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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
@ The Gov, Adelaide,
2nd October, 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Colin Reid

Photos by Elise De Simoni (@elisedphoto)

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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For a second night in a row TMBG take to the stage in Adelaide for their ‘An Evening With’ tour.  Last night was just shy of being sold out and tonight’s gig sold out months ago. It is a crowded affair and the Gov is packed full of fans by the time they start the first of their two sets.

Initially it is just the two Johns, Flansburgh and Liddell. “How is everyone doing” asks John Flansburgh “ah its just a lot of people yelling” he concludes from the multiple replies.  They open up with a stripped-down version of ‘Istanbul not Constantinople’. Linnell’s accordion and Flansburgh’s guitar complimenting each other. As they finish up Flansburgh quips “synchronicity, I fucked up the first chorus and you fucked up the third one” to which Linnell replies “no, that was all planned”.  They have an easy camaraderie going between them which is evident from the beginning.  They are a fun band, singing about silly things and not taking themselves too seriously.

The full band join the Johns. Including the Tricerachops horn section “we’ll be doing the whole of ‘Flood’ tonight including this song that isn’t on ‘Flood’” says Linnell. There isn’t much room left on the stage and there certainly isn’t any space left musically as the full band fills the sound out completely. 

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Next up we go back to ‘Moonbeam Rays’ which is on ‘Flood’.  Their harmonising vocals sound fabulous; I’m singing and dancing along, this is shaping up great.  I’m so glad that they aren’t doing one of those album tributes where the band plays all the songs in the same order as they first appear on the record.  That would be to straight forward and not quirky or interesting enough for TMBG.

There is another interchange between the two Johns regarding their respective days. It showcases the camaraderie and the chemistry between them and their description of Adelaide’s art gallery being a stunning mixture of the classical and the contemporary provides “the perfect segway” into playing ‘The Mesopotamians”.

The packed crowd are all in a happy mood, smiling and shuffling their feet or swaying back and forth.  A big cheer accompanies the opening bars of ‘Your Racist Friend’ as TMBG continue their haphazard journey through ‘Flood’.  ‘Let me tell you about my operation’ is superb with all the members of the band taking solos, showcasing their great talent and having fun hamming it up at the same time.

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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TMBG have an incredible ability to pack a venue with a crowd loving the diverse range of styles of music. Geek rock, indie pop and rock, avant garde, art rock, elements of jazz and even polka! Often strange, always different and always quirky they are like no other band you can see it is such a treat!

There is nothing geekier than deciding to learn one of the songs from ‘Flood’ in reverse!  Was it wonderful? Was it extremely self-indulgent? Perhaps it was equal parts of both. Some of the audience were enchanted; smiling and laughing and cell phone recording the experience. Some were stony faced, no reaction to the weirdness.

They closed out the first set with a fabulous version of ‘Dr Worm’. So much fun, the band having just as much of a good time as the audience.

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Set one had been a wonderful eclectic mix what would set two have in store?  It was all going really well, the version of ‘Particle Man’ being received with great enthusiasm with many in the crowd belting out the vocals back to the band.  Then something happened in the crowd that I’ve never experienced before.  A man collapsed nearby to us. He didn’t look to be in a good state at all; cold and clammy.  Luckily for him, my wife and her friend are both nurses and they put him into the recovery position and monitored him until the paramedics arrived to take him to hospital.  He was clearly a fan, wearing an old TMBG t-shirt and still trying to sing lyrics whilst on the floor.  Him singing was a good sign I thought, at least he isn’t having a stroke.  No sooner had he been taking out that a girl also passed out in almost the same spot!  The paramedics were back and she too was taken away. With all the commotion I kind of lost track with what was happening on stage.  It was surreal. 95% of the crowd wouldn’t have been aware of what was happening and the band certainly didn’t realise.  I really hope that both of the fans taken to hospital were okay.  It would be really great if somehow the band could reach out to them.

Set two finished off with a superb performance of the much loved ‘Birdhouse in your soul’. It might have only reached 125 on the Australian charts but I’m sure everyone in The Gov last night bought a copy! 

There had been two sets and there were two encores including an unexpected version of Chumbawamba’s ‘Tubthumping’.  The members of the band were introduced to great applause. There was a gag about the horn section having to catch the subway back to New York and a shout out to person at the back of the room standing next to a Hendrix poster “whose Jimi come with tonight?” 

A top night celebrating a much-loved band and a much-loved album.  I just hope that the two members of the crowd didn’t have anything too serious.

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Check out Elise De Simoni’s (@elisedphoto) full gallery of this event HERE

Check out Michael Selge’s (@oz.craftypics) full gallery of the event at The Gov on 1st October 2024 HERE

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Connect with THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Spotify

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THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Photo – @elisedphoto

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DESTROY ALL LINES and METROPOLIS TOURING presents

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Tour Dates

Tuesday 1st October – The Gov, Adelaide
Wednesday 2nd October – The Gov, Adelaide – SOLD OUT
Friday 4th October – Enmore Theatre, Sydney – SOLD OUT
Saturday 5th October – City Recital Hall, Sydney – SOLD OUT
Monday 7th October – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tuesday 8th October – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Thursday 10th October – Forum, Melbourne
Friday 11th October – Forum, Melbourne – SOLD OUT
Sunday 13th October – Astor Theatre, Perth – SOLD OUT
Monday 14th October – Astor Theatre, Perth

Tickets on sale now HERE

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Check out the recent interview (below) HERE

Interview with
JOHN FLANSBURGH
from
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS

(6th August 2024)

Interview with Dave Bruce

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AMNPLIFY – DB