David Byrne’s American Utopia resurfaces on Broadway—with a fresh take on human connection
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"Is it the truth—or merely a description?"
American singer-songwriter David Byrne opens the show by raising this question to his audience about their own consciousness. By him pointing to regions on a sculpture of the human brain, he dissects the human spirit down to its physical nature—and questions how much our reality is all but interpretation.
But despite its introspective tone, American Utopia does not intend to push its audience toward existential dread. Simply, it encourages us to appreciate our common human connections —starting with our shared cerebral anatomy. Simultaneously, the show encourages us to embrace the ever-changing differences that make us unique.
Currently in residence at the St. James Theatre, American Utopia takes Byrne's 2018 studio album of the same name and transforms it into a fusion of slam poetry, interpretative art, and Tin Pan Alley sound.
In a silver suit that now matches the hue of his combed-over quiff, David Byrne, 69, looks just as nimble as ever. He never wavers in his rhythm beside his much younger cohort of musicians and dancers–all of who flash international artistic styles that originate from their native countries. Showcasing the cutting-edge choreography of Annie-B Parson, the troupe marches barefoot around the stage like a well-oiled machine—with all of their instruments completely wireless and untethered.
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The liberating nature of the performance reflects how humanity can flourish, even through a period brought down by uncertainty and isolation. Most of American Utopia's on-stage run occurred just before the great Broadway blackout of 2020. Byrne and his creative team's production process ensued well before "COVID" became a household name. Now, the show's 2021 revival lifts its curtains to a very different audience—one whose human spirit now seems alarmingly in peril.
Visually, the show's minimalist arrangement—from the unadorned set design to the matching plain grey suits that each band member dons—perfectly matches this depiction of simplicity and liberation.
In contrast to the conventional musical show, absent are the show costumes, traditional vocal performances, and cinematic forces. But as we look deeper into the show, we witness the same heart that the most-esteemed Broadway giants wove into their most remarkable pieces of storytelling.
With American Utopia, Byrne modernizes the rock musical with a healthy sprinkle of the new wave elements that launched his illustrious career as an avant-pop artist. For a discography as distinctive and motley as Byrne's, one might expect a chaotic hodgepodge of sounds and messages.
Instead, Byrne and his team not only perform his '80s Talking Heads hits—"Burning Down the House," "Once in a Lifetime," "Road to Nowhere"—like a day hasn't passed. Collectively, they find a way to seamlessly contextualize them into a fluid purée of ideas. In this essence, the creative team finds a way to succinctly turn his expansive musical catalog into a single concept album.
Musically, Byrne's guitar licks remain as crisp as ever. And along with the accompaniment from his backing instrumentalists, the live percussion section stands out enough to be a headlining act on its own. A collection of instruments from throughout the globe—hand cymbals, steel pans, and mridangams, to name a few—help achieve the vibrant postmodern sound reminiscent of material from Byrne's younger days. But familiarizing yourself with Byrne's previous work is not essential to absorbing this holistic experience.
With just an Emmy award away from EGOT status, Byrne's resume speaks for itself—with an Academy Award, a Grammy, and a Tony sitting on his mantle. But beyond the accolades, he continues to cement himself as a one-of-a-kind cultural icon because of his desire to spark change and empower others.
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Byrne puts a profound spin on his 2018 lead single, "Everybody's Coming to My House," that shifts the Brian Eno-produced synth-pop track almost entirely away from its original form—both in meter and in meaning. In its studio form, the song uses Byrne's high register and a droning soundscape of synthesizers to explore social anxiety. Throughout, Byrne feels uneasy from the house guests coming to invade his personal bubble and hopelessly accepts his privacy as a foregone reality.
But in the renewed on-stage version, Byrne exchanges the quest for privacy with a celebration of unity. With inspiration from a cover by the Detroit School of Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Byrne reconstructs the electric yet stressful musical gripe into a lively anthem about the comfort of togetherness. Now, with his musical team, he takes a narrative about a man feeling uneasy from the mayhem of the external world and twists it into a statement about overcoming isolation through welcoming inclusion.
David Byrne takes many moments like this to boldly communicate with his audience —tackling themes from the mystery of consciousness to America's crisis of violent racial prejudice. Among these moments is unbridled dialogue preceding a cover of Jannelle Monae's "Hell You Talmbout," which recognizes the victims of recent murders at the hands of racist police brutality. The rhythmic chanting of these names—Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and, tragically, many others—sent shockwaves of silence through the orchestra and mezzanines of the auditorium.
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Despite the heavy subject, Byrne iterates that the integration of the song intends not to preach or bring negativity —but instead serves as an emphatic reminder of this specific moment of injustice. Because without acknowledging the atrocities that result from our collective status quo, any attempt to celebrate diversity becomes hypocritical.
And throughout American Utopia, Byrne's top priority is clear—showing that a push for inclusion allows us to maximize the human spirit and, in the process, work towards at least a sliver of paradise.