On Saturday, November 8, Assembly in Kingston welcomed Start Making Sense to its stage for an evening celebrating the music of the Talking Heads.
For over a decade, the aptly named Talking Heads tribute band has been captivating audiences nationwide with their detailed tribute to one of music’s most iconic live acts. From the oversized suit to jogging around the stage, the band channels the energy, look, and sound of the original band with remarkable precision.
Hailing from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the band’s lineup consists of Jon Braun at the forefront on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Davis on guitar and vocals, Jenny Founds on bass and vocals, Jesse Braun on drums and vocals, Alex Ayala on keyboards and vocals, Kate Desisto on vocals, and Colin Miller on percussion and vocals.
The band’s love for Talking Heads is clear to any audience member and runs far deeper than just the music itself. Attention to detail is truly what sets Start Making Sense apart from being just another tribute band. Every bit of choreography that made Talking Heads’ live performances so distinctive, like in their landmark concert film Stop Making Sense (where the tribute takes its name), is recreated meticulously.
As for the sound, the band is just as precise. Sounding as though you’ve somehow stepped into 1984 and are getting a firsthand experience at the sights and sounds of the tour that helped cement Talking Heads’ place in music history. For someone who wasn’t even alive when any of that happened, Start Making Sense offers a rare chance to experience a band and era that otherwise only exists on film and record.
Saturday’s show kicked off with a set from Vermont native Evan Jennison, who performed a half hour of original Folk/Americana songs accompanied by his acoustic guitar. The singer-songwriter announced that his new album is scheduled for release in the coming week and treated the audience to two songs from the upcoming record. Jennison also delivered a cover of “Long Black Veil,” the classic made famous by Johnny Cash and also The Band.
Start Making Sense opened their set with “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel,” an energetic choice that immediately set the tone for the night. Driven by the train-like rhythm, the song had the crowd moving from the first note. Over the course of their two-hour set, the band proved they can get an audience dancing like few other bands can.
The band not only delivered all the iconic hits one would expect from a Talking Heads tribute like “Psycho Killer,” “Burning Down the House,” and “Life During Wartime,” but also ventured into deep cuts that even the most dedicated of fans would find impressive. “Electric Guitar” off of the 1979 album, Fear Of Music, was one to name a few. Singer Jon Braun even joked before performing the song that the band would get back to playing songs the audience knew after the song was over. The set was a perfect combination to please any level of fan.
As the crowd made its way out of the venue, comments of praise were the only thing that could be heard.
Start Making Sense continues on tour throughout the end of the year, with dates mostly on the East Coast, concluding on New Year’s Eve in Portland, ME, at the State Theater. For more information and tickets, please visit startmakingsenseband.com.
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