They Might Be Giants Show

Many bands have sets that are coordinated to some extent with background video footage. Some are more inextricably linked to the songs, like Ratatat, but other groups have looser arrangements, like Primus. I was listening to They Might Be Giants's Mink Car, and I was thinking about how their sets have changed from several styles over the years. The original duo shows, which had their "art fuck" element, to the years with the band, and even the occasional resurgence of the modified-duo show. In recent years though, you still get a John and John only song or two, and on appearances on TV, this happens as well (one time I can even remember a Flansburgh only song on Conan).

Anyway, enough background. In the unlikely event that it hasn't been deduced, I think TMBG has the potential to set up a two-man show, but playing more recent fare. Several of there songs already call for it, and it probably wouldn't be a long change to make versions that are essentially the same, but can be done with just the two men. It could be an interesting alternative for the NYC crowd, and others who have already seen TMBG many times, or it could be great for some special type of event. Mink Car had several songs that would transition well, Man It's So Loud In Here, I've Got A Fang, Wicked Little Critta, and My Man. Recently they did duo shows with the LEMUR robots, and those songs are also viable here, With The Dark, Vestibule, Our Cannibal Friends. Some other older songs that have lived long and well would be able to be done as well, James K. Polk and Ant come to mind (though these might go more with what I mention later on). Some of the more recent odd songs by TMBG that are more electronically themed could come in as well, Am I Awake?, Skullivan, even To The Bubblecraft, if they were to want to include these in the set.

This is all off the top of my head, but I'm sure a more comprehensive list of songs could (and will) come. Maybe I'll even get some film together and get some interesting loops going. Or I'll just drop the Johns a line and see what they thinkg.

Oh, they could probably gear up some of their less full-band type songs and play those to a less coordinated video. Songs like O Do Not Forsake Me, Robot Parade (Children's Version), even Particle Man could work very well in this environment. It could pull up some very interesting type of shows, and I still think it'd be rocking.