They Might Be Giants
12/13/24 Kings Theater
Brooklyn, NY
The Brooklyn based They Might Be Giants had a huge homecoming show this past Friday Night, December 6th as their "Big Show Tour" made a stop at the gorgeous King's Theatre just south of Prospect Park. The sold-out crowd consisted of parents with kids, hipsters and music nerds as this tour finds the two John's (Linell and Flansburgh) leading a large band, playing two sets per night (no opening act), while focusing on one of their classic albums.
One of the surprising things was just how loud the backing band was from the start as Dan Miller – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, Danny Weinkauf – bass guitar, keyboards, and Marty Beller – drums, percussion, formed a rocking foundation that pushed the duo's original songs with extra energy, sometimes too much. At times the backing overloaded the vocalists but the Friday night party energy was vibrant from the start.
The heavy banging of "Synopsis for Latecomers" pounded out, announcing the groups intentions with a swirling lightshow adding to the rocking festivities. The main band got augmented by a killer horn section as Dan Levine – trombone, euphonium, tuba, Stan Harrison – saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute and Mark Pender – trumpet arrived for "No One Knows My Plan", delivering a tropical brass vibe to the pumped up track.
Flansburgh took a moment to welcome the crowd and stated that this show would be spotlighting the bands John Henry album from 1994 as tracks like the off kilter "Snail Shell" and the bombastic "Out of Jail" both were driven by Beller's snapping percussion work. The band calmed it down for an accordion led version of "Particle Man" while Flansburgh made everyone take a seat for "Unrelated Thing".
Humor is a big part of the duo's music and Flansburgh kept a running joke going about having to get back to his other job, sending drones over New Jersey, while also playing "Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love" backwards. The first set ended with their newer song "Brontosaurus" as TMBG banged and harmonized.
After a short set break "Man It's So Loud In Hear" lived up to the title as the band used flashing lights, buzzing guitars and organ while "Moonbeam Rays" mixed harmonies sounding like a whacky version of The Beach Boys, with pounding drums and low end. "Where Your Eyes Don't Go" went with more acoustic strumming and organ while "The Darlings of Lumberland" was smokey and dreamy, floating around the fantastic looking (and sounding) theatre.
The band dipped back into some classics with artsy big drum hits of "Spider", the sweet lounge sounds of "Lie Still, Little Bottle" and "Twisting" which set the lights spinning again as organ and guitar solo's rang out. The main show closed with an revved up, fast flying run through of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" while the first encore began with a trombone and keys duet that snaked into a fun elongated version of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)".
The second encore featured the singalong "Dead" before "Dr. Worm" ended the night with the sold-out crowd jumping and singing along with the band. For veterans who put out their first record 38 years ago, it is great to see fans of all ages still getting down and enjoying themselves as They Might Be Giants can still deliver the goods.
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