DAVID BYRNE
David Byrne, The Met, Philadelphia, PA 10/17/2025
As a lifelong Talking Heads fan, seeing David Byrne live was a no-brainer. The Met in Philadelphia was packed by 8 p.m., with no opening act to warm up the crowd, everyone was ready for the main event from the start.
Byrne took the stage with just a couple of band members and opened with "Heaven", a beautifully haunting track from the Talking Heads' 1979 album Fear of Music. As they transitioned into "Everybody’s Coming to My House", the rest of the band joined him onstage, all dressed in matching blue suits. The energy kicked up a notch, and the crowd erupted when they launched into the fan favorite "And She Was."
One of the early highlights of the night was a surprise performance of "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)", a track that has become deeply woven into pop culture over the years. Mid-set, Byrne took a moment to reflect on the isolation of the COVID era. He shared a slideshow tour of his New York City apartment, adding a personal touch before segueing into "My Apartment Is My Friend."
In a fun twist, he followed up with a cover of Paramore’s "Hard Times," adding his own quirky spin. Then, with a long, eerie intro, the lighting cast a dramatic shadow on stage; evoking a Norman Bates-like atmosphere, as Byrne launched into the iconic "Psycho Killer," arguably the most famous Talking Heads song.
The set closed with my personal favorite, "Once in a Lifetime," with the entire crowd singing along to the unforgettable chorus. After a roaring standing ovation, Byrne returned to the stage solo and introduced "Everybody’s Coming to My House", a song that gave him comfort during the pandemic.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for: "Burning Down the House." The crowd shouted the title lyric back with electric enthusiasm every time it came around, filling the venue with pure joy.
As the show ended, the full band and dancers took a bow to a deafening cheer, walking offstage with smiles, clearly energized for another great night in Philadelphia.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
