Chicago’s favorite Talking Heads tribute band reunites to play music and raise awareness and money for solutions to climate change and environmental destruction.

doortime: 8pm
opener TBD: 9pm
tmbtb: 10pm
adv price: $25
door price: $30

tickets for Nov 4:

https://link.dice.fm/TMBTB2080_1

tickets for Nov 5:

https://link.dice.fm/TMBTB2080_2

Here’s a description of the reason for the show, coming from one of our good friends and maybe the most rabid Heads fan we know, Hillary Plemons:

Hello again. Thanks so much for coming to read this part of the page. I was hoping to see you here. I have some good news and some bad news for you. The bad news (well cataclysmic news, really) is that 2080 is the year predicted for mass extinction if we continue wasting precious time and don’t change course NOW. It’s hard to imagine, but the end of the world as we know it is nearer than it’s ever been before. The good news is that getting out of a jam like this is still achievable, I don’t care how impossible it seems.  The bad news is that achieving a “sustainable global future” necessitates transformational changes and unprecedented widespread actions. These changes include ambitious emissions reductions, ending deforestation, and cutting the use of pesticides in half. The good news is that while it’s not gonna be easy to get things done, these are also not difficult things to achieve; they just require everybody getting involved. The bad news is that with the current laws made in Washington, D.C, it’s kind of like fighting fire with fire. 

But some good news is that a study was just published this August that found  an average of 73% of Americans support “transformative” climate change policies. The bad news is that a high majority of Americans vastly underestimate the number of their peers whom they believe share in their concerns.  This kind of psychological disconnect is bad for anything that requires collective action, as people are less likely to speak up or act out when they falsely believe that  everyone around them feels the future is certain and is therefore doing nothing at all.  As a result, nothing ever happens.  The good news is that now we know so many of us feel this way, we can all stop being coy and actually do something to prevent a major disaster.  So, do you believe that climate change is an urgent matter of grave importance and requires widespread collective action? So say so! Are you willing to do all that it takes if it’s right? I’m talking to you and I hope you’re concentrating, because the world, which is on fire, is on course for mass extinction by 2080. We don’t want future generations (if we make it that far) who study towns that disappeared completely to look back and see that as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention. Years from now, do you really want to have to wake up and wonder “How did I get here? Where is that protection that I needed?”  

What if the world ended in 1980? Two tragic effects immediately obvious are that 1) many people reading this would never have been born and 2) some of Talking Heads’ best albums would never have been made. The good news is, that it didn’t.   Also the good news is that This Must Be the Band is reuniting for their yearly benefit engagement. The bad news is, they will be at a smaller venue than years prior, so less tickets available; the good news is that there will be two shows. This year funds will be going to a bevy of groups working towards environmental causes on all levels – such as The Nature Conservancy, Urban Initiatives, and about eight others. 

2080 may seem out of reach, but people alive in 1922 probably felt the same away about 1980.  So consider this – do you have any relatives who would have been alive in 1922, and can you also think of a time that you were both alive? Those of you reading this may not be alive by 2080, but our kids might be or our kids’ kids, or our friends’ kids. Don’t they deserve the same chance at life?

So, there’s good points, some bad points. Mull it over, but pay attention to the warning signs of things to come. Hope to see you at Chop Shop on November 4th and 5th, where we’ll get together again and celebrate the world not ending in 1980, as we all try to stay cool while the heat goes on.  \

Referenced: 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/645392

&

Sparkman, G., Geiger, N. & Weber, E.U. Americans experience a false social reality by underestimating popular climate policy support by nearly half. Nat Commun 13, 4779 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32412-y

Our alter ego DJ noDJ is playing a bunch of shows as Daft Punk winter 2019/spring 2020. We don’t have a set list and we don’t stop between songs, just like a DJ, but there are 6 band members so the possibilities are endless.

Next show is Dec 13, 2019 at Bourbon on Division in Chicago. You can buy tix here.

FB EVENT

we are playing another couple sets of talking heads songs in support of the people of yemen on july 12, 2019. it will be at cervantes masterpiece ballroom in denver, CO. tickets go on sale on friday, may 10, 2019:

ticket link

fb event

the people of yemen are being bombed and starved to death in a very illegal and stupid manner, and the US government is partly responsible. the money raised at this show will go toward “doctors without borders” to supply immediate help to those suffering, and to “codepink” to urge our government to stop its role in the disaster. we hope to also raise awareness and sign some people up to do the important work of organizing against this war.

this must be the band is playing two shows at the vic theater in chicago feb 15/16 2019 to support the people of yemen. for over a decade they have endured starvation, disease, and violence perpetrated by several governments, including our own. we are playing the shows not only to raise money for the yemeni people but to raise awareness of our own responsibility for their situation, and to urge our government to stop participating in their destruction.

feb 15 is ages 21 and over, buy tickets here

feb 16 is ages 18 and over, buy tickets here

we’re playing a fundraiser at Buddy Guy’s Legends in chicago on thur, march 15, 2018. all proceeds go to chicago food depository. we play 9:30 to midnight, both Heads music and other dance songs.

you can get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/commercial-real-estate-awards-after-party-2018-tickets-43560022199

use the discount code “TMBTB” (all caps) to get tickets for $100 each, and all money goes to helping our neighbors feed their families. i can’t think of much that is more important. the event is 21+

Dec 23 2017 tickets to martyrs were oversold by like 400 people. some weird computer glitch. we supremely apologize to anyone who received an email saying their tickets need to be moved to Dec 22 at the Vic. If anyone can’t do that, martyrs will refund your money. we are not dealing with that ourselves, but just wanted to update everyone.

Dec 22 2017 tickets to the Vic go on sale Dec 1 at the Vic website.

They are $25. almost every scrap of that money will go to help Puerto Ricans deal with that terrible hurricane. many still don’t have water and a large portion are without power.

We are donating to a few different charities but the main one is Resilient Puerto Rico, which aims to restore power in a way that can be controlled by the residents themselves, and we happen to think that’s very important.

you have to be 18 or older to get into this show. hit us up with requests, we’re just gonna play 180 minutes of whatever Heads songs anyone wants to hear.

Our good friends Genome is opening.

Saturday Dec 23 at Martyrs is sold out, we are hard at work finding a venue for Friday Dec 22. Please check back soon. thanks and sorry for the confusion.

The band is currently hibernating, its slumber disturbed every once in a while to play an old fan’s wedding. The hunger for more Heads grows slowly, and if winter ever thaws, we may see them arise stronger than ever.

In the meantime, here are links to other current projects that feature members of This Must be the Band:

DJ noDJ – 6 piece electronic dance band
Charlie Otto – sometimes acoustic, sometimes electronic full band
Babe alon 5 – the backup singers of TMBTB become lead and theatrically sing hilarious songs from the 40’s
Old Timey – non-standards from before rock and roll
Wake Up and Live – Denver reggae

This Must be the Band is taking a break, but they have not stopped making music.  The two leaders of the band, husband/wife duo Charlie Otto and Kasey Foster, released an album of original tunes under the moniker “Grood” in March 2016 to surprising acclaim.  Since 2009 they have been building a vibrant following of fans and performers, and this recent album is one in a long line of inspired works they have produced.   Links to the audio below:

Grood “Singles Volume 1” on Itunes

Grood Unreleased songs on Soundcloud

Besides completing their recent 6 song EP, the band made several music videos that showcase Foster’s amazing stage antics, one of which is linked below:

One Foot in Front of the Other

Perhaps most in line with This Must be the Band’s claim to fame, Grood still performs elaborate and theatrical live shows full of brazen musical performances, set design and cotumes, and energetic crowd participation.  Once a year, they perform the ACTual Show, admittedly inspired by Byrne’s  “Stop Making Sense.”  Below is a teaser of past years, the next one is slated for November 2016.

ACTual Show III

The rest of the band (all 20 of them) are also hard at work on other notable projects like DJ noDJ, Babe-alon 5, Wild Earp, Drmbt, Genome, Origin of Animal, etc.