David Byrne has created a inviting and innovative piece of theater with the collaboration of the legendary director Spike Lee. They have produced the joyful and human experience that is the film “American Utopia”, which talks about the changes and current state of American society, through the medium of a concert featuring songs from Byrne’s album of the same name. As well as classic hits from his acclaimed band Talking Heads.
Born in 1952, and an immigrant from Scotland, David Bryne had a unique passion for music. Although he was, in his own words “immensely shy”, he could be let free and be himself on stage with his band Talking Heads. After a catalog of acclaimed albums, one of the best concert 
films ever made- “Stop Making Sense”- huge praise and following from people all over the globe, the band broke up in 1991. However, it wasn’t quite over for Byrne. He started a solo career and would occasionally pop up on songs by various artists.
With his most recent album American Utopia, Byrne wanted to create a theatrical stage show to go along with it. Being a creative powerhouse, he wanted it to be like a show that no one’s done before.
Similar to the opening of “Stop Making Sense”, – which is the Talking heads concert film from 1984 – Bryne has the stage stripped of any instruments, wires and other set production. He’s instead surrounded by long chain curtains lining the edges of the stage. Over the course of the 
performance, he sings and plays with other musicians who carry there instruments like a marching band. Along with spectacular lighting effects, this makes the show have an utterly unique appearance.
The show starts with Bryne contemplating how the mind of a child develops and as we grow, we lose certain neural connections in our brains. That idea is a simple jumping off point to explore and discuss certain topics of the world now: such as identity, human nature, immigration, unity and many more.
After seeing a performance of the show on Broadway, legendary film maker Spike Lee was eager to collaborate with Bryne to make a film out of the stage show. Spike Lee was able to capture the magic of the staging, and emphasize every performers music talent and the way they dance and choreographed the show. He uses an abundant amounts of cinematic camera angles and techniques to view the close up, emotive and important moments, to then let you embrace the full stage with its colorful lighting and dancing. Spike lee also emphasizes the messages and symbols of Black Lives Matter. While also filming and editing, Spike Lee also asked some of the mothers who had lost their family members to racist polices acts for discrimination and violence to be involved to remember their loved ones. Bryne’s and Spikes politics and viewpoints meld to create a balance of what is told and what is seen on stage.
This show is captivating, honest, insightful and truly spectacular. I would highly recommend this to everyone to experience something that creates so much joy and is so accurate of a live show atmosphere.
