David Byrne at the Centre

I’ve never been a huge Talking Heads fan, and know very little about David Byrne’s solo music, but I’ve always admired the guy. He’s quite a Renaissance man–he’s an accomplished photographer, writer and composer for film and theatre. In short, he’s always up to something interesting.

Last night’s show at the Centre showcased his eclectic tastes, running from Talking Heads classics to more recent world music experiments to a Verdi aria. He’s a compelling performer–he dances and sways like a tennis player waiting to receive a serve, or perhaps Ed Grimly. I was impressed by the clarity and strength of his voice, and songs were witty, original and sometimes deeply bizarre. The band, including the four violinists and two cellos of Tosca Strings, was tight and enthusiastic.

It had been years since I’d been to the Centre (formerly the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts), and it looks and sounds great. I’m pleased to see this white elephant is booking more concerts (I’m seeing Sarah Harmer there in October), as opposed to just ill-fated musicals.

This is probably the first time I’ve ever said this: the opening act was pretty good. They’re a Vancouver-based trio called PoGirl, and they seem to combine an Iron and Wine rootsiness with a kinder, gentler Ani DeFranco. The lead vocalist has a gorgeous, bluesy voice, and they seemed to know what to do with their instruments. A whole album might be a bit too lazy-down-home-days for me, but I enjoyed their short set.