Start Making Cents

Playback leader Justin McCann reveals just how they took on Talking Heads’ seminal concert film Stop Making Sense.

And you may find yourself in a beautiful venue, with a beautiful band, and you may ask yourself…

Eh, haven’t we been here before…?

It seems like only yesterday when Greystones’ groovy theatre was jumpin’ to a live homage to Talking Heads’ seminal 1984 concert film, Stop Making Sense – it was actually May 2009 – and now, the bigger, better, brighter venue has played host to a bigger, better, brighter band bringing that same certifiable classic show to town.

Whereas the cheeky, Greystones-based UFO never rehearsed their classic album nights – many of the band meeting for the very first time in front of the audience – the mighty, Bray-based Playback take the job of recreating a masterpiece a little more seriously. They rehearse. And rehearse. And then, they rehearse a little more.

Which meant that their take on the Talking Heads’ seminal concert film at The Whale back in April 2019 was a thing of beauty. And Bootsy-esque funkiness. And hence their November return for two nights, on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd.

“Having done Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde and Bowie’s Aladdin Sane,” says Playback’s singer, keyboard maestro and head honcho, Justin McCann, “suddenly being able to tackle an album that was all about the funk, well, that’s been a real joy.

“Who doesn’t want to jump around the dancefloor to Burning Down The House and Once In A Lifetime…?”

Still, going Full Showaddywaddy for Stop Making Sense – that must have been a challenge…

“Absolutely,” nods McCann. “We didn’t want to cut any corners here, with the original concert film going from a whisper to a gospel scream. And that’s where you really need to get it right. So, just as the Heads’ original four-piece expands and expands through the concert, we had to make sure we matched that eventual line-up too.

“Just to get that Stop Making Sense sound, that mix of Fela Kuti and Funkadelic, made every second of every rehearsal worth it.

“If you look closely on the night, you may even see the band levitate during those final songs…”

Playback bring Stop Making Sense to The Whale on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday 23rd, tickets here: https://whaletheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873648536