David Byrne in Dublin review: Talking Heads' frontman delivers again at drizzly St Anne's Park

David Byrne's second gig in Ireland this year was another mesmerising show, despite the inclement weather 

A recent image of David Byrne, who played at St Anne's Park in Dublin on Sunday. (Photo by Brianna Bryson/Getty Images)

 David Byrne, St Anne’s Park, Dublin ★★★★☆

Talking Heads legendary frontman David Byrne immediately grabbed the attention of the sold-out, 20,000 audience at St Anne’s Park in Dublin when he materialised on stage on Sunday night, dressed in an iridescent blue suit, as were his troupe of musicians and dancers, their identikit blue suits glowing against a moonscape backdrop.

Just three months after his 3Arena gig, Byrne kicked off his outdoor Dublin appearance with Heaven, a goosebumps-inducing rendition of the classic Talking Heads number. He concluded the track by gesturing towards a huge projection of Earth behind him: “There she is our heaven,” he told the crowd. “The only one we have.” 

 Byrne riffed on and off about the wonders of nature. He was in a joyful, talkative mood, witty and laughing infectiously at his own gags. One of the only times he got serious was when he suggested that – given we’re living in an increasingly divided and antagonistic world – “Love and kindness are the most punk things you can do right now”, a message he repeated at a later stage.

David Byrne at St Anne’s Park, Dublin.

Byrne’s decision to untether his band, something he did first back in 2018, is a stroke of genius. His musicians’ instruments hang from straps around their necks – there are no amp wires or drum stools or mic stands on stage – so they can move freely about the place. It makes for a mesmerising, marching band feel, a celebration of dancing and wondrous choreography. The man who revolutionised the pop concert just keeps on innovating.

During T Shirt, a track he wrote with his long-time collaborator Brian Eno, a series of epigrams, political sayings and humorous lines (“Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to come”) flashed up on screens behind him. “Make America Gay Again” and “I heart Dublin” got the biggest cheers.

At one stage, Byrne shared some random cityscape footage: “OK, here are some views of Dublin”, which included a photo of a David Byrne pub as well as “an adult store that has a student discount”. He is the godfather of goofball charm.

Having spent the night mixing it up with occasional Talking Heads tracks along with solo material, he finished with several Talking Heads hits, including Psycho Killer, a track Byrne hadn’t performed live for almost 20 years before this world tour began back in September; Once in a Lifetime; and Burning Down the House, which closed out his encore.

Even the drizzle that persisted throughout the concert couldn’t dampen the spirits. David Byrne gets your feet itchy, delivering two hours of music to put a smile on your face.