This Guitarist Burns Down The House On Broadway In ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’

There are shows and then there is David Byrne’s American Utopia. Imagine a luminescent mosaic of dance and music from dazzling musicians and dancers as Byrne shares his thoughts about humanity, hope and staying (relatively) sane in a chaotic world. “The show has something to say about who we are at this moment in time and the possibilities of what we could be in the future,” shares Byrne of this theatrical piece/concert hybrid.

While the stage might be sparse with barefoot musicians and dancers in identical well-tailored gray suits, the production is a decadent feast for all the senses. “It’s something unexpected, visually very different, very minimalist in this beautiful open space, which is very different for Broadway.” says Annie-B Parson Byrne’s longtime collaborator who staged and choreographed American Utopia, now playing at the St. James Theatre. In fact, the musicians are completely untethered to electrical cords so they are free to move and dance all around the stage. 

One of those musicians is guitarist Angie Swan. This Berklee College of Music graduate has performed with Macy Gray, Will.i.am, Cee Lo Green, Adam Lambert, Billy Porter, Fifth Harmony and toured with Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna. For Swan, who first toured with American Utopia before it came to broadway, there is a lot of joy doing the show.

“Joy is powerful. The power of music crosses over languages,” she says. “I’ve always considered music to be the universal language. The beat begins in our hearts and souls, which we all have. It’s one that is able to bring people together. No matter their backgrounds. No matter their religious or political beliefs.”

Jeryl Brunner: Can you take me to when you got word that you would be working with David Byrne?

Angie Swan: When I auditioned for David Byrne in August, 2017 I was living in my hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A professor from Berklee College of Music, where I attended college, reached out via Facebook messenger. She informed me that an “artist” was looking for a guitar player who could also sing and dance. I don’t consider myself a good dancer. But as a musician I figured I had enough rhythm. The musician had to be located in New York City, which I was not at the time.

I got more information and was told it was for David Byrne. I had been a Talking Heads fan long before. I quickly sent in recommendation letters and tapes from prior employers, like Cirque de Soliel and various other artists. The crazy thing is that I had not heard back about the audition for weeks. I randomly checked my spam/junk mailbox only to find a personal email from David himself. He asked me if I was interested in being a part of the project as he really enjoyed my audition tapes. I jumped at the chance and moved to New York in February, 2018 to begin rehearsals for the world tour”

 Brunner: What might surprise people about David Byrne?  

Swan: I have gotten to know David so well that nothing really surprises me anymore. We’ve built a great friendship over the past several years and it is really incredible to have developed such a wonderful relationship with someone who I have admired for decades. We are candid with each other and hold each other accountable. He is open to change and being accountable. What surprises me about myself is that I have not yet asked him to sing on my upcoming EP. Stand by.

Brunner: I read that you saw concerts at the 23,000 seat Marcus Amphitheater and wanted to perform on a stage that size. What made you fall in love with those concerts? 

Swan: I worked as an usher at the Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee during high school just to have proximity to the arts and performances. I got such a rush of adrenaline overall: the lighting, sound and the reactions from the audience members. I loved the sense of togetherness. It was pure magic and very cathartic. I loved watching people sing together and unite was such a heartwarming experience. I knew that I wanted to invoke that within others.

Brunner: When did you know that you had to be a musician?  

Swan: Well, I first wanted to play guitar to try to get boys to like me. But the ironic part being that I don’t even seek attention from boys. [She chuckles.] I grew up in a very musical household. My mother is fan of many styles of music. My father also plays guitar and bass. He would have band rehearsals in our family’s basement when I was growing up. When I saw the Michael Jackson Dirty Diana music video and watched Jennifer Batten play guitar I knew I wanted to play guitar. Again I thought this would get me the boys which I never ended up wanting. [Swan sips tequila].

Besides music I am interested in the culinary arts, golf and falling asleep watching bad movies. I am also a fan of math and numbers which easily translated into my interest in the stock market and cryptocurrency etc. I have learned over time that diversification is key not just financially but in how I live my life. And diversity, musically speaking, has broadened my musical career and allowed me to have access to a variety of job opportunities. I try not to take myself too seriously. Which has helped me keep my stress levels low. 

Brunner: Why do you love being in the show?  

Swan: To be completely honest, I love and am super grateful to have a job again. As we know, the live entertainment industry, as well as others, took quite the hit over the past year and a half. 

What I enjoy most about being in American Utopia is being able to have a platform and stage to spread the message of unity, equity, and equality, to an often—sometimes obliviously—privileged audience. I perform with the hopes that they take something away from the show that makes them want to be better within their communities and beyond. Many of the subjects discussed in the show I face day to day as a Black person living in the United States. As Dwayne Reed said: “White supremacy won’t die until White people see it as a White issue they need to solve rather than a Black issue they need to empathize with.”

Brunner: Can you talk about coming to New York City for the first time when you were twelve?

Swan: In 1993 I came to New York City. While there I saw my first Broadway musical, Cats. I had started playing guitar only three months prior. Yet I found myself asking a guitar player at a Chilean restaurant if I could sit in and play “Mary had a little lamb.” I was dared by a classmate. I never had an inkling that I would perform on stage on broadway. I always thought I’d be a touring/television musician rather than a broadway performer. I am definitely grateful to have been able to do all.