Photo: Jody Rogac

By Josh Bell

While seemingly every major (and minor) band from the past three decades is busy cashing in with reunion tours, Talking Heads co-founder and frontman David Byrne has steadfastly refused to give in to nostalgia, forging ahead with his eccentric solo career. Outside of Talking Heads (which officially disbanded in 1991), Byrne has explored a wide range of sounds, including collaborations with Brian Eno, world music-influenced solo albums, compositions for film and TV (including Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor and HBO series Big Love), and work with indie-rock star St. Vincent (on 2012’s joint album Love This Giant).

Byrne’s new album, American Utopia, is his first solo studio effort in 14 years, and to promote it he’s embarked on a tour that he’s called “The most ambitious show I’ve done since the shows that were filmed for Stop Making Sense,” the landmark 1984 Talking Heads concert documentary directed by Jonathan Demme. Although Byrne hasn’t been open to a Talking Heads reunion, on this tour he’s mixing in Heads hits like “Burning Down the House” and “Once in a Lifetime” with material from throughout his varied career. As always, he does things in his own way.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. April 18, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000