David Byrne
O2 Apollo, Manchester
9th March 2026
David Byrne brings his restless imagination and choreographed art-pop spectacle to Manchester’s O2 Apollo, blending Talking Heads classics with newer material in a show that is as theatrical as it is joyful. Kai Marshall heads along to witness the master of left-field pop.
If David Byrne could deconstruct the concept of a gig any further, we’d all be on the stage singing for him. At times, it seemed as though the crowd would have done just that had he asked. Dancing in the aisles, characteristic, choreographed chaos on the stage and songs loaded with memories; age is proven to be just a number. The word veteran doesn’t seem to cut it when it comes to Byrne. That word is reserved, yes, for people who’ve been around the musical block once or twice, but it also represents something stuck in a time, a place or a sound. Byrne eludes this characterisation despite his longevity. He is endlessly creative and boundlessly inquisitive.
The show itself is brought to life by his air of mystique despite the honesty of the man and his songs. His fantastic band, loose around the stage in a fashion unchanged from Byrne’s previous American Utopia tour, are tight and talented. Songs that no doubt will live forever are redesigned, reorganised and rebirthed.
Beginning with Heaven, sang against the backdrop of the Earth from the perspective of the moon, Byrne’s band produce yet another version of this song, which in previous iterations has been an indie rock song and a solemn acoustic number. Handheld drums give the track a new heartbeat. Byrne’s voice doesn’t falter, and the harmonies are iconic. Trading the American Utopia grey uniform for a blue one still reinforces a previous artistic decision: to detract from the usual markings of a gig, including fashion and the traditional rock band set-up.
This tour, however, makes greater use of visuals than American Utopia. Another Talking Heads classic And She Was is set against the backdrop of midwestern cornfields of the like constructed by The Big Country. The stunning shots complement the choreography and bring to mind a conceptual art piece- style performance rather than a gig. Very New York.
Speaking of New York, the city is very much a source of inspiration for Byrne. The city skyline appears visually and lyrically. At one point in the show, we are taken inside Byrne’s apartment for My Apartment Is My Friend, a song about loving a place as you would a person. His relatability, despite his New York apartment in the clouds, shines through in songs like this. His experience of the pandemic is a faint undercurrent through the new tracks, and his guilt over his comparatively comfortable experience is something we might all reflect on. Not only that, but his anger at the treatment of New Yorkers by federal police is hinted at by footage of a potential detainee escaping custody. This elicits huge cheers from the crowd.
The magic of a show like this precedes the gig itself. What’s so special about the musicians standing in a single file? It’s creative choices like this, simple yet remarkable, and their expert execution time and time again that make Byrne’s shows unmissable. Houses In Motion becomes a stage in motion and so copies the crowd. The surprisingly Mancunian (Nothing But) Flowers sounds Marrvelous (no, he didn’t play). Timeless classic This Must Be The Place requires no introduction and receives none. The crowd drifts in and out of eachother, it’s a hair-raisingly beautiful track. I’ll refrain from the cliche of describing it as the most beautiful and awkward love song of all time.
What Is The Reason For It? Sounds like a late 80s Byrne track, giving us a Brazilian street party atmosphere. Recent addition to the setlist Air draws upon Byrne’s notable gospel influence. The wide net of the musical tapestry on display captures ever more influences. Psycho Killer leads to the apt Life During Wartime, which bleeds into Once In A Lifetime. A setlist with just one of these songs would have been a treat.
The house finally burns down, and we are united by a shared appreciation for the weird and wonderful. The message, as ever with Byrne, is one of unity and love. It’s punk to look after yourself and to love those around you. It’s important to dance and to sing and to take real notice of the world. In a time where the world has Strange Overtones, find yourself a city to live in and catch David Byrne on tour.
Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to contact the photographer, please email: mudkissphotos@gmail.com – © Melanie Smith / Mudkiss Photography All rights reserved
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Read the review of the new album, Who is The Sky? here:
David Byrne can be found at his website | Facebook | Instagram
Words by Kai Marshall, more work on his author profile here: and Instagram
All photos by Melanie Smith – Louder Than War | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Portfolio
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