Talking Heads — Montreux Jazz Festival, 1982

On 9 July 1982, Talking Heads took the stage of the Casino de Montreux as part of the Montreux Jazz Festival, in a concert captured by Swiss television. The New York quartet — David Byrne on vocals and guitar, Tina Weymouth on bass, Chris Frantz on drums and Jerry Harrison on keyboards — performed between “Remain in Light” and the forthcoming “Speaking in Tongues,” at one of the peaks of its most inventive period. This filmed live set illustrates the blend of new wave, funk and African polyrhythms that defined the band, carried by Byrne’s nervous phrasing and possessed stagecraft. Restored and upscaled to high definition, the capture offers a rare document of Talking Heads live in the early 1980s, in the hushed acoustics of the Swiss hall. An essential record for anyone seeking to understand how this art-rock band redefined the decade’s live performance. Filmed at one of jazz’s most storied festivals, this live set captures Talking Heads at a creative peak, a must-see for anyone studying the history of new wave and post-punk on stage.