David Byrne & Conan Volunteered For John Mulaney’s “Too Much Tuna” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

I also wanted to mention we have a. mutual friend in John mullaney oh yeah. oh I'm a door I just adore I think he's. a brilliant uh brilliant mind and uh. just thrilled to know him how did you. and John Mulaney come to be friendly. through uh the through the director of. Here Lies Love Alex Timbers he's a. theater director and. he directed a thing that. John Mulaney and Nick hold called.

oh oh hello oh yeah I've seen that show. I love that show yeah he directed that. and said David. they'd like to sometimes invite someone. up on stage will you let them do that I. said oh sure. uh so I did I was one of the kind of. Ringers in the audience that they bring. up and they you become part of one of. the was it the tuna sandwich yeah the. tuna sandwich thing and uh they do that. and of course they're all in like uh.

wigs and Prosthetics Prosthetics and all. kinds of stuff so. I have to say that I I got a little. confused. [Music]. which one's John which one which one's. Nick which is John yes no it was a. surreal moment of my life too which is a. really I mean it's a very it was a. really funny show those are both. brilliant guys and then the same thing. they heard I was in town they said would. you come and be the the uh the stooge.

that sits in the audience and gets. called up so I got called up and it oh. they're both weren't dressed as these. old men they're obsessed with Steely Dan. and it is the most specific kind of. comedy and then of course it all there's. this bit that they want you to. participate in where they lure you into. mentioning this tuna sandwich and. wouldn't you like some of this tuna. sandwich and I it is one of those. moments in my life anyway and there have.

been many I'm sure there have been many. in yours where I leave my body and I. observe what's happening and I there's. part of me that thinks you have a very. odd life at this moment Conan you're up. on stage it's Melanie Kroll. they keep referencing Steely Dan and. they're trying you to mention tuna fish. sandwich and uh we're on a Broadway. Theater I don't understand what's. happened in my life so it sounds like. you had this similar experience I had a. very similar experience yes this giant.

tuna sandwich comes down uh appears and. really the whole stage smells like tuna. fish it really does I smelled like tuna. fish for days afterwards they wouldn't. let me fly commercially for a while uh I. just I I don't I'm I'm I like that. you're good friends with John because. I'm obsessed with whatever this line is. between comedy and music I know that. there's some kind of visceral connection. between the two I've always been in. comedy but fascinated with music and.

um tried to play music and been. frustrated and always thought the grass. was always greener the last kind of. show I did. I wasn't exactly stand up but there were. quite a number of Parts on the in the. show where I would just talk directly to. the audience right kind of like a. comedian would do and sometimes I got. laughs and so I got a little little tiny. taste to that I loved it but it was. terrifying yeah as a musician you have. this.

a whole group of musicians and you have. the song and everything that just the. structure is it's a structure once you. get on that roller coaster structure or. whatever you want to call it boom you're. you're supported right you just ride it. right whereas if you're just standing. there if and and you're trying to make. people laugh or pay attention at least. if they don't it's like well we're in. trouble now yeah yeah I'm always I mean. I do think there is a connection in that. uh I had to do something today and.

got up in front of this crowd and I. could tell it was tight and I always. think. what time has taught me is be patient. and find the rhythm of the room like. let's find the rhythm of what's. happening in this room and then I can. work with that and I imagine that it's. somewhat similar in music where you need. to where are these people now that we're. playing for and how do we connect with. them so when you find the rhythm of the. room in that way.

do you then go. oh I have to completely change what I. was going to do I'm gonna I'm gonna jump. into this other thing well I a big I. Love Mistakes it's just joyous I mean I. I grew up watching Johnny Carson tell a. joke that would bomb on The Tonight Show. and I would see. his eyes kind of glim there's gleam in. his eye and then he would have. um I mean there's a there's one segment.

I really loved where he told a few jokes. in a row that didn't work out well and. then he reached up and there was a. microphone hanging above his head that. was catching he wasn't Loft he was. done with the boom and he grabbed. the Boomin pulled down and said. um is this thing on is this working and. then said uh Walmart Cleanup in aisle. five into the microphone and he was. basically just calling out the fact that. his routine was not going at all well. that night and having fun with it and I.

thought that's the monologue I remember. they probably got a huge laugh huge I. have a question my uh I have a friend. who often tells me. David don't laugh at your own jokes. and I've tried to. stick to that but sometimes I can't help. it. um. it'll tickle me and I'll just start. giggling at my own jokes now sometimes I. find like if I'm in front of an audience. they love that because it's whatever.

breaks the fourth wall or whatever yeah. and they go they're in on it yeah uh. other times it's like. he's just having fun by himself he's. we're not included here I'm I disagree. with your friend violently whoa okay. if you were here I would fight this. person like I I don't. um. I. sometimes. I if I'm laughing at my own joke I'm the. only one laughing yes but at least.

there's someone there enjoying it. so I uh uh and and people around me will. say oh Conan you're cracking yourself up. there but I'll say yes I am and I'm I'm. only on this Earth for a little time and. I'm delighted with myself at this moment. and I I don't care that none of you are. um I want to make sure that I let you go. on time because uh I know you've got you. are an important man with places to be.

um but this has been a real uh Joy it's. been a joy and an honor I want to make. sure I get the word out that uh Here. Lies Love premieres July 20th we're in. previews before that right where that. means we're still getting some bugs out. of it but it's it's the full show. and. um on the night in which I come. I will show up late the show will stop. uh Spotlight will hit me and I will. slowly walk to where I'm going to be.

seated standing and um and then the show. resumes that's right and we'll have some. shoes for you. [Laughter]. uh David Byrne this is like my dream. come true thank you so much for being. here thanks for having me it was fun. talk this is cool thank you.