Byrne-ing Down the Greek

Written for East Bay Express, 7/1/09

The convergence of ages is quite often seen at live shows when the performer has enjoyed a lengthy career. Often it is awkward. Try lighting a joint at a Pearl Jam concert only to notice you are in the presence of many young children who have accompanied their middle-aged, formerly grunge parents. David Byrne’s show at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre on Friday, June 26 was no exception. The singer/songwriter treated the age-diverse crowd to mostly Talking Heads favorites as well as the best of his latest album with Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.

Byrne’s music isn’t easy to describe. While the man himself is almost too bizarre to go on living, his poetic recitation of lyrics and exaggerated pitch is really the only oddball element to his songs. The most akin musician that comes to mind is post-Genesis Peter Gabriel, minus five to ten pounds of pomp and circumstance. Byrne’s performance at the Greek certainly followed suit. While he needed neither lasers nor smoke machines to transform the stage, he let subtle elements presented point of view without jamming it down your throat. A simple act of dressing himself and accompaniment all in white was a nice touch.

No one should be surprised by the fact that Byrne now employs a trio of contemporary backup dancers. Granted, the 57-year-old solo artist looks like he’s in great shape but I’ll bet his days of body noodling and forearm chopping are numbered. Why not hire a small army to do thy kinesthetic bidding? In all, it was a great choice. Byrne was still very involved with the physical element of the show, even with the jogging-in-place routine for “Life During Wartime.” If anyone ever saw Stop Making Sense, you know what I’m talking about and probably said to yourself, “Bummer. I will never see anything like this live.” Wrong. Byrne’s show was absolutely thrilling and refreshingly classic. At several points, it seemed the audience had forgotten what age they were, what year it was, and how white Byrne’s hair has gotten. They sang the words, “Same as it ever was” and became the lyric itself. Byrne’s ability to transcend niche and era is the stuff of truly great music.

— Briana Hernandez

Photo credit: Mark Sherman

First show fizzles, Robson sizzles--again.

It took a while, but I am now fully sucked in despite not really giving a hoot about dance and cringing more at Mary Murphey's dead eyes and squawking voice than I have at any of Tyra's antics on ANTM (even Goddess of Fierce). So You Think You Can Dance has officially reeled me in and now monopolizes my Wednesday nights, this last being the first episode with the top 20 finalists.

Now, I know I mentioned that I don't really care about dance and that's true. However, it makes people like me some of the best viewers for this show. If we're moved, you know it's brilliant. That said, this first show had plenty of glitz, little guile.

One exception, as always, was modern dance choreographer Wade Robson's routine. Seriously, the guy swaggers in, says "G'day" and steals the show every single time. This episode, it was the adorable flirtation of crash test dummies that stole everyone's hearts. Yeah, I guess you had to be there.

-Briana Hernandez

I'm there.

Granted, I have never been able to sit through 2001: A Space Odyssey. Fine, I never really tried that hard to in the first place. But I've always known I must and now the motivation to do so has tripled upon getting wind of Duncan Jones' Moon.

Trailer.

An astronaut (Sam Rockwell) serving a three-year mining contract on the moon is two weeks away from returning home to his wife and child. Just when he starts thinking, *fists atop hips* "Ha. Three years alone on the moon with one hand tied around my back--I rule," of course, weirdness starts to go down while the creepily calm voice of his automated hub (just guess...Kevin Spacey) suggests he is loosing his shit.

Come to think of it, I may not have to sit through 2001 after all as typing the synopsis to Moon all the more reminds me of 1998's Sphere, the ultimate depiction of mind power and coping with the unknown. Either way, I hope Moon takes us to similar places. Besides, I am now terrified of the sea, mars and space in general because of wicked awesome movies so why not throw the moon into the mix?

-Briana Hernandez