Fireworks are exploding all over the skyline of Glasgow, terrifying pets and triggering PTSD in all who suffer it. America is taking to the polls in a night that we will be potentially telling our children about around a fire as we scrounge for food following the nuclear apocalypse… “that was the night it started…”.
But if tonight is the night that where it all goes wrong, we’re going to have a smile on our faces as it does. It’s an evening with They Might Be Giants at SWG.
The supportless, two set show brings their biggest selling album ‘Flood’ in full – who most people of my age were exposed to thanks to the Tiny Toon Adventures music videos – and a bunch of fan favourites. TMBG are mixing it up a bit though, as it’s not just a straight play through of ‘Flood’… it’s a long night of songs which happens to contain all those tracks floating throughout like pasta in a lovely soup. Looking at the set lists from previous shows it looks like all those here for the theme tune to Malcolm In The Middle may be disappointed… but I don’t think anyone’s here just for one song.
Kicking off with a fun, animated backdrop and the recording of ‘They Might Be Giants’ as they walk onto a stage that’s been set up by a crew of obvious Tetris champions, TMBG get a fantastic cheer. The biggest roar is reserved for front men John and John (Flansburgh and Linnell, if you must).
The performance is great tonight. Tight and maintaining the quirky vocals that we would demand of TMBG. But what’s really made tonight worth coming for is the banter between tracks. From talking directly to the photographers down in the pit, to struggling wildly with the pronunciation of “Cullen Skink” – which Flansburgh thinks is delicious. It’s a true “Evening With…” in the sense that the band are hosting you rather than playing the hits and wallowing in applause.
It’s also far from a comedy night where the music is just too good – and often clever as “Stellub” (Sapphire Bullets of Love played sonically in reverse) proves. We go from the standard five piece band, to an eight piece complete with brass section, to just the two Johns playing ear worm ‘Istanbul (not Constantinople)’ complete with accordion named “The Main Squeeze”.
This show is by far one of the most entertaining you’ll find. Even if you don’t know the songs, hearing them for the first time is going to make you smile, and the chat is definitely going to make you smile. A beacon of light in these dark times, the silver lining of current events is that they said they might not go home if Trump wins… so do we get to keep them?
Photos by Catching Light Photography
Catching Light Photography
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