1996-11-07 SPINonline
From This Might Be A Wiki
< Archived Interviews & Articles
John Linnell Live Chat
Author Unknown, SPINonline, November 7, 1996
Archived from: https://web.archive.org/web/20031026111915/http://www.tmbg.net/articles/spinonline1996.html
John Linnell Live Chat
Author Unknown, SPINonline, November 7, 1996
Archived from: https://web.archive.org/web/20031026111915/http://www.tmbg.net/articles/spinonline1996.html
"Come to the SPINonline Coliseum on Thursday, November 7th at 9pm ET and ask They Might Be Giants about their obsession with James K. Polk, the inner workings of the sun, and how a song a day on an answering machine can lead to musical world domination."
SPINmc: It's about five of 9, but what the heck...let's start taking some questions, shall we? SPINmc: We're here with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants... SPINmc: They have a new album out on Elektra records called Factory Showroom SPINmc: Joh L. will be taking any and all questions, so press that interact button! SPINmc: That's John L. SPINmc: Here we go...Crane100: Question: Are you a tea drinker, John? TMBGlive: Flansburgh and myself drink coffee....Flansburgh has the occasional Martini SPINmc: Tmbg345: Question: When will your House of Mayors come out? And how was the idea concepted? TMBGlive: House of Mayors CD will be out momentarily on Hello Records... TMBGlive: it was inspired by the Disney Hall of Presidents and is based on a ficticious New York TMBGlive: Hall of Mayors SPINmc: Fisker2: Question: Do you still have your "Song of the Day" phone line? TMBGlive: Dial a Song is still reachable at 718-387-6962 TMBGlive: It features a different unreleased TMBG song everyday SPINmc: Tuxedo Sp: Question: How's the weather in Brooklyn? TMBGlive: Unseasonably warm SPINmc: ROSS2MYRR: Question: i've not heard any of your music--who would you be similar to? TMBGlive: we pride ourselves on sounding original...we...you know...we do our best to sound like no TMBGlive: other band SPINmc: Jasonkral: Question: What's up John, How YOU doing? TMBGlive: I'm in strangely good health considering we just doing some touring TMBGlive: that's just stopped doing some touring SPINmc: Doubaya: Question: Do any of your songs have a serious or deep meaning to them? TMBGlive: we think of all f our songs as meaningful... TMBGlive: sometimes the meaning is more obvious than others SPINmc: Rorschach: Question: Will you be publishing TMBG shhet music ever?? TMBGlive: We've been tossing that idea around (songbook) for a few years TMBGlive: we still havent figured out what to do... TMBGlive: we'd like to find something for the casual instrumentalist ... TMBGlive: as well as the dedicated fanatic SPINmc: Amy KES: Question: How would you say that your style has changed, from, say, Lincoln, to Factory Showroom? TMBGlive: We've both aged about 7 years...other than that, our intent has more or less remained... TMBGlive: the same...I think that techinally we are better musicians than in 88 SPINmc: Halos13: Question: so....where'd did the idea come from for that song on Apollo 18 with all the little songs on it like "please pass the milk please" SPINmc: John Linnell might be a giant...no that's silly...he's normal-sized and he's chatting now. TMBGlive: it was partly inspired by the ads for song collections that you here on late night TV TMBGlive: hear SPINmc: Mr Avocad: Question: I have heard that an Elektra singles b-side compilation (called Superfueled Freaksicle, I believe) will be released some time next year... Is this true? Any idea what will be put on it? TMBGlive: superfueled freaksicle is the b-side complitlation from the Elektra years... TMBGlive: as it stands it's either 2 or 3 as the next TMBG album set for take- off SPINmc: Qyzwx82: Question: When do you plan to perform again in Columbia, MO? I will definately be there! TMBGlive: we're not going to perform in Columbia again this year, but we will be in KC ... TMBGlive: at the end of November SPINmc: Zombie455: Question: I thought "I Can Hear You" was really cool! How'd you get the idea for that? How did you get to use Edison Laboratories' equipment? TMBGlive: We were invited by them to come record on their 100 year-old wax cylindor recorder... TMBGlive: naturally we leaped at the chance SPINmc: Mr Avocad: Question: I have been told that a collection called "They: The Early Years" will be released early next year, containing all Restless albums as well as 18 unreleased songs -- is this true and what will some of the 18 songs be? TMBGlive: the collection is called "Then- The Early Years"...the unreleased tracks are mostly dmos TMBGlive: from that same time period (85 to 88) SPINmc: We're here with John Linnell from TMBG...he's hand-picking your questions now! TMBGlive: many of which have appeared on Dial - a - song (718) 387- 6962 SPINmc: Jasonkral: Question: Is the Moscow concert in Idaho or Russia? TMBGlive: We're playing in Moscow, Idaho in a few weeks...our first performance in the state SPINmc: Xiff: Question: hey john... ive been watching two very disturbing things on TV... It seems too me that their both things that can't be stopped... what do you recomend we do about the Ebola Virus... and um, the "Single Guy"? Between the two of them... I feel the apocolapse coming... TMBGlive: I dont know SPINmc: GoodOmenz: Question: how was the conan obrien show? the suits rocked!! TMBGlive: we had an unusually easy-going time on Conan last night SPINmc: John is taking great care to pick only the finest of questions...SO MAKE 'EM GOOD! TMBGlive: it was our first time suiting up the entire band in identical costumes TMBGlive: I hope that people appreciated the experiment SPINmc: MiamiSkat: Question: Does S-E-X-X-Y have anything to do with chromosomes? TMBGlive: Flansburgh has kept pretty quiet about this issue...it's not clear if the "XXY" reference TMBGlive: was intentional...personally, I think it makes the song more interesting SPINmc: Xiff: Question: On your recordings, as one myself, I always find the accordian playing the best part... it really rounds out the sound. how important is accordian too your songwriting? Do you just add it to the recordings, or write the accordian oriented songs with accordian first? TMBGlive: I'd say I write about half the songs on the accordion these days... TMBGlive: on the last record we gave ourselves the freedom to use any instrument that... TMBGlive: we felt suited the song TMBGlive: I think the accordian showed up on three tracks SPINmc: Call the Dial A Song number (718) 387-6962 for your daily dose of TMBG TMBGlive: 718-387-6968 TMBGlive: Dont call that number TMBGlive: it's 718-387-696(2!) SPINmc: Drayco: Question: I Am Not Your Broom is nifty. will there be other movies on your web page soon? TMBGlive: We recently purchased the camera that looks like an eyeball on a pyramid... TMBGlive: we'll probably be making more little films with it soon SPINmc: TMBG 34: Question: Hey John, What's your favorite movie? TMBGlive: I just saw Badlands last night...worth checking out SPINmc: AmLarry: Question: What kind of new things can we expect to see on the new tour or in Salt Lake City on Friday? TMBGlive: We'll obviously be playing material from our new release "Factory Showroom" in addition to TMBGlive: unreleased material, with many visual surprises SPINmc: AnaNg32: Question: Who will win XTC or Adam Ant? TMBGlive: XTC and Adam Ant will battle eternally in Heaven SPINmc: SUNSHIN79: Question: What is the address of your web page? TMBGlive: I believe its www.tmbg.com SPINmc: Tmbg345: Question: Where is your favorite place to visit while on tour? TMBGlive: we were recently reacquainted with the fine cities if Louisville, KY and Madison, Wisc... TMBGlive: on our last tour SPINmc: VxDopusxV: Question: Who is your favorite pro wrestler? TMBGlive: I think the Iron Sheik SPINmc: Smallpig: Question: what's the stumpiest song you ever got in stump the band? SPINmc: After much deliberation.... TMBGlive: It's hard to remember...the stumpier they were, the less memorable they were SPINmc: RFPkr: Question: linell - ive seen you guys 22 times this year. how come you never hang out after the shows? how many brian doherty signed tix stubs can one own? TMBGlive: I'm usually exhausted after shows, which is why I'm not too good at shmoozing after a gig TMBGlive: I'd like to make a permanent apology to fans who might have been burned... TMBGlive: by my anti-social behaviour SPINmc: AMgdr: Question: what is your relationship with the band Cub, and led to your covering of New York City? TMBGlive: Flansbourgh heard Cub on the radio and went to enourmous lengths to find the name of the TMBGlive: band...I still havent met them, but Flans bumped into them on our last tour... TMBGlive: and says they're nice people SPINmc: Nmarzano: Question: My friends and I have a theory that Spider represents music, is this correct? TMBGlive: Um...I dont understand the question, but it's a fascinating one SPINmc: Triz: Question: Will the next record be coming out in 2 years? or possibly sooner because of the song recorded for FS which didn't make it on this album? SPINmc: We've got about 5 more minutes with John Linnell... TMBGlive: the next release will be the collection of early material called "Them - The Early Years". TMBGlive: followed by our next album which will probably be out by next summer SPINmc: Qyzwx82: Question: What inspired you to write James K. Polk? It's not the kind of song I'd expect you to come up with... TMBGlive: The inspiration for this song was form a country singer named Johnny Horton - who was ... TMBGlive: well known in the 50's and 60 TMBGlive: 's as a writer of historical pop songs SPINmc: AlyceF: Question: How did you guys like opening up for Elvis Costello at the Beacon Theater in New York City last year? TMBGlive: It was personally thrilling for us because we've been fans of Elvis Costello's since we... TMBGlive: were teenager TMBGlive: s SPINmc: Rtmmk: Question: Who is really the powerhouse of the band? or is it an equal thing? TMBGlive: we like to think that we have at least 5 if not 7 powerhouses on stage during our live TMBGlive: performance TMBGlive: s SPINmc: GoodOmenz: Question: you wont answer this but- who's Certain People about? TMBGlive: I can never resisit a challeng TMBGlive: It was inspired by noticing a similarity between Kurisawa's "the Seventh Samurai" and TMBGlive: a good friend of mine SPINmc: We're just going to take a couple more questions...the clock is ticking... SPINmc: Mr Avocad: Question: Are there any current musicians whose music you enjoy? Do you listen to much music? SPINmc: One more question...... TMBGlive: I just heard an album from a band called "Adventures in Stereo" that I liked a lot SPINmc: The last question go to Junglelad: Question: what do you do in your spare time? SPINmc: Oops! Goes to Junglelad TMBGlive: As rare as it is...My spare time is reserved for 1) staring out the window... TMBGlive: 2) hanging out with people and staring out the window TMBGlive: 3) riding my bicycle 'round Brooklyn TMBGlive: 4)playing cards TMBGlive: 5) reading the newspaper SPINmc: We'd like to thank John Linnell for tearing himself away from his window to be with us... SPINmc: And thank _YOU_ for coming by... SPINmc: Come by SPINonline and check out the transcripts.... TMBGlive: I wish I liked Slurpees SPINmc: We'll be posting them in a couple of days... SPINmc: Thank you, America Online, and good night!