Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Often considered “the greatest concert movie of all time,” Talking Heads’ Jonathan Demme-directed “Stop Making Sense” is now 40-years-old, but thanks to a 4K restoration and a remastered soundtrack that was on display at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts’ George Van Dusen Theatre, it could’ve easily stood up to the standards of today.

Add in the fact the music by principals David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth, alongside their top shelf touring personnel, felt just as futuristic in the present as it was previously, and it left fans of varying ages clapping or reacting like the players were performing in their presence.

Though the likelihood of Talking Heads ever happening again is slim to none, this was far more than merely a standard screening given the live presence of Milwaukee native Harrison as the host, the group’s guitarist/keyboardist, member of the Modern Lovers, plus producer of Violent Femmes, BoDeans, Live, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and No Doubt.

He was actually the first to greet the capacity crowd, setting the scene of Hollywood’s Pantages Theater circa 1984 as the Talking Heads transitioned from the art punk underground into a dance-rock meets worldbeat phenomenon who never lost their ingenuity or integrity.

As viewers would soon discover, there were not only earlier experiments of a boombox-wielding Byrne introducing “Psycho Killer” and the others joining one by one as their crew finalized the set-up process, but a steady build-up towards the breakthroughs “Burning Down The House” and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody).”

Talking Heads continued to stitch it all together, including “Life During Wartime,” “Once In A Lifetime,” Frantz and Tina Weymouth’s frequently sampled Tom Tom Club tune “Genius Of Love,” Byrne’s “big suit”-enhanced “Girlfriend Is Better” and a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me To The River,” each lit and staged almost like a Broadway play in pursuit of the climatic “Crosseyed And Painless” finale.

Following the credits, Harrison returned to reflect on the technical aspects of this reissue, then opened to floor to audience questions when he waxed nostalgia on formative influences (Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, an assortment of jazz), cutting their teeth at New York’s CBGB, meeting producer Brian Eno (formerly of Roxy Music) and touring with The Ramones.

In terms of “Stop Making Sense” specifics, he spoke of there being a few bonus tracks cut from the original film on the Blu-ray and audio installments, in addition to the film’s sheer timelessness, outside of perhaps some 1980s-leaning outfits, due to simple yet striking lighting effects inspired by the 1930s and the homespun craftsmanship of many surrounding materials.

Regarding the constantly swirling reunion rumors, Harrison is personally raring to go and suggested Byrne had done enough work on his own to finally embrace their collective past, even going so far as to say promoting the “Stop Making Sense” anniversary together got gradually easier and accelerated the healing process.

However, that’s still foreseeably as far as it will go, meaning Harrison’s periodic “Remain In Light” performances alongside album collaborator Adrian Belew (King Crimson, David Bowie, Frank Zappa), anyone else’s solo shows or this otherwise fully fulfilling North Shore evening is likely as close as its going to get.

For additional information on Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads and “Stop Making Sense,” visit Jerry-Harrison.com, TalkingHeadsOfficial.com, Tickets.StopMakingSense.Movie.

Upcoming shows at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts’ George Van Dusen Theatre include Rahzel & Roots Disciples (May 2); The Arcadian Wild (May 3); Gus Giordano Dance (May 10); Taylor Shines: The Laser Spectacular (May 11); Glenn Miller Orchestra (May 20); Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (May 25); Bill W. And Dr. Bob (May 30); N.SSign (Jun. 7); “Piaf! The Show” (Jun. 9); “Pagliacci” (Jun. 27); Concert For Will’s Place (Jul. 10); Fred Astaire Dance Studios Illinois (Jul. 12); Steve Solomon (Jul. 19); Sundari (Jul. 20); Benise (Jul. 25); “Fiddler On The Roof” (Aug. 7); Black Circle (Aug. 26); Red Hot Chili Pipers (Sept. 3); Caroline Rhea (Sept. 6); Vitamin String Quartet (Sept. 12); Monkeys On A String (Sept. 13); Leonid & Friends (Sept. 19); Classic Seger (Oct. 3); Orleans and Firefall (Oct. 10); Gesher Theater (Oct. 17); Giordano Dance Chicago (Oct. 18); Tab Benoit (Oct. 21); Aaron Diehl Trio (Oct. 30); Hot Tuna (Nov. 5); “Frank” (Nov. 21); Jim Brickman (Nov. 29) and “Annie” (Dec. 18). For additional details, visit NorthShoreCenter.org.

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