Concert Review: David Byrne at the Uptown Theater, 10/19/08

October 19, 2008

Better Than: Staying home to watch The Amazing Race

By NADIA PFLAUM

Photo by Scott Spychalski

The Uptown Theater was a sea of white folding chairs last night. It ain’t no CBGB. I couldn’t remember the last time I went to a show where people actually sat in seats, but it didn’t matter; once David Byrne pulled out the hits, people jumped to their feet.

Byrne emerged from the wings in bleach-white skinny pants and a white shirt that matched his sharp white hair, and relayed the story behind the tour. His longtime buddy, musical innovator Brian Eno, had a batch of songs with no words just lying around unused, like a garage full of gassed-up convertibles waiting to be taken for a spin. Byrne agreed to listen to them and see if lyrics struck him, and if Eno liked what he came up with, they’d continue from there.