David Byrne goes there on his new single "The Avant Garde"
Shervin Lainez

David Byrne goes there on his new single "The Avant Garde"

Wade Stokan

David Byrne is back with brand new single "The Avant Garde", the third single released from his upcoming record Who Is The Sky?, out September 5 on Matador Records.

"The Avant Garde" shows Byrne wrestling with the idea of making art for art's sake. The new single (as well as the rest of the record) is produced by Kid Harpoon and features arrangements from Ghost Train Orchestra. You can check out the song's visualizer below:

The "Once In A Lifetime" entertainer had a lot to say about the new single:

“Some people will hear this and say, 'David is calling bullshit on his friends' but it's more nuanced than that. Anyone who knows me knows that I go to plenty of shows that might be classified as avant-garde or experimental. Edgy and untraditional work is hugely inspiring to me, as it often changes the way I think and influences what I do (without me simply appropriating the ideas, I hope). That said, trying something unproven and radically new is risky. Sometimes, as with anything risky, it doesn't quite hit the bullseye. There's no guarantee that it will achieve what it aims to do, but when it does, the emotional and intellectual rewards are worth it. That is the risk one takes while making something new and unconventional. So yes, there are times when it doesn't mean shit, but often there are times when something wholly original comes into being and it's all worth it. I love that the Ghost Train folks and Kid Harpoon took what could have been a fairly conventional song I'd written (musically at least), and steered it into something that to me sounds like Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.”

To celebrate the release of Who Is The Sky?, the Talking Heads frontman is beginning his tour next month, September 14. You can check out those dates below'

09/14 Providence, RI @ Veterans Memorial Auditorium
09/16 Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center PAC
09/17 Columbus, OH @ Mershon Auditorium
09/19 Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
09/21 Schenectady, NY @ Proctors
09/23 Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre
09/25 Buffalo, NY @ Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
09/27 Washington D.C. @ The Anthem
09/28 Washington D.C. @ The Anthem
09/30 New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/01 New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/03 Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/04 Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/07 Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre
10/08 Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
10/10 New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/14 Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
10/16 Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
10/17 Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
10/21 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/22 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/25 Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
10/28 Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/29 Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/31 Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
11/03 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/04 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/06 Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
11/07 Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
11/11 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/12 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/16 San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/17 San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
11/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
11/25 Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/26 Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/28 Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park
11/29 Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park
12/02 Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
12/03 Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
12/05 Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
12/06 Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
01/14 Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
01/17 Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Entertainment Center
01/21 Sydney, AU @ ICC Sydney Theatre
01/22 Melbourne, AU @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
01/24 Adelaide, AU @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena
01/27 Perth, AU @ RAC Arena
02/12 Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom
02/15 Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
02/16 Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
02/18 Brussels, BE @ Forest National
02/21 Milan, IT @ Teatro degli Arcimboldi
02/22 Milan, IT @ Teatro degli Arcimboldi
02/24 Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle
02/27 Zurich, CH @ The Hall
03/02 Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena
03/03 London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/04 London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/06 Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
03/07 Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
03/09 Manchester, UK @ o2 Apollo
03/10 Manchester, UK @ o2 Apollo
03/13 Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
03/15 London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/18 Paris, FR @ La Seine Musicale
03/19 Paris, FR @ La Seine Musicale


The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.

Wade Stokan

Toronto

Lover of music, video games and juggling.

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