Get the latest gossip

David Byrne Expected a ‘Hard Audience’ for His SNL50 Performance

“You see all of these names and go, Oh my God.”

“I’ve been busy taking some dance classes in preparation for a tour.” As part of the show’s spectacle of an anniversary concert on Friday, February 14, Byrne served as the de facto prince of Radio City Music Hall, gliding through two segments that spanned four songs. First, he formed an electric caravan of players with Arcade Fire, St. Vincent, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to cover David Bowie’s “Heroes” and Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up.” The real magic, though, came a few minutes later, when he joined Robyn for a dizzying rendition of her club classic “Dancing on My Own” before the duo launched into the Talking Heads hit “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” Win Butler reached out to me and said, “Hey, would you sing with us?” I had to think if I could really contribute something.I suggested St. Vincent could kill the guitar parts and knew she was going to be in town.

Get the Android app