They Might Be Giants: Best Concert Ever

They Might Be Giants were the first band that was truly mine. They were before Pulp, before Scott Walker, and about twelve years before ThaBombShelter. My cousin Rose was responsible for my first exposure to TMBG in the form of "Destination Moon" on her DiscMan at my Grandma's house. She had heard of them from her older brother (you know the type, he liked way better music than you ever would, but way back then, you had no idea). I think that was also the first time I heard "Closer" by NIN. Weird combo, for sure. Anyway, I heard "Destination Moon," loved it, and promptly forgot about it. What more could you want, I was like 12, and it wasn't until I saw the Tiny Toons episode that featured both "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and "Particle Man" that they entered into my world again. I remembered They Might Be Giants from that day when my cousin shared them with me, but being 12 and being in the pre-highspeed/napster era, I tried my best to remember to look for them whenever I was at a Media Play or Barnes and Noble or Incredible Universe. I managed to finally get a copy of "Flood" when I started my first job at 16, and then John Henry, Apollo 18, Then: The Early Years, Lincoln, and a copy of the live album, Severe Tire Damage. They were my favorite band, hands down, for about ten years. Nowadays, they've slipped a few spots, more because of my ever broadening tastes, but they will always remain in the top five. After I went to my first concert just after I got my license (Silverchair, Neon Ballroom tour) I decided that I needed to see TMBG live. I listened to Severe Tire Damage religiously, but it wasn't until my freshman year of college that I was able to finally catch a show. I asked a few of my friends if they wanted to go, but of course no one knew who they were or didn't care or had finals to study for or something. But this was a show I was not going to miss. It was one of those moments that I'm sure every music geek can sympathize with, when a band you love so much you will not let anything...and I mean anything...prevent you from seeing them (similarly, I had a one state radius rule for trying to see doves when they came to Detroit, I would be willing to travel to any contiguous state to see them if they weren't coming to Ohio). So I went to the show by myself and was utterly blown away. The confetti cannons, the showmanship, Spin-the-Dial, the drum solo, everything was amazing. But even that concert can't compare to the show I saw a few years later at The Newport here in Columbus. I'd seen them the night before in Cincinnati with my friend and fellow TMBG superfan, Morbitrius (aka Toby), but this show would prove to be very very different. The show had a power outtage, time travel and three one-of-a-kind completely acoustic songs courtesy of Linnel on Accordion and Flans on acoustic guitar. The power cut out and the guys came onstage lit only by the flashlights of the road crew and played with no amplification whatsoever. It was surreal and incredible and a fantastic way for the band to end their tour. One of the kids that I had met at the show ended up winning the Glockenspiel played ONLY during "Shoehorn With Teeth" and we all found out that the tour manager is actually a fire breather (we felt the hot oil from the flames when he blew fire right above our freakin' heads!). The show will always be the best I've ever been to as far sheer volume of memorable moments is concerned, the whole night was incredible and I can only hope that everyone who cares about music or a band can experience such a surreal night at least once in their life.

They Might Be Giants Official Site
They Might Be Giants Official Store
They Might Be Giants UnOfficial Site
They Might Be Giants on Wikipedia
This Might Be a Wiki
Image Courtesy of YouAintNoPicasso

"New York City" They Might Be Giants
"Destination Moon" They Might Be Giants
"I Palindrome I" They Might Be Giants

Here's the Tiny Toons version of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" god bless YouTube.