1993-10-08 Albany Student Press
Giant Steps: An Interview With They Might Be Giants
By Noah Wildman, Albany Student Press, October 8, 1993
Archived from: SUNY Albany's Special Collections & Archives
Ring, ring!
Asbury Student Press: Hello?
The Guy on the Phone: Hello, is Noah Wildman there?
ASP: Yes, this is he!
John Linnell, for it is he: This is John Linnell from They Might Be Giants.
ASP: Yeah, great, I've been expecting this call. Do you mind if I record this conversation?
JL: No, not at all.
ASP: Ok, where are you at the moment?
JL: I think I'm at the Sheraton, somewhere in West Virginia.
ASP: So how's the tour going?
JL: The tour is going pretty good, we've been doing festival dates to begin with and now are starting into some of the smaller theaters. The band is starting to sound pretty good, we've just added a trumpet for a total of six people. We're tighter.
ASP: So have you been doing songs from all your albums in the new format of the expanded lineup?
JL: Well, not every song from each album. Yes, we rearranged at least one song from our first albums for the new band. I'd really have to look at the set list.
ASP: You have a new record coming out.
JL: We have a new record coming out next year. Right now there is an EP of covers that we are touring behind.
ASP: Does it have the whole band on it?
JL: Yes, uh huh.
ASP: What's these things I've been hearing connecting TMBG with Frank Black?
JL: He's a friend of ours. When he toured New York, we performed a new song of ours called "Spy" with him. We're buddies, we appeared on his record and Mr. Flansburgh directed his video.
ASP: You're playing with the Bosstones, Cracker, Pere Ubu, and Black 47 [on October 1]. Do you have any comment on any of these bands?
JL: Um, well, I really don't want to say anything bad about them...
ASP: I only mean if you're familiar with any of them. You know, happy, perky words, not frowny ones.
JL: Well, we've been touring with Pere Ubu. Me and Mr. Flansburgh have always been big fans of theirs since high school and it's great to be on tour with them.
ASP: Ok, what about the other bands on the bill?
JL: Well, um, it seems to be very eclectic. I guess it's the kind of file draw we've been put into, really.
ASP: You've toured through Albany before. Any fond memories?
JL: You know, I pretty much forget what the name of the club is, but where it was, was in a pretty desolate part of town — that left an impression. I remember better playing at the school in Troy, much more of an environment.
ASP: Ever consider doing a rock opera for Broadway?
JL: Nope.
ASP: Heh hay, ok, let me throw another one at you. Does TMBG have any groupies?
JL: No, not really as far as I know. We have more members so I can't keep track of everybody but I can speak for John and say that neither one of us can have reasonably good relationships with people you meet on the road.
ASP: I love ska. You have a few small ska bits in your many influences. How did you pick up on it?
JL: Well, you know, I think we were coming out of high school around the time of the ska revival from England. That was probably how we heard it, at least that's how I got introduced to it. But it's not a particular thing or anything.
ASP: What are you listening to nowadays?
JL: Well, I've got the air conditioner on.
ASP: Any bands you diggin'?
JL: Well, it was a ten hour drive here. I have a tape with the Breeders' EP on it and with Kraftwerk's Computer World album together, because they're both very short. The guy who is driving us around, Otis, has an enormous collection of really interesting, diverse music. The best is his large section of Rat Pack records. A lot of Sammy Davis Jr., really obscure Frank Sinatra recordings, Dean Martin.
ASP: You covered "Lady Is A Tramp", didn't you?
JL: Yeah, that comes from a show in New York of Pal Joey covers, lots of fun.
ASP: If TMBG died tomorrow...
JL: Gawd fawbid!
ASP: ...who would you want to perform which songs at your tribute concert?
JL: Um, well, that's a very morbid question. I hope they play some very nice music. They should have a nice time, and be happy.
ASP: Will there be moshing?
JL: Well, we've said this before, it sucks to act like the father, but we're not into it. It might be a lot of fun before people get hurt and have to be carried out. Also, I find it a distraction. The music should be the reward for the people who pay attention to it.
ASP: So what's in the future for TMBG?
JL: Hopefully the record we're making will be out next year, undoubtedly we'll be touring around again. But we're developing this television thing, it's in the very early, fetal stages. We're working on a half-hour television show starring a puppet that is a skull.
ASP: Before we go, any parting words for your friends in Albanyland?
JL: Keep your feet on the stars, and reach for the ground.
Silence.
ASP: Ok, I think that's about it. Thanks a lot!
JL: Very nice talking to you.
Click. Bmmmmmmmmmmm.