Shows/2026-05-15
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Setlist:
Set 1:
- Stompy Intro
- S-E-X-X-Y
- The Bells Are Ringing
- New York City
- Spiraling Shape
- XTC Vs. Adam Ant
- James K. Polk
- Pet Name
- Metal Detector
- How Can I Sing Like A Girl?
- Wu-Tang
- Hit The Ground
- Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
- Get Down
- Particle Man
Set 2:
- Terror Intro
- Don't Let's Start
- Damn Good Times
- Stuff Is Way
- Santa's Beard
- Older
- Cloisonné
- Doctor Worm
- Turn Around
- Dig My Grave
- Brontosaurus
- Spider
- Birdhouse In Your Soul
Encore 1:
Encore 2:
They Might Be Giants
Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA
May 15, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Fan Recaps and Comments:[edit]
Dedicated to Phil!!!!* My first tmbg concert!!! I was flipping out internally just walking in and being in the presence of the main squeeze accordion. My friend and I chatted and someone walked up to us and gave us zines!! I still have mine, It's awesome. The physical reaction I had watching Them walk out, larger than life, was intense. I was legit looking at my hands to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and thinking “this isn’t a youtube video. This is real,” imagine how much of a loser I am irl.
I honestly wanted a Factory Showroom show so this was great :]. During the usual glasses to beard ratio analysis Flansburgh pointed out an unexpected lack of glasses (and beards) and said, “Next thing you’re going to tell me you didn’t pass your SATs” which like, yeah. I still quote that today. Linnell gave us a story about getting to Philadelphia on the train. It was that somehow Linnell accidentally got on a different train leaving at the same time going to the same place from the rest of the backing band and got there on time while the rest of them were late (which the Dans disagreed with but Marty agreed). Running theory that he was just on a different train car and confused. I really was heartbroken when “How Can I Sing Like a Girl” was over. It had pink lights and JF moved to our side for the first time (audience's right side for Marty ofc.) it was beautiful and me and my friend turned to each other saying we wished it lasted longer. Wu-Tang made me think that if tmbg were that type of band that song would likely be a tribute to their fans you know? It made me pretty emotional. But haha, otherwise Linnell coughed during the song in the middle of a lyric but saved it! Flansburgh addressed it after saying he would have stopped entirely if he did that. There was a good amount of banter, @SusieTM on YouTube has some great recordings of even more banter. I honestly felt like it was worth not wearing earplugs but I wouldn’t advise that for everyone (I was also like 15 feet away from the stage). Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) was even better live with some silly commentary and fan interjections that I couldn’t hear all of but Hit the Ground was my favorite of TWITD.
- Dedication to Phil: before the break Flansburgh was advertising tickets still for sale for cheap at the box office for the Sunday show. For audience participation/pressure he asked who’d think they were convinced to buy more and one guy raised his hand. Start of second half Flansburgh checks in on how many tickets this one guy bought who shouts he bought 12! Which impressed JF so he then said that the show was dedicated to *asks for his name* Phil. So then everyone started chanting Phil which was awesome. I think Flans said something, seeming stunned by the worship of Phil until he really lost control of us toddlers when we chanted more, to which I look over to see the man of the hour spinning and doing the “make it rain” gesture.
Marty had the big drum sticks in the first song after the break!! He was just playing with them, the jokester, and immediately after my friend pointed it out he switched them mid song like we were crazy. Stuff Is Way was hilarious actually it was even better in person. During the second half Flansburgh was jumping and running around much more which was somehow still shocking to me, such a legend. The whole band was grooving honestly. The crowd was definitely more hype by the second half as well. After an exciting song (Doctor Worm or Dig My Grave??) they were obviously tired and someone who sounded to me (with terrible sound localization skills) like they were right behind us with a very projecting voice yelled “ADVIL” and Linnell responded but I don’t remember what he said (heartbreak) but he gestured towards the middle to where they could be. Marty’s drumming during She’s Actual Size omg. I just discovered Withered Hope was a banger that week so hearing it as a live encore felt like a reward. My brother asked me to record the intro of Istanbul and I just decided not to tell him how long they make it and sent him the whole five minutes without explanation. --Andthisisthethanksyouget (talk) 19:41, 26 September 2026 (EDT)