Shows/2003-11-09
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Setlist:
They Might Be Giants
Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany, NY
November 9, 2003
Fan Recaps and Comments:
Review by Jim Cronen:
Particle Man: featuring John Linnell on the Stylophone; Linnell also had
a few problems with the lyrics and they stopped after "Person Man" and
restarted. I love live shows.
Violin: the Johns made the crowd do the wave during the "slide" section
in the middle.
Review by Kathleen:
Arrived at Stuyvesant Plaza a little after 9 and there was a mom of
a 6 year old waihere saving a spot for her kid and husband and there
was a really nice SUNY student who'd been there since 8:30...It was
quite cold but it was really exciting to be waiting it out with other
hardcore fans. I don't quite remember when people arrived but it was
awesome having people to talk to who love TMBG and they admired our
plushies.
A little before noon, a lady from The Book House had us move our
line around the other way. Then she disappeared. A couple minutes
later (I think) a silver Subaru pulls up and a guy in a red sweater
runs to the door and tries to open it. Now this upset me, this guy was
not only leaving his car running there, butting and stuff, but why
would we be waiting there if the door was open!?!? Silly *fan.* But
this thought ended quickly, when I saw my friend's face and realized
it was Linnell... He asked how to get in...and how long we'd been
there, I think. Well, I took it upon myself to say "3 hours." even if
he hadn't asked... The lady with the six year old explain to poor,
confused Linnell where he could get in from the back. Then he hopped
back in his silver Subaru... thing... it wasn't really an SUV...
Okay, blah blah blah, then we bought our books, got our free
tickets and hopped in line to get into the empty store next door where
They would be playing. This was a little after noon... So, they had
black plastic bags over the windows, but I found a crack and watched
them set up. But eventually the whole thing fell down there and it was
covered back up.
I put my ear next to the wall while They were doing their
soundcheck... but I really just heard... noise...
At 1, we were let in. It was nice to be in from the cold. (it was
*very* cold that day). We ran right up to the orange tape in the
middle and sat. We sat for 50 minutes and a sometime in there the tape
was taken down and we were told to not go past where it had been.
Then, the Book House lady came out and told us safety stuff—exits,
etc.
5 minutes later, out comes Flansy. He told us They'd be performing
soon and that the kids should sit up front and the adults should
stand. There goes our spots! But it was alright, they were tiny kids
and didn't make much of a difference. Just made things a little
crowded, but whatever, the spots were still *awesome.* I took a bunch
of pictures...
Lessee, first They had us clap (you know, a steady beat). Then
They played Particle Man with us clapping...that was fun.
Okay, second, I believe was Cyclops Rock...w00t! Good song...and
some crazy people went... um... crazier. I love TMBG fans.
Third... They taught us the wave (mostly to the kids, assuming the
adults knew). They sent it from the front to the back where the guy in
the leather was ("Are you standing on something or are you just really
tall?" —Flansy) They did a practice after explaining it and when
They played Violin. Linnell is so great, especially when he does
"Speck of dust"... I caught a picture of Them doing the wave.
Then...some other songs...Bed Bed Bed, Impossible, Stalk of Wheat,
Istanbul, Dr. Worm ("required by law", "right in the shadow of the
iron fist of New York State law", "here in Albany") and an encore of
Robot Parade
At some point there, when Flansy was doing announcements, some guy
raised his hand and ("even though this isn't the question and answer
period, yes?" —Linnell) asked if Gigantic DVDs will be made
available. Flansy said no, he doesn't think it's out yet and a couple
people yelled November 18th... silly Flansy... The room cleared out
and my friend's mom stole the cardboard sleeve from Linnell's coffee
cup and my friend and I split it in half.
We went to Starbucks until the line died down a bit, especially
since They'd asked that anyone with piles of stuff to get signed, go
last. Kids get impatient.
Then we met Them. My friend and I got our plushies signed. (I had
made little plush dolls of Them. I have the Linnell doll, she has
Flansburgh) I showed Linnell the doll and said "his hair's a little
messed up, but your's always is anyway." They signed the books.
Linnell asked me what my name is and I said "Kathleen." then he said
"How old are you or should I just put a question mark?" That seemed a
little odd, but I replied, "uh....fifteen." We took pictures. I got
his coffee sleeve signed. He kinda laughed when I told him I stole it
from the stage. They signed my Ana Ng record too. They said they
hadn't seen one of those in a long time, but I ordered it from their
store a couple months ago. And as I left, I said, by
accident—not to offend him or anything, not that he's easily
offended "It was made the year I was born." and Linnell responded with
"Oh, rub it in."
