Written by Bill Whiting
They Might Be Giants’ performance at the Madison Theater in Covington, Kentucky was a highly anticipated event, and as the venerable theater filled up inside, alternative music’s merry pranksters took to the stage. Touring behind the chart topping disc, Nanobots, TMBG chose to begin the show with Nanobots’ opening track, “You’re on Fire.” Delving deeper into Nanobots, John Flansburgh, John Linnell and co. continued with the quirky and sardonic composition, “Call You Mom.” The packed crowd inside the Madison responded with enthusiastic applause during the nugget, “Doctor Worm,” and the sharply observant gem, “Birdhouse in Your Soul.” Linnell and Flansburgh had many tricks up their sleeve, including a horn and keyboard call and response number, “Cloisonne,” and the power pop frill of “Judy is Your Viet Nam” from 2011’s brilliant long player, Join Us. As They Might Be Giants effortlessly veered along to the end of their set with the title track from Nanobots, and the Four Lads cover, “Istanbul,” they provided the greater Cincinnati faithful with a diverse two hour marathon of hits and deep tracks from their vast catalogue of endlessly catchy material. It leaves one in great anticipation of their triumphant return. One of 2013’s milestones.
Setlist: You’re On Fire- When Will You Die- Memo to Human Resources- Celebration- Call You Mom- Fingertips- Cloisonne- Whistling in the Dark- Drink!- Doctor Worm- Put Your Hand inside the Puppet Head- Where Your Eyes Don’t Go- The Guitar- Battle For the Planet of the Apes- They’ll Need a Crane- Insect Hospital- He’s Loco- Judy is Your Viet Nam- Nanobots- Birdhouse in Your Soul- 1-2-3 Band Intros- Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Encore: Tesla- New York City- Ana Ng
Encore 2: The Mesopotamians- Damn Good Times
http://www.theymightbegiants.com/
