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Yes, you may own a well-used copy of 1984’s Stop Making Sense and can pop that baby in any time to feed your Talking Heads fix. But have you ever seen it on the big screen? If not, or you’re among those who’ve been meaning to see the film, and just haven’t gotten around to pulling the trigger, Beach Theatre and WMNF have teamed up to offer you the chance. Considered one of the fundamental concert films, the 1984 Jonathan Demme-directed Stop Making Sense captures a seminal moment in the band’s creativity and has earned a permanent place in pop culture history with its vibrant weirdo '80s vibe, David Byrne youngish and intense and full of spastic movement. The setlist is packed with Heads gems, from hits like “Burning Down the House,” “Psycho Killer,” and “Take Me to the River,” to the lesser-known gold of “Making Flippy Floppy” and “Cross-eyed and Painless.” The surreal highlight comes when Byrne makes himself scarce and allows Tom Tom Club – the side project of Heads members Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz – to perform their sticky electro pop number, "Genius of Love." Prior to the local screening, Bay area rockers Talk to Mark with guest vocalist Scott Elliott perform a set of Heads tunes live on the theater stage. Stop Making Sense, Sat., Aug. 21, 8 p.m. Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727- 360-7977, $7.
–Leilani Polk
This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2010.