‘Talking Dreads’ Comes to Suffolk Theater

Suffolk Theater will present Mystic Bowie’s “Talking Dreads” in a concert on Saturday, April 15, at 8 p.m.

On “Life During Wartime,” the first single from Talking Heads’ 1979 album “Fear of Music,” David Byrne famously sang the immortal lyrics, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco… no time for dancing…” Yet all those anti-fun declarations go gleefully out the window when Mystic Bowie, aka the “Head Dread,” takes the stage, reimagining and infusing fresh life into Talking Heads’ classic catalog with his high octane mix of roots reggae, ska, and lovers’ rock (aka “romantic reggae”).

“Talking Dreads is much more than a cover band,” Mystic said. “I am very much drawing on my own musical culture and history to make these amazing songs my own, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the Talking Heads’ songs. I’ve always felt that reggae’s dance-inspiring, feel good vibe is universal, as are many of the band’s songs. And don’t forget their intelligent, powerful lyrics, which are fun to sing and shine fresh light on through this new fusion of styles.

“It took a lot of effort to deconstruct and dissect each song to make it work seamlessly with my singing and performance style,” he added. “I removed all the instrumentation, kept the story and words, then created my own reggae, Caribbean and tribal feel and married those two elements — then brought back a few of the melodies that captured my attention back in the day.”

Mystic can trace his passion for all things Talking Heads back to his early days performing at hotels in Jamaica, when he heard “Wild Wild Life” — but his connection to the legendary new wave band goes much deeper. His close personal and professional relationship with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, founding members of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, began when he joined the latter group as a singer in 1996. He appeared on their 2000 album “The Good, the Bad and the Funky” and performed with them for nearly 20 years. Mystic’s first spark of inspiration for the concept that evolved into Talking Dreads began during his time with Tom Tom Club, when there were attempts by certain entities to secure a new Talking Heads album and reunion tour.

Since debuting his musically revolutionary Talking Dreads project live at the High Times Music Festival on the beach in Negril in late 2015, the charismatic Jamaican-born singer and performer has electrified audiences at over 100 shows across North America — spinning the heads of initially skeptical Talking Heads fans, and getting everyone else grooving along to the infectious, joyous rhythms and jubilant spirit of his native island. Considering the success of these events, it was only a matter of time before Mystic Bowie — who had lived in the Northeast for many years — headed back to his cherished homeland and set up shop at the famed Barry O’Hare Studios in Ocho Rios. He gathered old friends he had played music with since childhood, along with younger musicians, legendary Jamaican artists and other surprise guests to capture all the magic of his live performances on the epic 13 track recording “Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads.”

Tickets for “Talking Dreads” are $35 to $45 at thesuffolk.org. Suffolk Theater is at 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.