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. The musical performers were accompanied by dancers who were choreographed to several songs. Performances were held across the world and later documented on a tour EP and a concert film.
| Promotional tour by David Byrne | |
 Promotional poster for Byrne's tour | |
| Location | North America (first leg) Europe, Asia, and Oceania (second leg) Europe (third leg) United States (fourth leg) Europe (fifth leg) |
|---|---|
| Associated album | Everything That Happens Will Happen Today |
| Start date | September 16, 2008 |
| End date | August 9, 2009 |
| Legs | Five |
| No. of shows | 51 (first leg) 20 (second leg) 36 (third leg) 17 (fourth leg) 24 (fifth leg) 148 (total) |
| Website | www |
| David Byrne concert chronology | |
Material
editByrne assembled a band to tour for the album, performing music throughout the latter half of 2008 and early 2009 across North America, Europe, and Australasia. He hired more singers than he had on previous tours to reproduce the complex vocal harmonies of the album[1] and was inspired to bring along dancers after seeing Sufjan Stevens promote the album Illinois[2] as well as the Japanese films Funky Forest and The Taste of Tea.[3] Byrne was initially uninvolved in the choreography, but made more suggestions as the tour went on and after he saw a live performance by Deerhoof that incorporated dancing with instruments.[4] He began booking tour dates before the album was completed[5] and continued writing his book The Bicycle Diaries throughout the tour.[6]
In planning the set lists for the tour, Byrne initially considered only promoting this album,[7] but decided to assemble songs this album as well as their previous collaborations,[8] including the Talking Heads albums More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light and Byrne's The Catherine Wheel soundtrack. By playing music from all of their collaborations, Byrne hoped to "draw a line linking this new material with what we did 30 years ago"[9] with the goal of clarifying the connection between all of the duo's previous work.[5] In reviewing the music, he found that "[t]here might be more continuity than I imagined, which I hope is going to work in my favor."[10] Although he was invited to participate[11] and early reports indicated that would, Eno chose to not tour,[12] letting Byrne decide how to present this music live.[13]
A month after releasing the album, Byrne was skeptical of market saturation, claiming "I sense that a lot of people don't know we have a record out" and hoped to counterbalance that ignorance with this tour. At the same time, the main goal of the performance was not promotion but the show itself.[14]
Set lists
editThe set list for the first night:[15]
- Set
- "Strange Overtones" (originally from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "I Zimbra" (Fear of Music)
- "One Fine Day" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "Help Me Somebody" (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts)
- "Houses in Motion" (Remain in Light)
- "My Big Nurse" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)" (The Catherine Wheel)
- "Heaven" (Fear of Music)
- "Home" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "The River" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "Crosseyed and Painless" (Remain in Light)
- "Life Is Long" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "Once In a Lifetime" (Remain in Light)
- "Life During Wartime" (Fear of Music)
- "I Feel My Stuff" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- Encore
- "Take Me to the River" (More Songs About Buildings and Food)
- "The Great Curve" (Remain in Light)
- Second encore
- "Everything That Happens" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
By the time he reached St. Louis in mid-October, the following set was played:[16]
- Set
- "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" (originally from the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "The River"
- "Crosseyed and Painless"
- "Life Is Long"
- "Once In a Lifetime"
- "Life During Wartime"
- "I Feel My Stuff"
- Encore
- "Take Me to the River"
- "The Great Curve"
- Second encore
- "Air" (Fear of Music)
- "Burning Down the House" (Speaking in Tongues)
- "Everything That Happens"
Midway through this leg, Byrne expanded some shows to have three encores, such as Omaha, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Raleigh. The first was as listed above, the second was "Don't Worry About the Government" and "Burning Down the House", and the third was "Everything That Happens". He also played this extended encore at the Hong Kong and Sydney shows. Byrne expanded his February 28, 2009, show to contain four two-song encores.
Musicians and technical personnel
editPerformers
edit
Back: Refosco, Hawthorne, and De Gli Antoni
Middle: Kaïssa, R. Frazier, Muldaur and P. Frazier
Front: Reker, Byrne, Kuhn, and Baldwin
Byrne has assembled the following musicians and dancers to accompany him:[17]
- David Byrne – voice and guitar
- Mark De Gli Antoni – keyboards
- Paul Frazier – bass guitar
- Graham Hawthorne – drums
- Mauro Refosco – percussion
- Redray Frazier – background vocals
- Kaïssa – background vocals
- Jenni Muldaur – background vocals
- Lily Baldwin – dancing
- Natalie Kuhn – dancing
- Steven Reker – dancing
Refosco previously toured with Byrne's My Backwards Life band in support of Grown Backwards;[18] like bassist Paul Frazier he also appears on Look into the Eyeball, Grown Backwards, Live from Austin, Texas, and Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. The performers started rehearsals the day that the album was released[19] and continued to rehearse more for this tour than is typical for other Byrne presentations.[14] All performers dress alike in cream-colored jumpsuits and overalls.[20] The dancers have choreographed for seven songs[21] and the entire ensemble performed together for the first time on September 9.[22]
Technical crew
edit- Mark Edwards – production manager
- Keith Anderson – tour manager
- Bruce Knight – Front of House
- Mike Lafferty – stage and keyboard technician
- Victor Muñoz – guitar technician
- Don FitzSimmonds – drum technician
- Jeremy Bolton and Michael Conners – PA technicians
- Bob Lewis – monitors
- Jon Pollak – lighting designer/director
- Martin Garnish – lighting
- Abi Lester – wardrobe
The equipment was engineered by Clair Global and included gear from Lab.gruppen, TC Electronic, and Yamaha.[23]
Choreographers
edit- Noémie Lafrance[24]
- Annie-B Parson[25]
- Sonya Robbins and Layla Childs aka Robbinschilds Dance[26]
Supporting acts
editThere were only a handful of dates that included other performers and no opening act was scheduled throughout the tour.[27] Ani DiFranco opened on June 2, 2009, and Byrne played a double bill with Marianne Faithfull opening on July 30, 2009. The Extra Action Marching Band guested on "Burning Down the House" and "Road to Nowhere" on the October 7, 2008, and June 23, 24, and 26, 2009, dates. DeVotchka opened on some 2009 dates.[28]
Tour dates
editThe tour was expected to run six months into spring 2009,[29] including dates in Australia and Europe[30] before finally concluding after 11 months with five legs worldwide:[17]
†Date scheduled and later canceled
Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour
edit| Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour – David Byrne on Tour: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP (live) by | ||||
| Released | May 11, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | December 4, 2008, Strand–Capitol Performing Arts Center, York, Pennsylvania, United States | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, world | |||
| Length | 19:28 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Todo Mundo | |||
| Producer | David Byrne | |||
| David Byrne chronology | ||||
| ||||
| David Byrne live chronology | ||||
| ||||
Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour – David Byrne on Tour: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno is a 2009 live EP released by David Byrne recorded during the Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour. The album is composed of live recordings of three songs from the 2009 Byrne/Eno collaboration Everything That Happens Will Happen Today and one—"Help Me Somebody"—from their 1981 album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.
Recording and release
editByrne was approached by Amnesty International to get involved in his tour. For years, Byrne had performed one date on his tours as a benefit and decided to record this EP with proceeds from sales benefiting the organization.[31]
Byrne's band performed with an audio system that could professionally record every show based around Pro Tools. Byrne had these recordings mixed by Patrick Dillett—who was also responsible for engineering on Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.[32]
The album was made available digitally in the form of DRM-free 320 kbit/s MP3s with the option of a FLAC as well. Like Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, the EP was marketed with Internet startup Topspin Media.
The album received a positive review from The Village Voice, calling it "cheerful" and "lovely."[33]
Track listing
editAll songs written by David Byrne and Brian Eno; "Strange Overtones" co-written by Leo Abrahams.
- "Strange Overtones" – 4:37
- "Help Me Somebody" – 3:28
- "One Fine Day" – 4:34
- "I Feel My Stuff" – 6:29
Personnel
edit- David Byrne – vocals and guitar
- Mark De Gli Antoni – keyboards
- Paul Frazier – bass guitar
- Redray Frazier – background vocals
- Graham Hawthorne – drums
- Kaïssa – background vocals
- Jenni Muldaur – background vocals
- Mauro Refosco – percussion
Ride, Rise, Roar
editOn February 11, 2010, it was announced that a documentary film entitled Ride, Rise, Roar chronicling the tour would be released to the 2010 film festival circuit.[34] The debut will be at South by Southwest on March 15, 2010,[35][needs update] where it will be screened in all three media categories—film, interactive, and music.[36] The film was the feature-length directorial debut by Hillman Curtis[37]—who also worked on the short film that accompanies the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.[38] The film includes concert footage, footage of the planning and rehearsals for the tour, and exclusive interviews with Byrne, Eno, and the supporting musicians and dancers.[39] Curtis was initially contacted to document the tour with no clear objective for the film and decided to focus on the collaboration between Byrne and his tour mates as well as the unique challenge of combining popular music with modern dance.[40]
Stalking incident
editWhile on tour, dancer Lily Baldwin started receiving letters from a stalker following the show in Europe. She turned her experience into the 2017 film Glass and began a website offering resources for those who are being stalked.[41]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Nuc, Olivier (2009-03-24). "David Byrne, toujours à contre-courant". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 2011-06-07.
Sur cette tournée, j'ai décidé d'employer plus de chanteurs et de danseurs que d'ordinaire» explique-t-il, «afin de reproduire les harmonies vocales présentes sur le disque.
- ^ Cashmere, Tim (2011-05-29). "David Byrne Inspired by Sufjan Stevens". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Galindo, Bruno (2009-02-18). "David Byrne: "Bush fue un Midas al revés: arruinó todo lo que tocó"" (in Spanish). Revista Enie. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
A mí me inspiraron unas películas japonesas ( Funky Forest y El sabor del té ) y un concierto de Sufjan Stevens.
- ^ Richardson, Mark (2011-06-08). "Interviews: David Byrne". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
- ^ a b Dikeos, Thea (2009-02-02). "David Byrne & Brian Eno reunite". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
- ^ "David Byrne: speaking in tongues". The Times. 2009-08-01. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Jones, Damian (2009-04-09). "Byrne 'finishing off Fatboy CD'". BBC. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Micallef, Ken (2008-08-19). "Bynre & Eno's Everything That Happens Will Happen Today: The David Byrne Interview". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "Eno-Byrne reunion". BBC. 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Light, Alan (2008-08-20). "Inside Music: Re:Masters / David Byrne". MSN.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ Hewitt, Sean (2009-04-03). "Interview: David Byrne". Nottingham Evening Post. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
- ^ "Update: Brian Eno Not On David Byrne Tour". Billboard. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Helmore, Edward (2009-03-27). "'The business is an exciting mess'". The Guardian. London, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ a b Klein, Joshua (2008-09-22). "Interview: David Byrne". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "David Byrne Revives His Dancing Days at Opening Show of Eno Tour". Rolling Stone. 2008-09-17. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ Zaleski, Annie (2008-10-19). "Show Review + Setlist: David Byrne at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, October 18, 2008". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ a b "DavidByrne.com — Performances + Talks". David Byrne. 2008-08-17. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ "My Backwards Life Band photos". David Byrne. 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ Byrne, David (2008-08-18). "08.18.2008: Who's Playing? ; Support For The Arts ; Georgia On My Mind". David Byrne. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ Gehman, Geoff (2008-09-17). "Byrne Visits Outer and Inner Space at Zoellner". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2008-09-17.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Byrne, David (2008-09-07). "09.07.2008: Phase One". David Byrne. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Byrne, David (2008-09-10). "09.10.2008: All at the Same Time". David Byrne. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Jennings, Steve (December 2008), "Live: Soundcheck — Byrne Brings 'Eno' to Shows", Mix, vol. 32, no. 12, United States: Penton Media, Inc., p. 63, ISSN 0164-9957
- ^ Byrne, David (2008-08-18). "08.18.2008: Who's Playing? ; Support For The Arts ; Georgia On My Mind". David Byrne. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ Byrne, David (2008-09-07). "09.07.2008: Phase One". David Byrne. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ "A.L. Steiner + robbinschilds". New Museum. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ "Tour Dates for David Byrne — Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno". David Byrne. 2008-08-04. Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Oksenhorn, Stewart (2011-09-09). "DeVotchKa brings exotic sound to Aspen". The Aspen Times. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
- ^ Cohen, Johnathan (2008-08-04). "David Byrne Tour to Run into Spring 2009". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ ""Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno" Tour Revealed". Pitchfork Media. 2008-08-04. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ "David Byrne Records Live EP for Amnesty International, Makes It Even Harder to Find Fault in Him". Tiny Mix Tapes. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Crane, Larry (September 2010). "David Byrne". Tape Op. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
- ^ Harvilla, Rob (2009-05-18). "Go Stream (Then Buy, as It's for Charity) David Byrne's New Live EP". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ^ "Screenings :: Ride, Rise, Roar". Hillman Curtis. 2010-02-11. Archived from the original on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Garcia, Chris (2010-02-03). "Austin Movie Blog". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ "South by Southwest to Feature The Low Anthem, Christina Courtin, Carolina Chocolate Drops, New David Byrne Documentary". Nonesuch Records. 2010-02-25. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Eisen, Benjy (2010-02-25). "New David Byrne Documentary Will Screen at SXSW". Spinner.com. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (2010-02-25). "David Byrne Tour Chronicled in Doc". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Bailey, Rachel (2010-02-26). "David Byrne to Premiere Tour Documentary at SXSW". Paste. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ "David Hillman Curtis; Director — Ride, Rise, Roar". Public Broadcasting Service. 2010-03-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Baldwin, Lily (2016-09-14). "Why Filmmaker Lily Baldwin Decided to Speak Out About Her Stalker". Glamour. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
