# Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour

The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour is a 2008–2009 promotional concert tour of music co-written by David Byrne and Brian Eno with performances by Byrne. In addition to being a retrospective of the duo's collaborations, the tour promoted the album Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. The musical performers were accompanied by dancers who were choreographed to several songs. Performances were held across the world and later documented on a tour EP and a concert film.

## Material

Byrne assembled a band to tour for the album, performing music throughout the latter half of 2008 and early 2009 across North America, Europe, and Australasia. He hired more singers than he had on previous tours to reproduce the complex vocal harmonies of the album and was inspired to bring along dancers after seeing Sufjan Stevens promote the album Illinois as well as the Japanese films Funky Forest and The Taste of Tea. Byrne was initially uninvolved in the choreography, but made more suggestions as the tour went on and after he saw a live performance by Deerhoof that incorporated dancing with instruments. He began booking tour dates before the album was completed and continued writing his book The Bicycle Diaries throughout the tour.
In planning the set lists for the tour, Byrne initially considered only promoting this album, but decided to assemble songs this album as well as their previous collaborations, including the Talking Heads albums More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light and Byrne's The Catherine Wheel soundtrack. By playing music from all of their collaborations, Byrne hoped to "draw a line linking this new material with what we did 30 years ago" with the goal of clarifying the connection between all of the duo's previous work. In reviewing the music, he found that "[t]here might be more continuity than I imagined, which I hope is going to work in my favor." Although he was invited to participate and early reports indicated that would, Eno chose to not tour, letting Byrne decide how to present this music live.
A month after releasing the album, Byrne was skeptical of market saturation, claiming "I sense that a lot of people don't know we have a record out" and hoped to counterbalance that ignorance with this tour. At the same time, the main goal of the performance was not promotion but the show itself.

### Set lists

The set list for the first night:

#### Set

* "Strange Overtones" (originally from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "I Zimbra" (Fear of Music)
* "One Fine Day" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "Help Me Somebody" (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts)
* "Houses in Motion" (Remain in Light)
* "My Big Nurse" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)" (The Catherine Wheel)
* "Heaven" (Fear of Music)
* "Home" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "The River" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "Crosseyed and Painless" (Remain in Light)
* "Life Is Long" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "Once In a Lifetime" (Remain in Light)
* "Life During Wartime" (Fear of Music)
* "I Feel My Stuff" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)

#### Encore

* "Take Me to the River" (More Songs About Buildings and Food)
* "The Great Curve" (Remain in Light)

#### Second encore

* "Everything That Happens" (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
By the time he reached St. Louis in mid-October, the following set was played:

#### Set

* "Strange Overtones"
* "I Zimbra"
* "One Fine Day"
* "Help Me Somebody"
* "Houses in Motion"
* "My Big Nurse"
* "My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)"
* "Heaven"
* "Never Thought" (originally from the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "The River"
* "Crosseyed and Painless"
* "Life Is Long"
* "Once In a Lifetime"
* "Life During Wartime"
* "I Feel My Stuff"

#### Encore

* "Take Me to the River"
* "The Great Curve"

#### Second encore

* "Air" (Fear of Music)
* "Burning Down the House" (Speaking in Tongues)
* "Everything That Happens"
Midway through this leg, Byrne expanded some shows to have three encores, such as Omaha, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Raleigh. The first was as listed above, the second was "Don't Worry About the Government" and "Burning Down the House", and the third was "Everything That Happens". He also played this extended encore at the Hong Kong and Sydney shows. Byrne expanded his February 28, 2009, show to contain four two-song encores.

## Musicians and technical personnel
### Performers

Byrne has assembled the following musicians and dancers to accompany him:
* David Byrne – voice and guitar
* Mark De Gli Antoni – keyboards
* Paul Frazier – bass guitar
* Graham Hawthorne – drums
* Mauro Refosco – percussion
* Redray Frazier – background vocals
* Kaïssa – background vocals
* Jenni Muldaur – background vocals
* Lily Baldwin – dancing
* Natalie Kuhn – dancing
* Steven Reker – dancing
Refosco previously toured with Byrne's My Backwards Life band in support of Grown Backwards; like bassist Paul Frazier he also appears on Look into the Eyeball, Grown Backwards, Live from Austin, Texas, and Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. The performers started rehearsals the day that the album was released and continued to rehearse more for this tour than is typical for other Byrne presentations. All performers dress alike in cream-colored jumpsuits and overalls. The dancers have choreographed for seven songs and the entire ensemble performed together for the first time on September 9.

### Technical crew

* Mark Edwards – production manager
* Keith Anderson – tour manager
* Bruce Knight – Front of House
* Mike Lafferty – stage and keyboard technician
* Victor Muñoz – guitar technician
* Don FitzSimmonds – drum technician
* Jeremy Bolton and Michael Conners – PA technicians
* Bob Lewis – monitors
* Jon Pollak – lighting designer/director
* Martin Garnish – lighting
* Abi Lester – wardrobe
The equipment was engineered by Clair Global and included gear from Lab.gruppen, TC Electronic, and Yamaha.

### Choreographers

* Noémie Lafrance
* Annie-B Parson
* Sonya Robbins and Layla Childs aka Robbinschilds Dance

## Supporting acts

There were only a handful of dates that included other performers and no opening act was scheduled throughout the tour. Ani DiFranco opened on June 2, 2009, and Byrne played a double bill with Marianne Faithfull opening on July 30, 2009. The Extra Action Marching Band guested on "Burning Down the House" and "Road to Nowhere" on the October 7, 2008, and June 23, 24, and 26, 2009, dates. DeVotchka opened on some 2009 dates.

## Tour dates

The tour was expected to run six months into spring 2009, including dates in Australia and Europe before finally concluding after 11 months with five legs worldwide:
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| First leg – North America, fall 2008 ||||
| 16 September 2008 | Bethlehem | United States | Zoellner Arts Center – Baker Hall |
| 17 September 2008 | Baltimore | United States | Lyric Opera House |
| 18 September 2008 | Newport News | United States | Ferguson Center for the Arts |
| 20 September 2008 | Atlanta | United States | Chastain Park Amphitheater |
| 21 September 2008 | Asheville | United States | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium |
| 22 September 2008 | Nashville | United States | Ryman Auditorium |
| 23 September 2008 | Memphis | United States | Orpheum Theatre |
| 25 September 2008 | Austin | United States | The Paramount Theatre |
| 26 September 2008 | Austin | United States | Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park |
| 28 September 2008 | Albuquerque | United States | Kiva Auditorium |
| 30 September 2008 | Phoenix | United States | Orpheum Theatre |
| 2 October 2008 | San Diego | United States | Humphreys |
| 3 October 2008 | Los Angeles | United States | Greek Theatre |
| 4 October 2008 | Santa Barbara | United States | Arlington Theater |
| 6 October 2008 | San Francisco | United States | Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall |
| 7 October 2008 | San Francisco | United States | Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall |
| 8 October 2008 | Santa Rosa | United States | Wells Fargo Center for the Arts |
| 9 October 2008 | Saratoga | United States | Mountain Winery† |
| 11 October 2008 | Park City | United States | Eccles Center for the Performing Arts |
| 12 October 2008 | Denver | United States | Buell Theater |
| 14 October 2008 | Minneapolis | United States | State Theatre |
| 15 October 2008 | Milwaukee | United States | Pabst Theater |
| 17 October 2008 | Omaha | United States | Kiewit Concert Hall |
| 18 October 2008 | St. Louis | United States | Fox Theatre |
| 19 October 2008 | Kansas City | United States | Uptown Theater |
| 21 October 2008 | Louisville | United States | The Louisville Palace |
| 23 October 2008 | Cleveland | United States | Allen Theatre |
| 24 October 2008 | Ann Arbor | United States | Michigan Theater |
| 25 October 2008 | Indianapolis | United States | Clowes Memorial Hall |
| 26 October 2008 | Chicago | United States | Civic Opera House |
| 29 October 2008 | Toronto | Canada | Massey Hall |
| 30 October 2008 | Montreal | Canada | Métropolis |
| 31 October 2008 | Boston | United States | Citi Performing Arts Center |
| 1 November 2008 | Atlantic City | United States | The Borgata |
| 3 November 2008 | Red Bank | United States | Count Basie Theatre |
| 5 November 2008 | Albany | United States | Empire State Plaza |
| 7 November 2008 | Pittsburgh | United States | Carnegie Music Hall |
| 8 November 2008 | Upper Darby Township Township | United States | Tower Theater |
| 9 November 2008 | Washington, D.C. | United States | Warner Theatre |
| 28 November 2008 | Buffalo | United States | UB Center for the Arts |
| 29 November 2008 | Syracuse | United States | Landmark Theatre |
| 30 November 2008 | New Bedford | United States | Zeiterion Theatre |
| 2 December 2008 | Northampton | United States | Calvin Theatre |
| 3 December 2008 | Wilmington | United States | Grand Opera House |
| 4 December 2008 | York | United States | Strand–Capitol Performing Arts |
| 5 December 2008 | Ledyard | United States | Foxwoods Resort Casino |
| 7 December 2008 | Knoxville | United States | Tennessee Theatre |
| 8 December 2008 | Raleigh | United States | Meymandi Concert Hall |
| 9 December 2008 | North Charleston | United States | North Charleston Performing Arts Center |
| 10 December 2008 | Charlotte | United States | Ovens Auditorium |
| 12 December 2008 | Tampa | United States | Tampa Theatre |
| 13 December 2008 | Miami Beach | United States | Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater |
| Second leg – Winter 2009 ||||
| 19 January 2009 | Hong Kong | China | Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre |
| 21 January 2009 | Singapore | Singapore | Suntec City Concert Hall |
| 23 January 2009 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Hatch |
| 27 January 2009 | Tokyo | Japan | Shibuya-AX |
| 28 January 2009 | Tokyo | Japan | Shibuya-AX |
| 1 February 2009 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| 2 February 2009 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| 4 February 2009 | South Perth | Australia | Perth Zoo |
| 7 February 2009 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
| 9 February 2009 | Melbourne | Australia | Hamer Hall |
| 10 February 2009 | Melbourne | Australia | Hamer Hall |
| 13 February 2009 | Wellington | New Zealand | Michael Fowler Centre |
| 14 February 2009 | Auckland | New Zealand | ASB Theatre |
| 18 February 2009 | Seattle | United States | Benaroya Hall |
| 19 February 2009 | Spokane | United States | Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox |
| 20 February 2009 | Vancouver | Canada | Queen Elizabeth Theatre |
| 22 February 2009 | Edmonton | Canada | Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium |
| 23 February 2009 | Calgary | Canada | Jack Singer Concert Hall |
| 27 February 2009 | New York City | United States | Radio City Music Hall |
| 28 February 2009 | New York City | United States | Radio City Music Hall |
| Third leg – Europe, spring 2009 ||||
| 9 March 2009 | Düsseldorf | Germany | Tonhalle Düsseldorf |
| 10 March 2009 | Antwerp | Belgium | Koningin Elisabethzaal |
| 12 March 2009 | Hamburg | Germany | Congress Centrum |
| 14 March 2009 | Frankfurt | Germany | Alte Oper |
| 16 March 2009 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Falkoner Theatre |
| 17 March 2009 | Stockholm | Sweden | Cirkus |
| 19 March 2009 | Oslo | Norway | Sentrum |
| 20 March 2009 | Malmö | Norway | Concert House |
| 22 March 2009 | Hanover | Germany | Theater am Aegi |
| 23 March 2009 | Berlin | Germany | Tempodrom |
| 24 March 2009 | Utrecht | Netherlands | MC Vredenburg |
| 25 March 2009 | Paris | France | Olympia |
| 27 March 2009 | Bristol | United Kingdom | Colston Hall |
| 29 March 2009 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | Symphony Hall |
| 30 March 2009 | Manchester | United Kingdom | Bridgewater Hall |
| 31 March 2009 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall |
| 1 April 2009 | Gateshead | United Kingdom | The Sage Gateshead |
| 3 April 2009 | Liverpool | United Kingdom | Philharmonic Hall |
| 4 April 2009 | Sheffield | United Kingdom | City Hall |
| 6 April 2009 | Dublin | Ireland | National Concert Hall |
| 7 April 2009 | Belfast | United Kingdom | Waterfront Hall |
| 9 April 2009 | Oxford | United Kingdom | New Theatre Oxford |
| 11 April 2009 | Nottingham | United Kingdom | Royal Centre |
| 12 April 2009 | London | United Kingdom | Royal Festival Hall |
| 13 April 2009 | London | United Kingdom | Royal Festival Hall |
| 14 April 2009 | Brighton | United Kingdom | Brighton Dome |
| 16 April 2009 | Stuttgart | Germany | Hegelsaal |
| 17 April 2009 | Zürich | Switzerland | Volkshaus |
| 19 April 2009 | Senigallia | Italy | La Fenice |
| 20 April 2009 | Verona | Italy | Teatro Filarmonico |
| 21 April 2009 | Milan | Italy | Teatro Dal Verme |
| 22 April 2009 | Modena | Italy | Teatro Comunale Modena |
| 24 April 2009 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau de la Música Catalana |
| 26 April 2009 | Oviedo | Spain | Auditorio Príncipe Felipe |
| 27 April 2009 | Madrid | Spain | Lope de Vega Theatre |
| 28 April 2009 | Lisbon | Portugal | Coliseo |
| Fourth leg – North America, summer 2009 ||||
| 1 June 2009 | Shelburne | United States | The Green at Shelburne Museum |
| 2 June 2009 | Hopewell | United States | Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center |
| 3 June 2009 | Montclair | United States | Wellmont Theatre |
| 5 June 2009 | Philadelphia | United States | Mann Center for the Performing Arts |
| 6 June 2009 | Vienna | United States | Filene Center |
| 8 June 2009 | New York City | United States | Prospect Park Bandshell |
| 10 June 2009 | Charlottesville | United States | Charlottesville Pavilion |
| 12 June 2009 | Manchester | United States | Bonnaroo Music Festival |
| 14 June 2009 | Dallas | United States | Majestic Theatre |
| 15 June 2009 | Houston | United States | Jones Hall |
| 17 June 2009 | Santa Fe | United States | Lensic Theater |
| 18 June 2009 | Telluride | United States | Telluride Bluegrass Festival |
| 20 June 2009 | Morrison | United States | Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
| 21 June 2009 | Salt Lake City | United States | Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre |
| 23 June 2009 | Portland | United States | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall |
| 24 June 2009 | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| 26 June 2009 | Berkeley | United States | Hearst Greek Theatre |
| Fifth leg – Europe, summer 2009 ||||
| 6 July 2009 | Athens | Greece | Badminton Theatre |
| 7 July 2009 | Skopje | Macedonia | Universal Hall |
| 8 July 2009 | Belgrade | Serbia | Sava Centar |
| 10 July 2009 | Ljubljana | Slovenia | Križanke |
| 11 July 2009 | Vienna | Austria | Open Air Arena |
| 12 July 2009 | Ostrava | Czech Republic | Colours Festival |
| 13 July 2009 | Warsaw | Poland | Stodola |
| 15 July 2009 | Budapest | Hungary | Millenáris Sporttelep |
| 16 July 2009 | Graz | Austria | Kasematten |
| 17 July 2009- | Grado | Italy | Diga Nazario Sauro |
| 18 July 2009 | Fiesole | Italy | Festival Teatro Romano |
| 20 July 2009 | Rome | Italy | Parco della Musica |
| 22 July 2009 | Ferrara | Italy | Piazza Castello |
| 23 July 2009 | Naples | Italy | Castel Sant'Elmo |
| 24 July 2009 | Locorotondo | Italy | Locus Festival, Cantina Sociale |
| 27 July 2009 | Cagliari | Italy | Anfiteatro Romano |
| 29 July 2009 | Turin | Italy | Real Festival, Palace of Venaria |
| 30 July 2009 | Lyon | France | Grand Théâtre Romain de Fourvière |
| 1 August 2009 | Lokeren | Belgium | Lokerse Feesten |
| 2 August 2009 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Melkweg |
| 3 August 2009 | London | United Kingdom | Barbican Centre |
| 4 August 2009 | Southampton | United Kingdom | Southampton Guildhall |
| 8 August 2009 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | Edinburgh Playhouse |
| 9 August 2009 | Ledbury | United Kingdom | The Big Chill |
†Date scheduled and later canceled

## Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour

Everything That Happens Will Happen on This Tour – David Byrne on Tour: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno is a 2009 live EP released by David Byrne recorded during the Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour. The album is composed of live recordings of three songs from the 2009 Byrne/Eno collaboration Everything That Happens Will Happen Today and one—"Help Me Somebody"—from their 1981 album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

### Recording and release

Byrne was approached by Amnesty International to get involved in his tour. For years, Byrne had performed one date on his tours as a benefit and decided to record this EP with proceeds from sales benefiting the organization.
Byrne's band performed with an audio system that could professionally record every show based around Pro Tools. Byrne had these recordings mixed by Patrick Dillett—who was also responsible for engineering on Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.
The album was made available digitally in the form of DRM-free 320 kbit/s MP3s with the option of a FLAC as well. Like Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, the EP was marketed with Internet startup Topspin Media.
The album received a positive review from The Village Voice, calling it "cheerful" and "lovely."

### Track listing

All songs written by David Byrne and Brian Eno; "Strange Overtones" co-written by Leo Abrahams.
* "Strange Overtones" – 4:37
* "Help Me Somebody" – 3:28
* "One Fine Day" – 4:34
* "I Feel My Stuff" – 6:29

### Personnel

* David Byrne – vocals and guitar
* Mark De Gli Antoni – keyboards
* Paul Frazier – bass guitar
* Redray Frazier – background vocals
* Graham Hawthorne – drums
* Kaïssa – background vocals
* Jenni Muldaur – background vocals
* Mauro Refosco – percussion

## Ride, Rise, Roar

On February 11, 2010, it was announced that a documentary film entitled Ride, Rise, Roar chronicling the tour would be released to the 2010 film festival circuit. The debut will be at South by Southwest on March 15, 2010, where it will be screened in all three media categories—film, interactive, and music. The film was the feature-length directorial debut by Hillman Curtis—who also worked on the short film that accompanies the deluxe edition of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. The film includes concert footage, footage of the planning and rehearsals for the tour, and exclusive interviews with Byrne, Eno, and the supporting musicians and dancers. Curtis was initially contacted to document the tour with no clear objective for the film and decided to focus on the collaboration between Byrne and his tour mates as well as the unique challenge of combining popular music with modern dance.

## Stalking incident

While on tour, dancer Lily Baldwin started receiving letters from a stalker following the show in Europe. She turned her experience into the 2017 film Glass and began a website offering resources for those who are being stalked.