David Byrne released his solo record American Utopia last week on Todomundo/Nonesuch Records, which has earned him his highest charting album ever, entering at No. 1 on the Top Current Album Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and topping both Rock and Alternative Album Charts. American Utopia has also debuted at No. 1 on the Canadian Album and Alternative Album charts, another career high for Byrne. There are more career chart highs across Europe, where the new album premiered in the Top 20 in the UK and Ireland, and Top 40 in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Netherlands, among others.
The album has been receiving rave reviews and tremendous critical acclaim. The New York Times noted, “He’s a profile in American reinvention — it’s here a kind of alien found a band, an audience and a home.” NPR wrote, “If a brain in a jar could observe the world, make sense of it and churn it into a batch of songs, it would make the album American Utopia.”
David Byrne has been making his rounds on late night television this past month, with an interview, and performance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as well as an interview on the Daily Show With Trevor Noah.
American Utopia, like Byrne’s speaking series “Reasons To Be Cheerful” (RTBC), named for the song by the late Ian Dury, questions the current state of society while offering solace through song. As with the album, the content of the RTBC series recognizes the darkness and complexity of today while showcasing alternatives to the despair that threatens us. RTBC highlights stories, news, ideas, and other items Byrne has been collecting over the last year, all of which either embody or identify examples of things that inspire optimism, such as a tech breakthrough, a musical act, a new idea in urban planning or transportation. A “Reasons To Be Cheerful” hub, where Byrne shares these items, can be accessed here.
David Byrne recently released American Utopia: Detroit, a video for “Everybody’s Coming to My House” from American Utopia, featuring a performance of the song by Detroit School of Arts (DSA) Vocal Jazz Ensemble students. The video, which includes personal perspectives and interpretations from the students, was filmed in part by their classmates from the school’s Radio & Television Department. With the help of their beloved teacher Ms. Valentine, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble makes “Everybody’s Coming to My House” their own. Watch the video here.
A world tour in celebration of American Utopia, featuring an ambitious, “untethered,” choreographed concert, began this month and continues through the summer. See below for a full rundown of tour dates and various festival appearances.
Acclaim For American Utopia:
“Byrne filters grace, wonder and apocalyptic portent through his fractured worldview. He remains a fine guide through life’s disruptions and disturbances,” MOJO
“American Utopia is an album full of pulsating beats and rich textures. You could also say that about any Talking Heads record, but the new album isn’t a throwback; it feels like it could only exist right now.” Stereogum
“Byrne has put together an album that not only sounds fresh, but concerns itself with the world as it exists in this moment, right now. ” UPROXX
“Some of the most exciting music Byrne has made in years.” Rolling Stone
“The minute you put American Utopia on, it grabs you. It grabs you by the hips, with blasts of electro-funk. It grabs you by the brains, with quirky lyrics. And it grabs you by the heartstrings, with gospel-tinged melodies. This is an album for anyone who fears that we are running out of tunes. The whole thing has a vitality that will appeal to anyone, young or old.” Mail On Sunday
“A whimsical, weird and totally wonderful set of songs. A well-timed treat delivered by one of music’s most beloved eccentrics. Go explore.” Clash
“”American Utopia” features the musician at his most earnest, relaxed and straightforward.” Variety
“Cerebral, but with an irresistible beat; and exuberant, but in a way that is self-contained. And if America right now is something less than a utopia, Byrne is a force for positivity, exhorting us all to do better.” Pitchfork
“American Utopia has come from the desire to provide little stabs at happiness when they seem hard to find. There are plenty of delightful and eccentric moments. The lasting impression is not one of a blithe spirit at play, but a deeply anxious, conscientious human struggling to find redeeming features in a world that seems devoid of them. It’s a noble initiative for which Byrne should be commended.” Esquire
“His best record in years. His creative fires still show no sign of dimming, Byrne remains as playful and brilliant as ever.” Q
American Utopia 2018 Tour Dates
March 19 – Teatro Gran Rex – Buenos Aires (Argentina) #
March 20 – Teatro de Verano – Montevideo (Uruguay) %
March 22 – Porto Alegre, BRA – Pepsi on Stage $
March 24 – Sao Paulo, BRA – Lollapalooza (Brazil)
March 26 – Curitiba, BRA – Teatro Positivo $
March 28 – Rio De Janeiro, BRA – Km de Vantagens Hall $
March 29 – Belo Horizonte, BRA – Km de Vantagens Hall $
April 3 – Mexico City MX – Metropolitan Theater @
April 5 – Monterrey MX – Auditorio Pabellón M @
April 7 – Guadalajara, MEX – Corona Capital Guadalajara
April 12 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theater ^
April 14 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 15 – Tucson, AZ – Centennial Hall SOLD OUT ^
April 17 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theater SOLD OUT ^
April 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Smith Center for the Arts ^
April 19 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center-Ikeda Theater SOLD OUT ^
April 21 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 24 – Dallas, TX – Winspear Opera House SOLD OUT ^
April 25 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion ^
April 27 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts SOLD OUT ^
April 28 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Outside Lawn ^
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – Jazz Fest
May 4 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Music Festival
May 5 – Memphis, TN – Beale Street Music Festival
May 06 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium SOLD OUT *
May 8 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Civic Auditorium SOLD OUT *
May 9 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium SOLD OUT *
May 10 – Durham PAC – Durham, NC SOLD OUT *
May 12 – Washington, DC – The Anthem SOLD OUT *
May 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Arts *
May 15 – Milwaukee WI – Riverside Theater SOLD OUT *
May 16 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater SOLD OUT *
May 17 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theater SOLD OUT *
May 18 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theater *
May 20 – Edmonton, ALB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium *
May 21 – Calgary, ALB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium *
May 23 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theater SOLD OUT *
May 24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater SOLD OUT *
May 25 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
May 27 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium SOLD OUT *
May 28 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center SOLD OUT *
May 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre SOLD OUT *
June 06 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater SOLD OUT *
June 2 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater SOLD OUT *
June 3 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater SOLD OUT *
June 5 – Des Moines, IA – Des Moines Civic Center *
June 7 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Center for the Arts SOLD OUT *
June 8 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House SOLD OUT *
June 9 – Indianapolis, IN – Farmers Bureau Lawn Amphitheater *
June 14 – Oxford, England – New Theatre SOLD OUT **
June 15 – Glasgow, Scotland – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall SOLD OUT **
June 17 – Birmingham, England – Birmingham Symphony Hall SOLD OUT **
June 18 – Manchester, England – Manchester Apollo SOLD OUT **
June 19 – London, England – Hammersmith Apollo SOLD OUT **
June 20 – London, England – Hammersmith Apollo SOLD OUT **
June 23 – Prague, Czech Republic – Metronome Festival
June 25 – Zagreb, Croatia – INmusic Festival
June 26 – Wien, Austria – Museumsquartier
June 27 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
June 30 – Ewijk, Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole
July 3 – Paris, France – Days Off Festival
July 5 – Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival
July 6 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
July 8 – Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
July 11 – Cascais, Portugal – Cool Jazz Festival
July 13 – Bilbao, Spain – Bilbao BBK Live Festival
July 14 – Barcelona, Spain – Cruilla Barcelona
July 17 – Zürich, Switzerland – Theater 11
July 19 – Ravenna, Italy – Ravenna Festival
July 20 – Perugia, Italy – Umbria Jazz Festival
July 21 – Trieste, Italy – Piazza Unità
July 27 – Camden, NJ – XPoNential Music Festival
July 28 – Washington, DC – Merriweather Post Pavilion *
July 29 – New York, NY – Panorama Music and Arts Festival
July 31 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion SOLD OUT *
August 1 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion *
August 3 – Toronto, ON – Sony Center for the Performing Arts SOLD OUT *
August 4 – Toronto, ON – Sony Center for the Performing Arts *
August 5 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center *
August 7 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica*
August 8 – Grand Rapids, MI – Devos Performance Hall SOLD OUT *
August 10 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theater *
August 11 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center @ The Heights *
August 12 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend *
August 16 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater SOLD OUT ~
August 17 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater SOLD OUT ~
August 18 – San Jose, CA – City National Civic Auditorium ~
August 21 – Sacramento, CA – Community Theater SOLD OUT ~
August 22 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Center ~
August 24 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl SOLD OUT ~
August 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Auditorium ~
August 27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater SOLD OUT ~
August 28 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater SOLD OUT ~
September 7 – West Long Branch, NJ – OceanFirst Bank Center at Monmouth University +
September 8 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre +
September 9 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre +
September 11 – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME +
September 15 – Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium +
September 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre SOLD OUT +
September 23 – North Charleston, SC – N. Charleston Performing Arts Center +
September 26 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theater +
September 28 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts +
September 29 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore +
September 30 – Tampa, FL – Mahaffey Theater +
October 6 – Dallas, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
# w/ Lisandro Aristimuño
% w/ Juana Molina
$ w/ Karina Zeviani
@ – w/ Mexico Institute of Sound
^ w/ Perfume Genius
* w/ Benjamin Clementine
** w/ Laura Mvula
~ w/ Ibeyi
+ w/ Tune-Yards
