Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth are pop music icons. As founding members of the incredibly influential Talking Heads, they helped define the sonic landscape for an entire generation. A wild, hedonistic combination of rock, pop, funk, disco, jazz and whatever else popped into their head at the time, the Talking Heads threw caution to the wind and ended up becoming one of the great rock bands of all time. They’ve inspired everyone from rockers Widespread Panic to hardcore rapper, and Law & Order regular, Ice-T. While the band no longer formally exists, the Talking Heads played together at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the band in 2002.
Frantz and Weymouth grew restless with the band’s long stretches of inactivity (eventually, with Jerry Harrison, recording a Talking Heads album without Byrne called No Talking, Just Heads!) One of the products of this restlessness is their side project, Tom Tom Club.
A more rhythm-based version of some of the sounds previously on display in the Talking Heads, the new band was an instant sensation. Tom Tom Club was far weirder and, conversely, wildly more pop-oriented than the Talking Heads ever were. They brought the house down in the punk bars and dance clubs.
The twinkling synthesizer, disco echoes and lyrics, sung by Weymouth in a lazy rap style not unlike Blondie, contributed to a wholly unique sound that is endlessly imitated today. Tom Tom Club is also sampled by almost everyone – Redman, Grandmaster Flash and Mariah Carey are just a few of the names. Their classic hit “Wordy Rappinghood” is covered by ever be hip indie band, to the point that it is almost a rite of passage. The results are always interesting.
The Tom Tom Club lineup has mutated and changed shape over the years but Weymouth and Frantz have remained the band’s core musical force, completing five studio albums and one live album. They also appeared on the groundbreaking debut album from animated pop band Gorillaz – all the while residing in our quaint hamlet of Fairfield, Connecticut.
At StageOne they are putting their individualistic stamp on that old staple – holiday music. For three nights Tom Tom Club, together with opening act Caravan of Thieves, will present a wild and wonderful holiday show that will give new meaning to the words jingle bell rock. The show promises to incorporate all of their past Tom Tom Club hits as well as interpreting classic holiday songs to make an irresistible, one-of-a-kind Christmas bash.
Want a place to have your office Christmas party? Want to impress on a first date? Want a place to have the holiday spirit thrust into you with a little bit of rock’n’roll edge? Then this is the show for you. See you there – sleighs permitting.
Date: Thursday, December 18th; Friday, December 19th; and Saturday, December 20th
Time: 7:30 pm show, doors open at 7 pm, box office opens at 5:00 pm day of show
Ticket Price: $42/ FTC Members $5 discount
Buy tickets at: www.fairfieldtheatre.org or call the box office 203-259-1036
Location: FTC at the Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave.; Bridgeport, CT 06605