David Byrne at the Armadillo, Glasgow: Music veteran comes ‘home’ to show them how it’s done 

It was the week Harry Styles, in a funky Chanel suit and backed by an assortment of performers, made his live comeback at The Brits. It was also the week David Byrne hit Glasgow to kick off the UK leg of his Who Is the Sky? tour and to remind Styles, and everyone else, how to properly put on a show.

Dumbarton-born Byrne has previous. As singer with Talking Heads, they became one of the defining acts of a generation by ripping up the rule book. They also created Stop Making Sense, one of the greatest concert films ever made. For this tour there’s support and no encore. Just Byrne and a cadre of musicians and singers bringing songs to life in breathtaking fashion.

And what a catalogue he has. Tunes from his old band like opener ‘Heaven’ sit comfortably alongside impressive solo material such as ‘My Apartment Is My Friend’, all carried by a voice far more powerful than maybe I expected it to be.

The stage itself plays a big role, with screens and displays showing visuals that tie in perfectly with the music. The whole thing feels like the greatest simulator that never made it to Disneyland. 

You’d be forgiven for thinking it had been put together by Spike Jonze as a follow-up to his iconic ‘Praise You’ video for Fatboy Slim. In reality, every movement from those involved was choreographed and perfectly planned.

If there were niggles, they were minor.

His on-stage banter didn’t always land. With dithering tales of dogs throwing themselves off a bridge and claims that Glasgow invented the curry, he occasionally drifted from the cool uncle commanding the spotlight at a family party to the slightly discombobulated grandad sitting quietly in the corner.

And we didn’t get ‘Road to Nowhere’, which would have made the whole event even more magical. What we did get, however, was a stunning experience from Byrne and everyone involved in putting the show together. He might be in his seventies, but he’s still capable of assaulting the senses of everyone in attendance leaving us begging for more.

Before the whole thing began, we were encouraged, via a voice note from Byrne, to dance if we wanted to. Many of us did, although we struggled to keep up with a truly special talent.

David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?