We still have no idea how long this pandemic situation will go on (and all the dummies rubbing against each other on beaches and in bars really isn’t helping things), but at least HBO is giving us something to look forward to—a light at the end of one of many tunnels, if you will. The network has announced that it will debut David Byrne’s American Utopia, the filmed version of Byrne’s hit Broadway show, sometime later this year. Yeah, that’s kind of vague, but honestly the wait might feel less painful without a specific date attached. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee directed the filmed iteration of the show, which features Byrne performing songs from his American Utopia album, as well as tracks from Byrne’s solo work and his iconic group the Talking Heads, alongside 11 music artists from all over the world.
In an official press release, Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president of HBO programming, described the filmed show as “a uniquely transformative experience and a perfect example of how entertainment can bring us together during these challenging times.” Byrne adds:
Spike and I have crossed paths many times over the years, obviously I’m a huge fan and now finally here was an opportunity for us to work together. I am absolutely thrilled with the result. The Broadway show was a wonderful challenge as well as an opportunity—it was a joy to perform and, well, best to let the quotes speak for themselves. Thrilled that this show and the subjects it addresses will now reach a wider audience.
Spike Lee also provided a brief statement about the collaboration:
It is my honor and privilege that my art brother, Mr. David Byrne, asked me to join him in concert, to invite me into his magnificent world of AMERICAN UTOPIA. And dat’s da ‘once in a lifetime’ truth, Ruth. Ya-dig? Sho-nuff. Peace and love. Be safe.
12 Comments
Can’t wait! I saw the tour(inside, thankfully. I saw some video from when he did it at Coachella during the day outside and it wasn’t nearly as effective) and I’ll be super interested to see the performance from a different angle.The part where him and the marching band are getting sucked into the portal was my favorite.
one of the very best concerts i’ve ever seen, so much so that i caught it 3 times in ’18 (Houston, London & Red Rocks). cannot wait to see how it translates to the screen!
It warms my frosty heart a little to know that David Byrne and Spike Lee like each other’s work. I’d pay to see them go on a road trip somewhere.
Yes, but only if they don’t get along until the bar fight in the second act.
In Calgary. If there’s something Cool Runnings and The Good Place have taught me, it’s that all bar fights should be in Calgary.
Pumped to see this, I’ve always been a fan of Talking Heads, Byrne, and Spike Lee.Let’s be honest, “Stop Making Sense” should be 2020’s tagline.
I think that was the motto for the 2016 campaign season.
/Spike Lee angrily tweets David Blaine’s home address
/Spike Lee angrily tweets Gabriel Byrne’s home address
I’m very glad that it sounds like this was filmed Pre-Pandemic. For some reason I had been thinking that they were going to film it when the show started up again on Broadway in the fall, and that we may have missed it. I saw the tour version and it was great albeit I couldn’t totally make sense of whatever visual narrative there was. I’ve heard the broadway version is a little more refined, so I’m excited to see it.
the name of this band is Talking Heads. no ‘the’.
After seeing the numbers they did on SNL this year, I am so here for this. That was such an exciting, joyous performance. And I’m obsessed with his two dancers, not just cause the one reminds me of Matt Walsh (though it would be awesome if Mike McLintock from VEEP went on to dance for David Byrne).