The best concert film ever made.

I was too young to have seen the Talking Heads in concert, but this film creatively captures the energy they were known for (in the commentary, bass player Tina Weymouth discusses playing until her fingers were bloody during gigs at CBGBs). As visually interesting as it is aurally arresting, this is what they mean when they call something a concert FILM.

"Stop Making Sense" is the best concert movie ever made bar none. It's not just me saying that. I've read it multiple times. Jonathan Demme created a masterpiece when he directed "Stop Making Sense". Of course, he had great material to work with.

The movie was filmed during the Talking Heads' "Speaking in Tongues" Tour. I had seen the show in August 1983 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles and went again in December when Talking Heads came to the Pantages Theater. It was incredible. The show starts with the stage empty except for a microphone. David Byrne walks out in the now-famous big white suit carrying his acoustic guitar and a boom box. He says "Hi, I have a tape I want to play." When he hits play, the bass blasts out of the speakers and he breaks into "Psycho Killer". While he is doing his thing around the stage, they wheel out Tina Weymouth's equipment. She joins him for "Heaven" during which they wheel out Chris Frantz' drum set. Then Jerry Harrison's stuff. Before you know it, there are nine people rocking out on stage. The intermission was Tom Tom Club (everyone except Byrne).

I left that show in a great mood. Little did I know it would be Talking Heads last concert.