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'Old-Timey' Technology Is Just What They Might Be Giants Ordered

They Might Be Giants have been making music since 1982, a career that includes fourteen studio albums. In 2002, the band released their first children's album and has since recorded three more records for their educational series. The Brooklyn band is currently on tour supporting their latest release, 'Here Comes Science,' and singer John Linnell will be checking in with his thoughts and musings all along the way.

All hail the old and crappy! From what I can gather here in the remote, leaf-shrouded They Might Be Giants treehouse, there continues to be a growing interest in obsolete technology to meet contemporary tastes. Some consumers of the rock music have turned back to vinyl LPs as a more visceral listening experience. Some recording artists have renounced computer based recording and digital gear altogether and are sweating over 40-year-old tape recorders.
I, for one, am sticking with my computer for music-making purposes, not because it sounds better, but because I'm too lazy to deal with all the clunky, fussy audio gear of the past.

However, after ten years of documenting life on the road with a digital point-and-shoot camera, I have turned back to taking pictures with cheap, post-war gear on old-timey film. Maybe the lo-tech cameras I like to use help to conceal my crappy technique, or maybe I'm clinging desperately to an imaginary, better past, but I find I just love old cameras to pieces.

They Might Be Giants will be touring the U.S. this fall, playing shows in dark, smoky clubs for adults, and in slightly cleaner environments for kids. I'm going to be taking snapshots along the way, so I'll be using this forum to present these analog documents of America, along with my wry and insightful commentary -- or perhaps meandering, confused mumbles -- about whatever it is we run into.

For example, here's a picture taken backstage at one of our recent kids shows. Between John Flansburgh (guitar/vocals) and myself is Brobee from the kids act 'Yo Gabba Gabba!'. The photo was snapped by our friend Annette Berry with my 1953 Brownie Hawkeye Flash (see example below with Kodak Rotary Flasholder).


The BHF has one of the most fervent cult followings of any vintage camera, which is as much due to its stylish bakelite exterior as to the homely results of its meniscus lens. Brobee didn't say much when we met him but he was every inch a professional entertainer. As we have learned, rockin' the tots can be hard work.

Next week: The Egg in Albany, New York -- modernist shrine or ditched alien spacecraft?

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Bob Tobias

Plastic cameras w/ meniscus lenses... on the off chance you haven't run across a Holga here's the info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holga

Wedding photog's charge extra (sometimes a lot) for pictures from them.

BTW, my 16 month old daughter loves your 123 DVD and is starting to get into the ABC disk as well. Now, if only my wife and I could figure out how to get those d*mn songs out of our heads. (Q U ...)

January 19 2010 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chuck (Mr. Lizard) Field

John,
There are still some old 3D cameras available out there in the virtual marketplace. You may have to use new technology to buy old, but it's worth it. The 3D cameras are a bit klunky, but the results can be fascinating. Email me (that goes for lurkers, too (chuckfield2003@yahoo.com)) if you want to connect with other stereophotographers and learn more about it.

December 02 2009 at 7:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jp

Yo Gabba Gabba! = My favorite kids show. (17 is just a number. Kids shows = awesomesauce.)
Brobee = My favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! character.
They Might Be Giants = My favorite band.

So therefore, either TMBG should do a cover of Brobee's Party In My Tummy orrrr, they should be musical guests on Yo Gabba Gabba!.

The end.

=D

November 24 2009 at 6:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron

I was at the UCLA flood show in the back of the balcony and saw you snap some photos of the crowd right before a keyboard part came back so you were rushing. I hope that will get posted.
The show was fantastic and I was up and enjoying it the whole time hearing my favorite songs. the puppets, and the all of fingertips was pretty slick. Thanks again for coming all the way out to LA with all that stuff to put on a show playing songs i'm sure you've played thousands of times and not griping about it (like the aforementioned "english bands"?) Entertaining, fun and inclusive. Totally worth my $24 (plus $10 parking, plus gas and my car takes premium, but I got a vacation day from Six Flags so I got paid to go see it basically)
Have a safe tour.

November 19 2009 at 12:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alex P

You know, that's my camera exactly. Great job, John. I feel closer to you.

October 23 2009 at 4:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Randall

Really excited about the new blog! i'll make sure to follow this magic-ness. But, question: when is the predicted release of the next adult album? i definitely love Here Comes Science!
and, Memphis is a happening place to play!!!!

October 15 2009 at 1:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ana

That camera looks a bit heavy and clunky to actually take places. I do kind of like the way the old pictures look, though. And, I can't really talk, as I am one of those ridiculous consumers of rock that enjoys vinyl. I have a 'portable' record player that folds up and has a handle, and built-in speakers and everything, but it's still quite clunky, and my friends laugh at me.

October 14 2009 at 9:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Emmalee

I prefer digital recording over tapes. My tape recorder changes the sound so voices seems more Blah than digital.
P.S. Great Picture!

October 14 2009 at 4:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Christina

In re: Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Imho, actual black and white film snapshots of happy people in the midst of their lives are supreme. If the viewer is of sufficient age, the subjects needn't be actual acquaintances, they just need to convey that sense of The Moment the Shutter Clicked. That *lost* moment.

There is so something deliciously ephemeral about that sliver of someone else's life.

Next obvious question: are you doing the development yourself? I feel that adds to the magic.

October 13 2009 at 4:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply