David Byrne's Contemporary Color

So it's pretty much New York City law that David Byrne has to have something awesome in the works at all times. If he's not teaming up with St. Vincent, he's paying homage to a cult musical hero like Nigerian funkster William Onyeabor or turning up at a Paul Simon tribute to sing "You Can Call Me Al." And like clockwork, Byrne's back this summer with what looks to be one of the cooler events of the season: a combination concert and "marching arts" performance at Barclays Center, cosponsored by the forward-thinking folks at BAM. The artist roster is wild, filled with avant-pop and forward-thinking R&B names that need no introduction. In addition to Byrne himself, there's Nelly Furtado, How to Dress Well, Devonté Hynes (a.k.a. Blood Orange), Kelis, Nico Muhly and Ira Glass, St. Vincent and Tune-Yards, all soundtracking the visual splendor of nearly a dozen 20- to 40-person high-school color-guard teams. Dammit, Byrne—you've done it again!