Start Making Sense




Why this blog?
The Talking Heads Concert History list started as a way to catalog tapes, then expanded to include information on concerts that were performed by the band while they were touring, between 1975 and 1984.

Where does all this concert information come from?
It was collected from ticket stubs, memorabilia on ebay, posters, old tapes, newspaper articles, concert reviews, college yearbooks, eyewitness accounts, and from all over the weber-tubes. We also visit libraries & research archives to examine & document primary sources (yay for old cassette tapes!) to notate the progression of the band's arrangements, instruments, set material, etc.

Is this a tape trading blog? Can I get shows here?
No! There are 100's of sites where you can do that. Get off your butt and get a membership at Dime.

Can I add info about shows I saw?
Yes! We love to receive new info and will update the blog with changes. Please send TH concert dates, ticket stub scans, etc to our email talkingheadsconcerthistoryATgmailDOTcom

How do I read the dates lists?
Each year has its own list. Dates in [brackets] are for shows that did not happen. Dates including ?question marks? refer to incomplete information; these are placed in logical parts of the list, but it's only a guess until we get better info.

Is this thing ever updated?
Yup! Check back because new info is added from time to time and as we receive it. BIG THANKS to all the fans who have generously emailed with new info! Thanks for your contributions! Last update: 12/01/2024

What does info in the "Recording" column mean?
Notations refer to known concert recordings that are circulating digitally, either as FLACs or WAVs (CDRs) or MP3s. "AUD" means an audience-made recording, "SBD" means a soundboard recording made from the band's mixing board or PA system, and "FM" means a SBD feed that was broadcast over the radio. "VID" refers to videos, these are generally available on Youtube for viewing. We've also listed research items that are only available at well-known libraries.

Hey, I have a tape I wanna play?
If you have a concert tape to add that's not already listed here, please email us and we'll get it digitally transferred. talkingheadsconcerthistoryATgmailDOTcom

Can I copy this info? Can I re-post this info?
Yes, but... Please do not post on any for-pay websites or sites that host advertising. Also please include a link back to this homepage. Thanks! (haha everyone did exactly that[not]...so if you read it online, it came from here, congrats to all who monetized our content)

Hey! that's my pic or video?
Please email us and we'll credit your content, thanks.

Do I wanna learn more about all the TH albums?
Yes, you do. So go here:

https://www.thismustbetalkingheads.com/ 

https://talkingheadsofficial.com/discography/

How do I work this?
Navigate pages from menu on the right. Sorry, mobile view is disabled (the lists don't fit).


https://www.instagram.com/p/CxGyld8Iz_m/ 
credit: Saar Mano

1984


1984...and beyond. Most people think the band stopped touring in 1983 after Stop Making Sense was shot in LA. But there were actually these few early 1984 shows. Read Tina's comments here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/04/musicians-worst-gigs
 
 
 
Date Venue City State Country Recording Comment
[January 25, 1984] see comment         The widely circulated "Nature's Way Milwaukee" bootleg is actually the Stop Making Sense tracks from Westwood-1 radio special
January 28, 1984 Narara Festival Somersby   AUS AUD  
January 30, 1984 Sports & Entertainment Centre Melbourne   AUS    
January 31, 1984 Sports & Entertainment Centre Melbourne   AUS    
February 4, 1984 Sweetwaters North Festival Pukekawa   NZ AUD  
February 6, 1984 Sweetwaters South Festival, QE2 Park Christchurch   NZ   Tina calls the final show the worst they ever did
Dates Beyond…            
July 17, 1989 The Ritz New York NY USA VID David & Jerry joined the Tom Tom Club for the end of their concert
March 18, 2002 R&RHoF Induction Ceremony New York NY USA VID Final performance…….…………………………?
 

1983


1983 was the famous year in terms of TH live concerts, the year of the big suit. Most people find this tour to be the most memorable, while it also introduced 1000s of new fans to the band and their music. At the time, no one thought it would be their final big tour...
 
 
Date Venue City State Country Recording Comment
July 8, 1983 NBC Studios Rockefeller Center New York NY USA VID David Letterman Show; Burning Down the House & I Zimbra were performed
July ?, 1983 Pier 61 New York NY USA   Private pre-tour run-thru performances
August 1, 1983 Roads Coliseum Hampton VA USA   Half-house arena set-up
August 2, 1983 Civic Center Springfield MA USA AUD Half-house arena set-up
August 3, 1983 Stade Olympique Ampitheater Montreal QC CAN AUD TH opened for The Police
August 5, 1983 Performing Arts Center Saratoga Springs NY USA SBD + AUD SBD plus Two AUD's circulating; tapes often mis-labled "08/03/83"
August 6, 1983 Cumberland County Civic Center Portland ME USA AUD AUD is complete show made from two partial sources
August 8, 1983 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls OH USA AUD  
August 9, 1983 Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia MD USA AUD  
August 11, 1983 Pine Knob Music Theater Clarkston MI USA AUD  
August 12, 1983 Kingswood Music Theater Maple ON CAN AUD Two AUD's circulating
August 13, 1983 Stanley Theater Pittsburgh PA USA MP3 AUD AUD is partial
August 14, 1983 Poplar Creek Hoffman Estates IL USA AUD  
August 16, 1983 Mann Music Center Philadelphia PA USA   originally scheduled for 08/20
August 17, 1983 Mid-Hudson Civic Center Poughkeepsie NY USA   originally scheduled for 08/16, attendance: aprx 3100 tickets sold
August 19, 1983 Tennis Stadium Forrest Hills NY USA AUD Four AUD's circulating (one is partial)
August 20, 1983 Cape Cod Coliseum South Yarmouth MA USA SBD + AUD  
August 21, 1983 Tennis Stadium Forrest Hills NY USA AUD + VID Five AUD's circulating, plus one video
August 22, 1983 Coliseum New Haven CT USA AUD  
August 25, 1983 Civic Auditorium Omaha NE USA    
August 26, 1983 Red Rocks Ampitheater Morrison CO USA AUD Four AUD's circulating (three are partial)
August 28, 1983 Compton Terrace Phoenix AZ USA    
August 29, 1983 Greek Theatre Los Angeles CA USA AUD (Posters were printed for Aug 28th)
August 30, 1983 Greek Theatre Los Angeles CA USA AUD + VID VID is incomplete & songs out of order
September 1, 1983 Pacific Ampitheater Costa Mesa CA USA AUD Two AUD's circulating (one circulates mis-labeled as Greek Theater LA 08/30)
September 2, 1983 Greek Theater Berkeley CA USA AUD Two AUD's circulating, Reserved Seating
September 3, 1983 County Bowl Santa Barbara CA USA    
September 4, 1983 Greek Theater Berkeley CA USA AUD Four AUD's circulating (one circulates mislabled as Greek 09/02) G.A. Seating
[September ? 1983] Santa Cruz Fairgrounds (?) Watsonville CA USA   Planned but cancelled (original Sept 4th?)
September 29, 1983 Hotel Ballroom Plattsburgh NY USA   Band rehearsal "Pull Up the Roots"
September 30, 1983 Fieldhouse, SUNY Plattsburgh NY USA AUD  
October 1, 1983 Patrick Gym UVM Burlington VT USA AUD  
October 2, 1983 Forum, UMass at Lowell Billerica MA USA AUD  
October 4, 1983 Civic Center Providence RI USA AUD Two AUD's circulating, Half-house arena set-up
October 5, 1983 Broome County Arena Binghamton NY USA AUD Two AUD's circulating (one is partial)
October 6, 1983 War Memorial Rochester NY USA AUD Half-house arena set-up
October 8, 1983 Millett Hall, Miami University Oxford OH USA AUD Homecoming Concert
October 9, 1983 Alumni Arena, Univ. of Buffalo Amherst NY USA AUD Two AUD's circulating (one is partial)
October 10, 1983 Smith Center, GWU Washington DC USA AUD Two AUD's circulating
October 12, 1983 University Hall, UVA Charlottesville VA USA    
October 13, 1983 Carmichael Auditorium UNC Chapel Hill NC USA    
October 14, 1983 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee FL USA AUD F.S.U "Pow Wow". AUD is partial
October 15, 1983 Municipal Auditorium Nashville TN USA AUD  
October 16, 1983 Coliseum Charlotte NC USA   Attendees report venue "half empty"
October 18, 1983 Memorial Coliseum, Univ. Kty. Lexington KY USA   Half-house arena set-up
October 19, 1983 Fox Theater Atlanta GA USA AUD  
October 21, 1983 Municipal Auditorium New Orleans LA USA AUD AUD is partial, original date Oct 29th
October 22, 1983 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston TX USA AUD  
October 24, 1983 Convention Center Arena Dallas TX USA    
October 25, 1983 Lester E Palmer Auditorium Austin TX USA    
November 27, 1983 Silva Hall, Hult Center Eugene OR USA   Rehearsal & video taping, no audience
November 28, 1983 Silva Hall, Hult Center Eugene OR USA   Rehearsal & video taping, no audience
November 29, 1983 Silva Hall, Hult Center Eugene OR USA AUD AUD is partial
December 1, 1983 Civic Auditorium Portland OR USA AUD  
December 2, 1983 Center Arena Seattle WA USA AUD  
December 3, 1983 PNE Coliseum Vancouver BC CAN AUD Two AUD's circulating, "Concert Bowl" half-house set-up
[December 4, 1983] MacArthur Court, Univ of OR Eugene OR USA   Planned but moved to Hult Center
December 5, 1983 Pavilion at ARC, Univ. California Davis CA USA    
December 6, 1983 Civic Auditorium San Francisco CA USA AUD AUD is partial
[December 7, 1983] Aladdin Theatre Las Vegas NV USA   Tickets sold, but concert was cancelled
December 8, 1983 Arena Long Beach CA USA AUD + VID Two AUD's circulating; VID is last 25 minutes of the 1st Set
[December 10, 1983] Kabuki Theatre San Francisco CA USA   Planned SMS filming, moved to LA
[December 11, 1983] Kabuki Theatre San Francisco CA USA   Planned SMS filming, moved to LA
December 12, 1983 Pantages Theater Hollywood CA USA   Film rehearsal show, no audience
December 13, 1983 Pantages Theater Hollywood CA USA   Filmed but none of this night was used
December 14, 1983 Pantages Theater Hollywood CA USA MOVIE  
December 15, 1983 Pantages Theater Hollywood CA USA MOVIE Most of the movie is from 12/15 show
December 16, 1983 Pantages Theater Hollywood CA USA AUD Final concert of US tour (not filmed)