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They Might Be Giants Get Flashy in Los Angeles
- Posted on Nov 24th 2009 12:37PM by John Linnell
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.We are frankly astonished at the volume and intensity of our crowds these past few weeks. According to TMBG's booking agent, these are grim times for touring rock bands. The numbers have been low low low for bands that normally sell out in our usual venues around the U.S., and this dire situation has been corroborated by promoters in each city. Yet for some incomprehensible reason we have enjoyed a string of sold-out shows up and down both coasts and across the Midwest. In addition, all of our crowds seem to be hopped up on some kind of wacky dust, and I'm speaking of the children as well as the adults. I'm pretty sure we haven't seen this level of hysteria in the past or I would remember.
All of this has provoked a great deal of chin-stroking and head-scratching amongst the band and crew. Are we the victims of some kind of cruel "flash mob" stunt in which people who don't really care about us are being paid or coerced into showing up with lyrics memorized and t-shirts printed? I've heard about that happening to other bands. And if this is not the case, what is it that we're doing right? My guess is that we are finally providing the one element that adults, teenagers and kids all crave -- and that is sock puppets. It's the only part of the current show that's substantially different from the decades of shows we've done in the past, and it is therefore the only logical explanation.
With apologies to our bass player Danny Weinkauf, shown here modeling the actual puppets we use in the show, I should point out that sock puppets make excellent photographic subjects, if only because they don't cry out in pain when they're shot at point blank range using old fashioned flashbulbs. The flash from a #25 press bulb is so bright and hot that a subject with normal vision like Danny will not be in the mood to pose for a second shot. I have such a flash attached to one of my current picture takers, the road-worthy Argus C3, a rectangular 35mm camera designed in the 1930s and essentially unchanged for decades. The shape of the C3, as well as its indestructibility, have earned it the nickname "The Brick." It might also make a good defensive weapon if your subject resents being blinded but can somehow still locate and try to kill you. (Think of Raymond Burr in 'Rear Window.')
I'm told that flashbulbs are still occasionally put to use by contemporary photographers who need to light enormous interior spaces, which electronic flash units can't fill -- places like caverns, or indeed places like the cavernous Royce Hall in Los Angeles, which is where we played last week. I took a picture of the room (below) before anyone, except our manager, was in the house, and he was either too far away to be injured by the flash or too distant to express his resentment.
Next week: Omnibus
- Filed under: Exclusive, Guest Blogger
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Mark Crane
Your SLC show was the best concert I've ever been to. You are selling out because you have some strange psychic link to the music of the last great depression--the absurdity, wanton cheerfulness, and desperate kindness of it all. Thank you for putting on a great show.
Dominic Linde
I don't know what you are doing so differently (Ralph Carney!?) but that show you did in SF was the best concert I've ever been to, sock puppets or no (and I've been to a lot of concerts.)
December 02 2009 at 12:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Damon Blalack
Such flash bulb wands were used to make the lightsaber handles in the Star Wars film series. The Graflex 3-cell flash gun was specifically the one used most famously, but lightsaber-replica enthusiasts pay hundreds of dollars for just the flash gun section itself!
December 01 2009 at 3:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Peter Norby
Ditto to what Jessica said re: hitting NM again (and about kids being hooked on Sciense, for that matter). I considered driving to Denver and back earlier in the month, but couldn't bring myself to do it the day before leaving the country (and my family) for a week. And heck, ditto re: 20-odd-years and fan since 14 :)
I'd seen you snapping at the last show I went to, but it's great to see what sorts of treasures you've been digging out of the time machine to play with in what free time you have on the road. I don't recognize most of these jewels, having never been a film camera connoisseur before, but I have seen my friend putting the Horizon swing-lens camera to use at parties before. Fun times.
-//
Rainbucket
Mr Linnell - As part of the sold out wacky dust Fillmore crowd, I can assert that you had kept us waiting two whole years since the last tour, so our pent up affection was pent up to critical. And you never disappoint. In fact somehow you outdo yourself tour after tour.
Your shows sell out because a TMBG concert is the planet's happiest cubic acre in that moment. Thank you for bringing it again and again.
At the Booksmith signing I was tempted to bring you incomplete lyrics to House Of Mayors, hoping you could remember the final "similarity lurks" verse. I'm not convinced even the TMBG wiki has it right.
And I still think Marty sounds like Kevin Cronin. You guys snuck in an REO Speedwagon track just to punk us.
Jessica
Of course your shows are sold out! You guys are AWESOME! I only wish you'd come to Santa Fe or Albuquerque...I missed the last NM show. I've been a fan since I was...hmmm...14, which was mumblemumble20mumblemumble years ago. My kids enjoy your music too...currently my 7 year old is hooked on Here Come the 123s.
November 30 2009 at 10:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
sfiliz
Of course you're selling out right now. No other music whistles in the dark so well.
My sister and I used to torture each other (and the cat) with those flashbulbs. I love the shot of the theater, never seen a better one of the effect of a flash itself.
Quinn
OMG Rear Window references now? Thanks for reminding me why I'm still madly in love with you, John.
November 26 2009 at 5:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Emmalee
I think I'm one of those stalker fans that you mention who show up knowing all the lyrics and wearing the t-shirts. Well, I didn't really plan that since I've only been to one concert in my whole life, so I hope you keep touring until you get an iron lung or sumthin. But you must remember me from the October 2nd show at the egg. (dorky girl with short hair and big glasses mouthing every word with the flood t-shirt you squeals really loud and had the blood curtling scream.)
I dig your socks... lol. I've always loved puppets which explains why i'm a fan of "put your hands inside the pupprt head", Jeff Dunham, and Terry Fator. Kinda funny story, I did this puppet for fifth grade. He was goth with green hair and his name was Frank. Well, one day I was puppeting with him and then i noticed, He looks like you John! Except he has green hair and an eyebrow piercing. I loved the puppets at the concert BTW... The whole Flood Platinum thing and the Garrison Keillor pirating. Funny. You guys are soooo funny.
Cool camera too. I thought I won't see for a whole month after I get my school photos taken! But seems to me I won't be able to see for a whole year if you took my picture at close range with that baby. I like the Brownie camera you had a while back. My grammy had one. Hopefully I can convince my dad to see you guys in Northhampton MA... Love being a stalker fan... *shifty eyez*
Jp
MAY I PLEASE STEAL YOUR CAMERA, SIR?
I am a Senior in high school and yesterday I introduced my forensics teacher to the new cd. My friend said she played Meet The Elements in her Chemistry class. The music of They Might Be Giants will (hopefully) take over my school like it has done my brain. I can't wait until Paleontology class next semester....I will somehow talk my teacher into blasting I Am A Paleontologist throughout the school. I'm so excited. The show in New Haven, CT I saw you guys do a free show and you guys played that song and I was the "dude with the green mohawk". (I'm a chick btw, but quite honestly I could care less) Ever since, it has been my favorite song. I love that I've learned at least 5 new things I never knew before from that cd. WHERE WAS THIS CD WHEN I WAS FAILING BIOLOGY BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND CELLS?!!
Anyway, that was a bit off topic.
Back to the camera. I WANT. WHERE DO YOU BUY? I MUST HAVE.
Sock puppets are always a win. I've written two songs about puppets before. I have a weird obsession with making paper bag puppets. It's a time killer. I made TMBG sock puppets and paper bag puppets with my younger sister a few weeks ago. We made lame music videos to TMBG songs and got Burger King crowns and ran around singing Fake Believe. I am hopefully going to the free show at Barnes and Nobel in NYC. I shall bring puppets. Because really, WHO DOESN'T LOVE PUPPETS?! Nazis. Nazis and Ashurbanipal. (Because he says my hair makes me look like a Mohenjo-Daroan) Thats who.
Someday when I am a music video maker. I will make a music video for you guys. And it will be full of puppets, because you must always give the people what they love. And Danny Weinkauf's face in that picture. Oh, and we must have super hero costumes in there somewhere.
Super hero costumes are ALWAYS a win.
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