Shows/2026-05-27

21 wikians attended: BlueCanary, CapitalQ, Chriscost0318, Dave1dmarx, Dinnercereal, Flpydisk, Kalmenius, Kayakcup, L1teraturen3rd, Lucy, Lukehennisch, Mamazaf, Oliveirach, PetertheTMBGfan, Ramsobot, RealityMinus3 & Zeke Rat, Rosefox, Sapphirebullets, TDK, Wireless mike, Zafiredis

You must be logged in to mark yourself for being at this show.

Links:

• Full performance video
• Official audio (missing "Older")

• Setlists

Setlist:

• Older
• James K. Polk
• Interview
• 2082
• How Can I Sing Like A Girl?

They Might Be Giants
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York, NY
May 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Fan Recaps and Comments:

This show was a trio performance featuring Linnell on accordion, Flansburgh on acoustic guitar, and Marty Beller on the drums, as part of a Get Lit May Book Club event featuring author Tom Perrotta and WNYC's Alison Stewart, who also interviewed the Johns.

Lucy:

Stunning

Rosefox:

This was such a weird but wonderful show. No one could figure out how TMBG ended up as the musical guests for a chat with Tom Perrotta, but sure, okay! At least half the crowd was there for the band. The space was small and intimate, a little stage and a few hundred chairs. It was such a treat to be able to listen to John & John without earplugs in! I brought my mom, which I definitely couldn't do for a big show like the ones at Brooklyn Steel on the following nights, and she snoozed through the chat with Perrotta (sorry, Tom) but was entranced by the musical performance, especially the vocal harmonies. "Everything I like about Queen, but sweeter," she said, which is probably not a comparison often made but certainly should be taken as a compliment.

JF said they'd tried to match the songs to Perrotta's books — apparently they're familiar with his work? — which explains the peculiar selection. "James K. Polk" is insufficiently bombastic in the trio arrangement, but "Older" worked perfectly and got a laugh from the audience, as did the smothering line in "2082". And "How Can I Sing like a Girl?" was, gosh, just so special. After three quirky JL songs, no one was emotionally prepared for JF's sincerity, and it hit like a hammer. In the small, quiet space, we could hear all the pain and yearning. JF has put such work into developing his voice, and the difference between Factory Showroom and now is tangible. I was very moved.

John and John left rapidly after it was all done, but Marty stayed around to shake hands and was very nice about signing the copy of The World Is to Dig that I'd brought with a Sharpie just in case. He's such a mensch.

Now that TMBG are selling out big venues, chances to see them in small ones are rare. This felt like getting to glimpse them in their early days, but with all the skill they've amassed over forty years. A real treat.