This tour documentary about the former lead man of Taking Heads is an interesting look at an eternally recreative spirit. Sure, you could be negative and say it's no Stop Making Sense, but then name me one other concert film of the last 25 years that stands up to that seminal movie? What this captures is one of modern music's most interesting creators heading into his twilight years as a public performer. I've followed David Byrne's career all the way from Talking Heads, and while he only rarely comes up with songs that can match his heyday output, he continues to be a fascinating musician, constantly pushing himself and trying new approaches. I saw him live on the tour which this film documents, and while it wasn't my favourite show of his, I liked that he was experimenting, incorporating dance routines into the fabric of the performance. This isn't a Rolling Stones-type showman, who simply trots out decades-old hits that the fans are going to mindlessly lap up. At the same time he's not a Bob Dylan-style crank either, mangling his classics and disconnecting himself from his audience. Instead Byrne throws in the olden goldies in an enjoyable way, but also offers up new material, in a crowd-pleasing and envelope-pushing combination. This film won't make you get up and dance in the aisles the way Stop Making Sense did, but it's a nice reminder that some artists CAN grow old gracefully and continue to be a meaningful presence in their field.
Review of Ride, Rise, Roar
