This years Big Chill festival played host to a true musical pioneer of new wave post punk in ex Talking Heads front man David Byrne. He was the last of three headlining acts on each consecutive night and proved without a doubt that he’s still got what it takes to deliver a cracking show. The previous nights had boasted the ever-reliable Basement Jaxx on Friday and UK dance group Orbital on the Saturday.
Basement Jaxx put on a good show as ever, with a feast of garish costumes and danceable beats to get the old hippies shaking. Unfortunately I was denied the pleasure of seeing Orbital; as I was preoccupied with a quartet of deliciously dark Victoriana named The Infernal Orchestra, but have it on good authority that they delivered an amazing set well worthy of a firmly established and widely respected dance act.
But Sunday evening saw David Byrne take to the main stage after a successful world tour and demonstrate that his impressive musical credentials had lost little of their power. He was joined onstage by a gospel style backing group and a trio of dancers who pranced and contorted their way throughout the show. The dancing was well choreographed whilst still retaining the slightly deranged energy that characterised the Talking Heads at their peak. Byrne himself was full of energy and bounded along with his musicians and dancers, all of them clad in crisp white.
As for the music itself the band were incredibly tight and confident as the swaggered their way through classic Talking Heads numbers such as ‘Once in a Lifetime’, ‘Take me to the River’ and the galloping ‘Road to Nowhere’. The gospel influence lent the songs a fresh feel to the music and nostalgia was last on the agenda. However the highlight came at the encore, when Byrne and his band, all clad in white tutus, delivered a blistering performance of ‘Burning Down the House’.
With his performance at Big Chill David Byrne proved he still had what it takes to put on a highly entertaining and quietly unique show brimming with enthusiasm. A perfect way to end three days of music, poetry, comedy and sunshine.
