Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour explained

Concert Tour Name:Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour
Artist:David Byrne
Location:North America (first leg)
Europe, Asia, and Oceania (second leg)
Europe (third leg)
United States (fourth leg)
Europe (fifth leg)
Type:Promotional
Album:Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Number Of Legs:Five
Number Of Shows:51 (first leg)
20 (second leg)
36 (third leg)
17 (fourth leg)
24 (fifth leg)
148 (total)
Last Tour:My Backwards Life Tour
(2004–2005)
This Tour:Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour
(2008–2009)
Next Tour:Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around
(2009–2011)

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.

Material

Byrne 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 and was inspired to bring along dancers after seeing Sufjan Stevens promote the album Illinois as well as the Japanese films Funky Forest and The Taste of Tea. 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. He began booking tour dates before the album was completed and continued writing his book The Bicycle Diaries throughout the tour.

In planning the set lists for the tour, Byrne initially considered only promoting this album, but decided to assemble songs this album as well as their previous collaborations, 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" with the goal of clarifying the connection between all of the duo's previous work. 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." Although he was invited to participate and early reports indicated that would, Eno chose to not tour, letting Byrne decide how to present this music live.

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.

Set lists

The set list for the first night:

Set
  1. "Strange Overtones" (originally from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  2. "I Zimbra" (Fear of Music)
  3. "One Fine Day" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  4. "Help Me Somebody" (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts)
  5. "Houses in Motion" (Remain in Light)
  6. "My Big Nurse" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  7. "My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)" (The Catherine Wheel)
  8. "Heaven" (Fear of Music)
  9. "Home" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  10. "The River" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  11. "Crosseyed and Painless" (Remain in Light)
  12. "Life Is Long" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  13. "Once In a Lifetime" (Remain in Light)
  14. "Life During Wartime" (Fear of Music)
  15. "I Feel My Stuff" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
Encore
  1. "Take Me to the River" (More Songs About Buildings and Food)
  2. "The Great Curve" (Remain in Light)
Second encore
  1. "Everything That Happens" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)

By the time he reached St. Louis in mid-October, the following set was played:

Set
  1. "Strange Overtones"
  2. "I Zimbra"
  3. "One Fine Day"
  4. "Help Me Somebody"
  5. "Houses in Motion"
  6. "My Big Nurse"
  7. "My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)"
  8. "Heaven"
  9. "Never Thought" (originally from the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
  10. "The River"
  11. "Crosseyed and Painless"
  12. "Life Is Long"
  13. "Once In a Lifetime"
  14. "Life During Wartime"
  15. "I Feel My Stuff"
Encore
  1. "Take Me to the River"
  2. "The Great Curve"
Second encore
  1. "Air" (Fear of Music)
  2. "Burning Down the House" (Speaking in Tongues)
  3. "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

Performers

Byrne has assembled the following musicians and dancers to accompany him:

Refosco previously toured with Byrne's My Backwards Life band in support of Grown Backwards; 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 and continued to rehearse more for this tour than is typical for other Byrne presentations. All performers dress alike in cream-colored jumpsuits and overalls. The dancers have choreographed for seven songs and the entire ensemble performed together for the first time on September 9.

Technical crew

The equipment was engineered by Clair Global and included gear from Lab.gruppen, TC Electronic, and Yamaha.

Choreographers

Supporting acts

There were only a handful of dates that included other performers and no opening act was scheduled throughout the tour. 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.

Tour dates

The tour was expected to run six months into spring 2009, including dates in Australia and Europe before finally concluding after 11 months with five legs worldwide:

DateCityCountryVenue
First leg – North America, fall 2008
16 September 2008BethlehemUnited StatesZoellner Arts Center – Baker Hall
17 September 2008BaltimoreLyric Opera House
18 September 2008Newport NewsFerguson Center for the Arts
20 September 2008AtlantaChastain Park Amphitheater
21 September 2008AshevilleThomas Wolfe Auditorium
22 September 2008NashvilleRyman Auditorium
23 September 2008MemphisOrpheum Theatre
25 September 2008AustinThe Paramount Theatre
26 September 2008Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park
28 September 2008AlbuquerqueKiva Auditorium
30 September 2008PhoenixOrpheum Theatre
2 October 2008San DiegoHumphreys
3 October 2008Los AngelesGreek Theatre
4 October 2008Santa BarbaraArlington Theater
6 October 2008San FranciscoLouise M. Davies Symphony Hall
7 October 2008
8 October 2008Santa RosaWells Fargo Center for the Arts
9 October 2008SaratogaMountain Winery
11 October 2008Park CityEccles Center for the Performing Arts
12 October 2008DenverBuell Theater
14 October 2008MinneapolisState Theatre
15 October 2008MilwaukeePabst Theater
17 October 2008OmahaKiewit Concert Hall
18 October 2008St. LouisFox Theatre
19 October 2008Kansas CityUptown Theater
21 October 2008LouisvilleThe Louisville Palace
23 October 2008ClevelandAllen Theatre
24 October 2008Ann ArborMichigan Theater
25 October 2008IndianapolisClowes Memorial Hall
26 October 2008ChicagoCivic Opera House
29 October 2008TorontoCanadaMassey Hall
30 October 2008MontrealMétropolis
31 October 2008BostonUnited StatesCiti Performing Arts Center
1 November 2008Atlantic CityThe Borgata
3 November 2008Red BankCount Basie Theatre
5 November 2008AlbanyEmpire State Plaza
7 November 2008PittsburghCarnegie Music Hall
8 November 2008Upper Darby Township TownshipTower Theater
9 November 2008Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
28 November 2008BuffaloUB Center for the Arts
29 November 2008SyracuseLandmark Theatre
30 November 2008New BedfordZeiterion Theatre
2 December 2008NorthamptonCalvin Theatre
3 December 2008WilmingtonGrand Opera House
4 December 2008YorkStrand–Capitol Performing Arts
5 December 2008LedyardFoxwoods Resort Casino
7 December 2008KnoxvilleTennessee Theatre
8 December 2008RaleighMeymandi Concert Hall
9 December 2008North CharlestonNorth Charleston Performing Arts Center
10 December 2008CharlotteOvens Auditorium
12 December 2008TampaTampa Theatre
13 December 2008Miami BeachFillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
Second leg – Winter 2009
19 January 2009Hong KongChinaHong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
21 January 2009SingaporeSingaporeSuntec City Concert Hall
23 January 2009OsakaJapanOsaka Hatch
27 January 2009TokyoShibuya-AX
28 January 2009
1 February 2009SydneyAustraliaSydney Opera House
2 February 2009
4 February 2009South PerthPerth Zoo
7 February 2009BrisbaneBrisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
9 February 2009MelbourneHamer Hall
10 February 2009
13 February 2009WellingtonNew ZealandMichael Fowler Centre
14 February 2009AucklandASB Theatre
18 February 2009SeattleUnited StatesBenaroya Hall
19 February 2009SpokaneMartin Woldson Theater at the Fox
20 February 2009VancouverCanadaQueen Elizabeth Theatre
22 February 2009EdmontonNorthern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
23 February 2009CalgaryJack Singer Concert Hall
27 February 2009New York CityUnited StatesRadio City Music Hall
28 February 2009
Third leg – Europe, spring 2009
9 March 2009DüsseldorfGermanyTonhalle Düsseldorf
10 March 2009AntwerpBelgiumKoningin Elisabethzaal
12 March 2009HamburgGermanyCongress Centrum
14 March 2009FrankfurtAlte Oper
16 March 2009CopenhagenDenmarkFalkoner Theatre
17 March 2009StockholmSwedenCirkus
19 March 2009OsloNorwaySentrum
20 March 2009MalmöConcert House
22 March 2009HanoverGermanyTheater am Aegi
23 March 2009BerlinTempodrom
24 March 2009UtrechtNetherlandsMC Vredenburg
25 March 2009ParisFranceOlympia
27 March 2009BristolUnited KingdomColston Hall
29 March 2009BirminghamSymphony Hall
30 March 2009ManchesterBridgewater Hall
31 March 2009GlasgowGlasgow Royal Concert Hall
1 April 2009GatesheadThe Sage Gateshead
3 April 2009LiverpoolPhilharmonic Hall
4 April 2009SheffieldCity Hall
6 April 2009DublinIrelandNational Concert Hall
7 April 2009BelfastUnited KingdomWaterfront Hall
9 April 2009OxfordNew Theatre Oxford
11 April 2009NottinghamRoyal Centre
12 April 2009LondonRoyal Festival Hall
13 April 2009
14 April 2009BrightonBrighton Dome
16 April 2009StuttgartGermanyHegelsaal
17 April 2009ZürichSwitzerlandVolkshaus
19 April 2009SenigalliaItalyLa Fenice
20 April 2009VeronaTeatro Filarmonico
21 April 2009MilanTeatro Dal Verme
22 April 2009ModenaTeatro Comunale Modena
24 April 2009BarcelonaSpainPalau de la Música Catalana
26 April 2009OviedoAuditorio Príncipe Felipe
27 April 2009MadridLope de Vega Theatre
28 April 2009LisbonPortugalColiseo
Fourth leg – North America, summer 2009
1 June 2009ShelburneUnited StatesThe Green at Shelburne Museum
2 June 2009HopewellConstellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
3 June 2009MontclairWellmont Theatre
5 June 2009PhiladelphiaMann Center for the Performing Arts
6 June 2009ViennaFilene Center
8 June 2009New York CityProspect Park Bandshell
10 June 2009CharlottesvilleCharlottesville Pavilion
12 June 2009ManchesterBonnaroo Music Festival
14 June 2009DallasMajestic Theatre
15 June 2009HoustonJones Hall
17 June 2009Santa FeLensic Theater
18 June 2009TellurideTelluride Bluegrass Festival
20 June 2009MorrisonRed Rocks Amphitheatre
21 June 2009Salt Lake CityRed Butte Garden Amphitheatre
23 June 2009PortlandArlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
24 June 2009SeattleParamount Theatre
26 June 2009BerkeleyHearst Greek Theatre
Fifth leg – Europe, summer 2009
6 July 2009AthensGreeceBadminton Theatre
7 July 2009SkopjeMacedoniaUniversal Hall
8 July 2009BelgradeSerbiaSava Centar
10 July 2009LjubljanaSloveniaKrižanke
11 July 2009ViennaAustriaOpen Air Arena
12 July 2009OstravaCzech RepublicColours Festival
13 July 2009WarsawPolandStodola
15 July 2009BudapestHungaryMillenáris Sporttelep
16 July 2009GrazAustriaKasematten
17 July 2009-GradoItalyDiga Nazario Sauro
18 July 2009FiesoleFestival Teatro Romano
20 July 2009RomeParco della Musica
22 July 2009FerraraPiazza Castello
23 July 2009NaplesCastel Sant'Elmo
24 July 2009LocorotondoLocus Festival, Cantina Sociale
27 July 2009CagliariAnfiteatro Romano
29 July 2009TurinReal Festival, Palace of Venaria
30 July 2009LyonFranceGrand Théâtre Romain de Fourvière
1 August 2009LokerenBelgiumLokerse Feesten
2 August 2009AmsterdamNetherlandsMelkweg
3 August 2009LondonUnited KingdomBarbican Centre
4 August 2009SouthamptonSouthampton Guildhall
8 August 2009EdinburghEdinburgh Playhouse
9 August 2009LedburyThe Big Chill
†Date scheduled and later canceled

Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour

Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour – David Byrne on Tour: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno
Type:ep
Longtype:(live)
Artist:David Byrne
Cover:Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour.jpg
Alt:A blurry black-and-white photo of a middle-aged Caucasian man in white overalls swinging his arms with a guitar slung over his shoulder. He is standing behind a microphone stand and in front of a man with a drum kit. In the upper left corner is written "EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS / WILL HAPPEN ON THIS TOUR /DAVID BYRNE ON TOUR / SONGS OF DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO" in a stylized white font.
Recorded:December 4, 2008, Strand–Capitol Performing Arts Center, York, Pennsylvania, United States
Genre:Alternative rock, world
Language:English
Label:Todo Mundo
Producer:David Byrne
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Here Lies Love
Next Year:2010

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

Byrne 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.

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.

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."

Track listing

All songs written by David Byrne and Brian Eno; "Strange Overtones" co-written by Leo Abrahams.

  1. "Strange Overtones" – 4:37
  2. "Help Me Somebody" – 3:28
  3. "One Fine Day" – 4:34
  4. "I Feel My Stuff" – 6:29

Personnel

Ride, Rise, Roar

See main article: Ride, Rise, Roar. On 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. The debut with be at South by Southwest on March 15, 2010, where it will be screened in all three media categories—film, interactive, and music. The film was the feature-length directorial debut by Hillman Curtis—who also worked on the short film that accompanies the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. 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. 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.

Stalking incident

While 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.

See also

External links