POP MUSIC REVIEW : Rest of Band Outpaces Talking Head Harrison

Off-duty Talking Head Jerry Harrison has a solo radio hit right now with “Rev It Up,” as danceable a ditty as is allowed to become a smash on stodgy album-rock radio these days.

His current live sojourn, meanwhile--which touched down for a three-night stand at the Roxy beginning Sunday--might well be called the Dredge It Up Tour. For it dredges up, with varying degrees of effectiveness, the funky sound and even some of the funky players from the T-Heads’ very funky 1983-84 “Stop Making Sense” era.

With head Talking Head David Byrne having led the group back into more exotic territory lately, the big-band, techno-groove niche was just waiting to be filled. Enter Harrison on hiatus, putting together the album called “Casual Gods”--also the name of his current backing band, which includes veteran Heads sidemen Bernie Worrell (still master of the syncopated synthesizer) and guitarist Alex Weir. Chris Spedding is a choice newcomer to this congregation, bringing a more traditional rock approach to his lead guitar solos than the funk-centered Weir.

With all that talent on board, Harrison quickly emerged as the least compelling part of his own show. His singing was flat and unexpressive; his squealing portable-synth solos were nothing to write home about, nor was his rhythm guitar playing; as for stage presence, Harrison would probably test well off the lower end of the TV-Q charisma scale. And make no mistake, he is the frontman here. Nice try, but not even close to a cigar.

Heads devotees could still indulge themselves in a jam -packed, slightly nostalgic good time, filled with a lot of meager material so wonderfully arranged and played you’re tempted not to notice how meager it all is.