Shows/1989-03-16

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Links:

• Taz review
• Zentrums Revue review (1989-04)
• EB/Metro-nom listing, Mar. 1989
• Howl listing, Mar. 1989

Ticket

Setlist:

• Piece Of Dirt Intro
• Hello Radio Intro
• Road Movie To Berlin
• Ana Ng
• Your Racist Friend
• Kiss Me, Son Of God
• Purple Toupee
• The Famous Polka
• I'll Sink Manhattan
• The Car Crash
• They'll Need A Crane
• Number Three
• Rhythm Section Want Ad
• Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
• Santa's Beard
• I've Got A Match
• Lie Still, Little Bottle
• Don't Let's Start

Encore #1:

• Cowtown
• (She Was A) Hotel Detective

Encore #2:

• Shoehorn With Teeth

Encore #3:

• She's An Angel
• Where Your Eyes Don't Go

They Might Be Giants
Römer in Bremen, Germany
March 16, 1989 at 9:00 PM

Fan Recaps and Comments:

The FM broadcast recording of this show would be partially released exclusively to members of the 2016 Instant Fan Club, and again to members of the 2024 Instant Fan Club. The songs included were "Lie Still, Little Bottle", "Don't Let's Start" and "Cowtown". The recording of "Lie Still, Little Bottle" has been noticeably altered in post by broadcasters, with an echo effect being applied to the word "disintegrate" and the drum outro of "You'll Miss Me" being tacked onto the ending of the performance.

Reynoldbot:

I just downloaded the audio of the entire show offered on this page, and wow, it sounds amazing! I was expecting something barely recognizable but the tracks hold up incredibly well. The only downside is a pervasive tape hiss that tends to dissipate during actual songs but almost overwhelms the between-song banter. This is a classic old-school TMBG performance, and a rare treat to hear. The Johns' banter is as funny as usual, and highlights include them bringing an audience member onstage to bang the big stick during "Lie Still Little Bottle," plus a truly rare performance of "I've Got a Match" (with only 11 known performances, it's truly astounding that one was ever recorded and even more astounding that it's still around for anybody to hear).

This performance is a must-have for any hardcore TMBG fan, but it's also just a great example of old-school live TMBG for people new to the band. Best of all, it's free! What are you waiting for?

(Translated from German)
"Giants in the making" by Jürgen Franck
Taz, Mar. 18, 1989:

It's been a long time since the Römer was as full as it was at the Domshof when Kutzop missed his penalty against Bayern on the giant screen. The visibility was extremely poor for people with shorter legs, and it may be doubted whether they could hear any better. Two Johns from the new world had decided to bring a little fun into the minds of the people of Bremen.

"They Might Be Giants", the two called themselves. Quite arrogant, because their performances didn't reach anywhere near a gigantic level. In front of three oversized turbaned ladies who would have deserved the band name, Mr. Flansburgh and Linnell exhausted themselves on guitar and accordion, mostly supported by a tape machine. As is the case with minimal concepts, the two Americans couldn't avoid garnishing their musical performance with a lot of talking, stupidly stupid is what they say in Bremen. With a restrained volume, the would-be giants mangled everything that came between their keys and strings. Their short songs oscillated between ballads, songs, folk and rock'n'roll, and they didn't stop at leather boot songs in the square dance style. Actually, John and John belong in one pub, so that the components of a party duo, a really good mood and beer come together.

But the Bremen gig developed more into a public-service foam brawl. In the excitement of knowing that one day they would be heard on Radio Bremen across national borders, numerous sardines in the squeezed hall couldn't resist cheering loudly. No request from the podium was stupid enough not to be enthusiastically received. So the sing-song continued in minimal traces of Brooklyn, as it sings and laughs, it could also have been. Of course, the two of them didn't forget their participation number, where everyone was allowed to clap in front of the stage and a poor boy on the stage tactfully hammered a fork into the cracks in the board. After a few encores, just as short as the rest of the songs, the giants said a fond farewell, but they didn't really leave us.
If you would like to hear one of the most expensive song recitals currently available, please call 001-718-387-6962. This number belongs to John Flansburgh and he provides everyone who doesn't want it any other way with singing material from his own repertoire in Schwarz-Schilling quality.

(Translated from German)
A review of the show by Franz Wittich
Zentrums Revue, Apr. 1989

Forget "Don't Let's Start" at a TMBG gig, start straight away.
The two Americans from New York (John Linnell, John Flansburgh) are really two great guys, with guitar, accordion and half-playback they brought a fantastic club atmosphere to the relatively small club "Kleinen Römer" in Bremen. Virtuous, irie and with their disgustingly cool New York slang, they brought us their songs. Their repertoire is eclectic, their performance is humorous, so far the second best gig of the year. The appearance of Two Katheder singer Olli Goolightly as a guest singer on "Don't Let's Start" was also interesting.