Tom Tom Club celebrated its thirtieth anniversary at New York’s Irving Plaza last night. Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth originally formed Tom Tom Club as a side project while the Heads were on hiatus. The group released its self-titled debut later that year. It featured the hit single “Genius of Love” and a cover of The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk.”

Though Tom Tom Club recently played area shows this past October in support of its 2010 release Genius of Live , Irving Plaza was an appropriate venue choice for the band’s anniversary performance. Talking Heads was the first rock band to officially play Irving Plaza in 1978 and the club quickly developed into an important stepping stone for bands that have outgrown New York’s maze of downtown clubs. Frantz and Weymouth continued to perform with Tom Tom Club after Talking Heads regrouped and the band eventually became the couple’s primary project. Tom Tom Club’s current lineup also includes: Victoria Clamp (vocals), Mystic Bowie (vocals), Bruce Martin (keyboards), Kid Ginseng (turntables) and Deep Banana Blackout’s Fuzz (guitar).

Last night’s anniversary show boasted a similar setlist to most of Tom Tom Club’s recent shows, including “Suboceana,” “She’s Dangerous,” “Punk Lolita,” “L‘Éléphant,” “Who Feelin’ It,” “Under the Boardwalk,” “The Man With The 4-Way Hips,” “Time to Bounce,” “Genius of Love,” “You Sexy Thing” and “Wordy Rappinghood.” Frantz—who spoke through a headset from behind the drums throughout the show—acknowledged the band’s anniversary on a few occasions and also name-checked CBGBs. At the end of the night, the group returned to the stage for two songs associated with Talking Heads: Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and “Psycho Killer.”