Stop Making Sense: dir Jonathan Demme (1984)

The best ever concert film? Certain one of the best; and one of the best suits, too … Jonathan Demme captured the energy and artsy groove of David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison at their best. Shot over three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December 1983, it shows you what all the fuss was about as Tallking Heads run through some of their best, from Psycho Killer and Take Me to the River to Burning Down the House. The Hollywood gigs were part of the tour that promoted the Heads’ Speaking in Tongues album, which brought a lot more funk into the white Eno-based arthouse sound of their previous releases. The inspiration for that included Tom Tom Club, the side project of drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth, which was real a dance-funk outfit that also features in the Hollywood gigs … Highly recommended, especially as this is a newly restored print to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary.