Shows/2025-02-27

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Set 2:

Encore 1:

Encore 2:

They Might Be Giants
Beacham Theater in Orlando, FL
February 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM


Fan Recaps and Comments:

This show marked the first performance of "You Probably Get That A Lot" since 2012, first performance of "I'm Impressed" since 2015, first performance of "We Live In A Dump" since 2022, and first performance of "Wearing A Raincoat" since 2020. It also marked the live debut of "Stuff Is Way."

MisterMe:

Orlando show #5 for me. It would be difficult to overstate how positively joyous this whole show was. In recent years, I've been going to shows by artists/bands I'm less familiar with, to broaden my horizons and keep my concert experience up. That means I know only a handful of their songs, and certainly not all the lyrics. But last night, I belted out nearly every word to every song, knew all the drum fills, and reveled in the banter (which not all bands do!). It continues to amaze me how great a show these guys put on.
I got to hang out with a bunch of fellow Wikians too. It was nice to see CapitalQ and Mike Buffington again, but also nice to meet Badqueso as well.
Anyway, I took notes on my phone while the show was happening, so I could remember all the witty banter. Please enjoy.
  • Seeing Linnell come out and, right away, pick up the accordion, was a blessed feeling. Then he launched into the opening notes of "Subliminal", and I was whisked away to heaven.
  • As promised in their e-mails in advance of the show, Flans came right out with references to MC Mens Closet (2023 pic here for context), "Orlando's premiere white rapper".
  • Flans explained the show would have a "progressive set" featuring songs from their "smash hit album John Henry"--of course, I was over the moon, as that's one of my top 5 Giants albums, but his tongue-in-cheek description reminded me that it wasn't necessarily received that way back in the day. Later on, he referred to it as the "not controversial" album. Ha.
  • Orlando was described as having a high "beards vs. glasses" ratio. I fit the former, but not the latter. Flans also said we had the highest SAT scores. Mine were pretty good, I have to admit. ;-)
  • A few songs later, they joked about how they'd been off the road for awhile, and they were like a new band coming on stage...but they'd be jaded by the 6th song.
  • The band trashed the Grammy Awards, then said they could say that because everyone had stopped recording after the end of the previous song. Flans joked that nobody respects the Grammys...until they're nominated for one.
  • In advance of "No One Knows My Plan", Flans recalled playing the song at a show in Tulsa (this one, as far as I can tell) where a drunk lady spun around with a beer in her hand, causing everyone around her to turn into instant bouncers. Then he said something like, "Who else would be coming out to a They Might Be Giants show in the middle of the week other than drunk, degenerate people?" which got a raucous response from this mid-week crowd.
  • The technology wasn't perfect at this show, and at one point, Flans said, "Welcome to our rehearsal, everybody!"
  • "Spy" was its usual zany self, but one new element they introduced during the extended outro was a segment where Flans went "1-877-" and then everybody went "WAAAAAAAH!" Pretty funny.
  • Once they finished the John Henry segment, Flans said "This is only the beginning of the downward spiral!" and that it would be nothing but Tom Petty covers from there on out. Marty then instantly whipped up the opening drum fill of "Breakdown". Flans then remarked that it had been a long time since they played the next song ("You Probably Get That a Lot"), which then caused him to go on an extended discussion of Paul Stanley of Kiss saying that exact thing at every show. He stopped just short of bringing up "P.S.O.K." Interestingly, Linnell sang YPGTAL solo--Flans didn't sing the chanting backup like in the studio version.
  • The horn guys were, as usual, top-notch. I loved how they danced along to the songs when they weren't playing, especially during "Dr. Worm". Clearly, they are having fun up there.
  • I liked how Flans twirled The Stick around in his hand during the line "Don't twist, it ain't twistin' time". It's the little things, folks.
  • During "Darlings", Flans changed one of the lines: "A little melody from John Linnell (JL did an accordion flourish) / Hold my cold dead hand for a spell".
  • In his explanation of "stelluB", Flans made a point of carefully spelling out the term "aurally" to avoid any...confusion.
  • The second half of the show had far less banter in it, but the sheer amount of quality performances, and songs they either hadn't played before or hadn't played in a while, more than made up for it. The red, white, and blue lighting during "I'm Impressed" left no doubt in my mind that they brought this back to reflect the current era of uncertainty under Trump 2.0. Notably, there was very little political talk, aside from Flans saying he couldn't read the paper anymore, or something like that. Ugh.
  • Linnell said he did a walk around Lake Eola ("a lake with a fountain", which got a huge cheer from the crowd). They also brought out a school bell for "Shoehorn", which was funny.

Hazzenkockle:

If John F. is going to keep making a point to rag on Emcee Mens Closet, I'll keep finding my way to the Orlando shows. I also caught him ripping the strings off his bass at the end of "Istanbul," which is definitely one way to make clear it's the last encore.

33rdFootstep:

First show I've been to for the band!
  • really enjoyed Flans' story before "No One Knows my Plan" about the lady with the drink spinning in the crowd, and then later on during the number replicating the move himself for a few rotations...
  • After Shoehorn, Marty threw the stick he was using for the bell into the crowd.
  • It was great seeing the band react to the mess-up/false start of "You Probably Get That a Lot"

Cheeztherecko:

"We haven't done this one in a looong time."
This show was just amazing. My first TMBG show at that! Getting to meet CapitalQ was nice. Thanks again for the sticker!
  • Getting to see my favorite band live with just an unforgettable experience and I loved every second of it. I did freak out when they played Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes (because it's my favorite song).
  • Adding to that, seeing them live debut Stuff Is Way was fun. I didn't really like the song much until then.

Taz Diablo:

This was my very first TMBG show, and my very first concert in general. It has been a year since this experience, but not a day goes by that I don't think of it.

The day was February 27th, 2025. I was patiently awaiting my mom to pick me up late from school. I had been anticipating this show all through the month of February and it was finally here. We had been hoping to reach the upcoming JoCo Cruise show, since it was fairly close to my March birthday (Same day as the release of Nanobots, actually! I turned 2 when this album came out :3) and because we thought it was generic concert at a common venue. Not a cruise. When we found this out, I was devastated, until we discovered the Orlando show. And my hopes were way, way, up.

I sat through a long, boring half day of middle school, as my mom was picking me up early to take me to show on time. I sat through one 90-minute class, then another, and I finally made it to my second-to last period when the phone to the office started ringing. Teacher: "Hello?...Who? Yes. They're on their way. Taz, Mrs. Secretary can't pronounce your name. You're going home." And just like that, I was out the door, in the car, and on my way to Orlando. Surely it would be smooth sailing from here, right?

So, we had some minor setbacks. Or really, one major setback. For those who don't know, traffic routes to Orlando are horrible. Everyone wants to make it to the theme park district, hence the flood (no pun intended) of cars coming through. It creates a huge roadblock, meaning we were sitting there, waiting, for a long, long time. Plus, there was a car accident up ahead! Hooray...

Thankfully, we made it on time. We decided to spend the night in a hotel instead of driving back home. As we arrived at our destination, we passed the theater in the car. I spotted the name of the band spelled out on the marquee, thrilled that I could see one of my favorite bands displayed upon it, and a small line forming at the front. We had time to kill before the show started, so we checked into our room and rested for a while.

We walked to the venue, and I observed the line at the front. It didn't appear to be too long. But as I looked, it got longer, and longer, and longer, until we realized the audience stretched around the building. We took our spots, and it took us about 15 minutes to get in. As we walked in, the bouncers checked our tickets, and I was anxiously making my way into the venue. My mom had explained to me in the car that The Beacham was a very old, very big theater. So I was expecting a quaint, rustic, yet cozy atmosphere similar to that of Washington's Fords Theater. I was shocked to see a vast stage with the band's equipment, (three? I think) bars in the venue, and light shows as far as the eye could see. As I gased at scene around ne, taking in it gloey, all I could think was: "I'm sorry, this is a whole-ass NIGHTCLUB??? And WHY didn't you tell me!?!?" We filed into the merchline (because I was hoping to get a shirt, which i did) and there was a duo standing behind us (whom I assume was a father and their child.) The man had a Calvin and Hobbes patch on his shirt, and the kid had recognized my Lemon Demon hoodie and earrings. (BTW if that was you I just wanted to say that you're really cool and thank you :3)

As we were waiting in the line, I continued to anxiously glance at the stage, wondering when the band would come on. My mom had told me that you'll hear them before you see them. Right as we left the line, I heard the Orff Intro echo through the venue, a screech like microphone feedback, and the raucous cheer of the crowd and we rushed to find a space to watch.

The show had begun.

They kicked straight into the first notes of Subliminal, and I was agape with awe. I didn't expect the opener to be something I knew.

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