Shows/2026-05-28

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Setlist:

Set 1:

Set 2:

Encore 1:

Encore 2:

They Might Be Giants
Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn, NY
May 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM


Fan Recaps and Comments[edit]

This show marked the first performance of "See The Constellation" since 2018.

Rosefox:

I kept thinking "Holy Mother of Horns!" I've seen some good TMBG shows and some great TMBG shows, but I think this was the best since that legendary Bowery Ballroom set, maybe the best ever. Very early, Flansburgh said something like, "We're only two songs in and this is already the best show of my life." I'm sure it was hyperbole, but even then we could tell we were in for something special.
The band was so tight! JL set a shockingly fast pace for "Dinner Bell" and then made it look easy. And the crowd energy was crackling — I've really never felt anything like what was happening on the floor during "The Guitar." It was almost a relief to have the false start on "Authenticity Trip" and a vague sense of the band being slightly out of sync for "Doctor Worm" to bring us down to earth and remind us that these guys aren't superhuman, they're just very, very good. But the second set took us right back up to the stratosphere! Dan Miller's acoustic intro to "Istanbul" was outstanding even by his very high standards. Putting "Ana Ng" and "New York City" back to back was inspired, all that yearning and then all that hope and promise. By the time JL made a little guitar-strumming motion and JF said "Oh, you want to do that one? Okay," we were all so high on the show that it just felt natural and reasonable for them to pull out "See the Constellation" and rock it like they hadn't taken it out of rotation for nearly a decade.
When they left after the second set, the fans were chanting ONE MORE SONG. Then those of us who've been to a few shows and know how they do encores started up with THREE MORE SONGS. And they gave us five. The horns were laser-precise on "Get Down," just stupendous. I was trying to sing along and couldn't because the music pinned me in place and all I could do was experience it. I was actually crying by the end of "Withered Hope," which I love so, so much. How is there so much raw emotion in such a nonsense song? It can't be explained, only experienced.
The improv on "Spy" was fun and silly, the tension ebbed a little... and then Flansburgh leaned in and sang "The token back to Brooklyn fell between the grating" and we all very quietly lost our minds. I got weepy again listening to people singing along in a reverent whisper. If you know that song and you know it well enough to sing it, you're a particular kind of fan to whom that moment means the world. What a gift. What a blessing.
How the fuck are they going to follow this for two more nights?

SeaIntoTheLandem:

I'm a bit late with this recap, but I'd be doing this show a disservice if I never wrote one. For some context, my trip to NYC to see these 3 shows in Brooklyn was my first time truly traveling solo. I drove 7 hours to New Jersey then took the train into the city, not without subway navigation troubles. All that to say, I was nearly nauseous with anticipation when I woke up on the 28th. I got to the venue a few hours early and mingled with my fellow fans... and it must be mentioned that some douche had hired a "Line Dude" to hold a spot at the very front of the line, and had apparently been there since SIX IN THE MORNING. He had a little tent and everything. When the "Line Dude"'s customer finally arrived to claim his spot, he got totally chewed out by a brave fan and- I mean this with complete sincerity- everybody clapped.
Aaaanyways, the show. A part of me was slightly disappointed when it was announced the show would be for Apollo 18, because I was really hoping for Factory Showroom. My disappointment completely disappeared when Flans announced that the next night would be Factory Showroom. And, anyways, this setlist ended up being STAAAAACKED. See The Constellation is one of my favorite, if not my number one favorite, song from Apollo 18. I had just assumed it was one of those songs that doesn't really get played live because there are other more standout tracks from the album... until I heard from someone that not only Constellation was being rehearsed during soundcheck, but it also had not been played in EIGHT YEARS. I nearly cried when they played it. It was amazing.
One thing you must know about me is that I LOVE AUTHENTICITY TRIP. It was the number 1 song I was hoping to hear live since the Cleveland shows last November. Another thing you must know is that the only shoes I brought on this 4 day trip were a pair of Docs I had not fully broken in. I had been walking around the city earlier in the day, so my feet were in pain before I even got into the venue. But then. Near the end of the first set. The band started playing that elusive song. It took me a second to realize what that song was, but when I did, I screamed a little. For the 2 and a half-ish duration of Authenticity Trip, all pain seemed to leave my body, and I am hardly exaggerating. Adrenaline, perhaps? It was definitely a highlight for me.
So uh, Oh My God This Was The Greatest Set Of TMBG Encore Songs I Have Ever Seen. Aside from AuthTrip, the other number 1 song I wanted to hear live was Get Down. I knew from the very first moment I heard it on the album that it would be a crime to NOT play it live. And I was right. I can already tell that Get Down is going to be a live staple for the next 10 years, and it is TOTALLY gonna be on the next live album. If I were more of a cynic I would say that Get Down only exists to be a live horns song because it really does feel that way. But like, in a good way. It is so perfect for the Tricerachops and the energy they bring to the show. I was already blown away, and then they decided to hit us with WITHERED HOPE. Of all songs to be a ENCORE! When they came out for encore number 2, I figured they'd just play Birdhouse then say "thanks for coming". But nope! SPY TIME! Not only that, but Flans snuck in Token Back To Brooklyn, and afterwards I learned that that was THE THIRD TIME THAT SONG HAD EVER BEEN PLAYED LIVE. We got our Birdhouse afterwards, and even though we've all heard that song twenty thousand million times, it never disappoints live.
I left that venue absolutely shocked that I had just witnessed such an incredible show. My feet hurt like hell and I was super hungry, but it was all worth it. And that was only night 1.
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