User:Robot Parade/Sandbox
Contents
Purpose[edit]
I've been wanting to do more research into the Opening Acts that don't have wiki pages, so this is a page where I'm just going to make a bunch of pseudo-wiki pages with the information I find. I might eventually make some of these actual wiki pages if they're notable enough to the "story" of They Might Be Giants, but we'll see.
The Jack Rubies[edit]
The Jack Rubies are a post-punk band from the United Kingdom that formed in East London in the mid 80s. The band maintains its original lineup after coming back from an over 30 year long hiatus in 2024, consisting of lead singer Ian Wright, guitarist SD Ineson, bassist Steve Brockway, drummer Peter Maxted, and percussionist Lawrence Giltnane.[1]
The band opened for They Might Be Giants on multiple occasions throughout April and May of 1990. Their opening performances for TMBG were generally well received. Ian Wright said of one of their concerts, "The first time we played New York, we opened up for They Might Be Giants and we played the Beacon Theatre and which was a fantastic venue. That was a pretty good one. That will always stick in my memory for sure."[2]
- Concerts Opened: 13
External Links[edit]
The Gravel Pit[edit]
The Gravel Pit are a power-pop band formed in Connecticut in 1995 by Jedediah Parish alongside guitarist Lucky Jackson, bassist Ed Valauskas, and drummer Pete Caldes. They're known for their distinct sound, particularly due to Parish's songwriting and organ playing.[3]
After moving to Boston soon after forming the band, they released their album The Gravel Pit Manifesto with Q Division Records and began touring with bands like Cheap Trick, Morphine, and They Might Be Giants. The band opened for TMBG on multiple occasions throughout 1997, and John Linnell even appeared on the song Get Tangled off their album Silver Gorilla. Additionally, the band is thanked in the linear notes of said album.
After the lack of success commercially among the band, the Gravel Pit started to pull back their touring, with the members sans-Parish forming the band The Gentlemen.[4] The band continues to tour and perform, releasing a studio album in 2014.[5]
- Concerts Opened: 11
External Links[edit]
The Balancing Act[edit]
The Balancing Act was a four-piece folk rock band from Los Angeles who toured with They Might Be Giants in December of 1988. The band originally formed in 1983 as a duo between guitarist and vocalist Jeff Davis and drummer Ken Straus. Eventually the band became the official lineup of Davis, bassist Steve Wagner, guitarist Willie Aron, and drummer Robert Blackmon, with Straus leaving the band in 1984. They were well regarded for their unique acoustic sound, with Andy Partridge of XTC stating they were "a really excellent American band."[6]
Their album Curtains was produced by the late Andy Gill of Gang of Four after attempts to get Partridge or Elvis Costello to produce the record.[7] After the release of the album the band eventually split up in 1989 after an "exhausting" supporting tour which includes their concerts with TMBG.[8]
The individual members of the Balancing Act would go on to have successful careers of their own. Willie Aron would go on to tour with Syd Straw and Victoria Williams and later became a Grammy-nominated children's music producer; (being nominated a year before TMBG won the same award in 2009)[9] Jeff Davis went on to form the band Niagara in 1996; and Steve Wagner later formed Stone Brewing Co. where he is now president.[10]
- Concerts Opened: 6
External Links[edit]
Les Chauds Lapins[edit]
Les Chauds Lapins, translated literally into English as "The Hot Rabbits," is a swing jazz band formed by the duo of woodwind player Kurt Hoffman and guitarist and singer Meg Reichardt. The name comes from a 30s-era French slang term for "hot to trot." The topics of the band's music range from "drunk couples emerging disheveled from the bushes, expats missing Paris during the Nazi occupation, and sex."[11] The band has opened for They Might Be Giants on a few occasions in 2007 and 2008.
Before the band formed, Hoffman was best known as the co-leader of The Ordinaires; a band that has backed TMBG in the past; while Reichardt was one-fourth of the band The Roulette Sisters. The band's backing members have included the likes of many acclaimed musicians such as viola player Karen Waltuch, cello player Clara Kennedy,[12] and TMBG collaborator Garo Yellin. Early in Les Chauds Lapins' history, the band received support from John Flansburgh through MySpace. Hoffman himself was a member of TMBG's backing band for some time, and also collaborated with artists such as Frank Black, Drink Me,[13] and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
- Concerts Opened: 3
External Links[edit]
Rustic Overtones[edit]
Rustic Overtones are a Maine-based jam band who opened for They Might Be Giants on 3 separate occasions from 1999 to 2001. John Flansburgh has been said to be a fan of the band.[14]
Formed in 1993 and fronted by Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Dave Gutter,[15] the band has drawn favorable comparisons to Dave Matthews Band.[16] They've been referred to as Maine's favorite rock band[17] and their album Light at the End was the fastest-selling local album ever.[18]
After a four year hiatus, the band "reformed" to perform at the ARME Boot Camp festival in Maine. The band continues on after the tragic loss of their trumpeter Dave Noyes.[19]
- Concerts Opened: 3
External Links[edit]
Animal X and the Amazons[edit]
Animal X and the Amazons were an all-girl group formed in the 80s by Animal X. While not much information is known about the group itself, there is information on Animal X on the world wide web.
Animal X started out with her band Xerox, which opened for the B-52s on the Mudd Club's opening night.[20] Animal X went on to run her own store front alongside her husband, providing party services and other fairy-related artworks and projects.[21] It is currently unknown if her business, DreamWeaver Productions, is still currently ongoing.
Animal X and the Amazons opened for They Might Be Giants for one show in 1986. Ironically enough, they were the only musical act other than TMBG performing, as the Aerodance Group were a dance studio and Stuart Sherman was a performance artist.
- Concerts Opened: 1
Arson Garden[edit]
Arson Garden was an art-rock band from Indiana that formed in 1987. The band was formed around singer April Combs, who was referred to as a "charismatic singer" with "wit and [a] distinctive voice." The band also featured James Combs, April's brother, who was the main songwriter and lead guitarist; Michael Mann, their rhythm guitarist; Clark Starr on bass and Joby Barnett as their "singular, inventive drummer." While the band released three albums, they only ever had modest success outside of sold-out shows, being featured on MTV's 120 Minutes[22] and played at Lollapalooza[23].
In 1994 after the release of their third album, financial struggles forced the band to part ways. While the individual members continue to have their own solo careers, the band has reunited a few times since the 90s[24] In 1987, the band opened for They Might Be Giants in their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana at the start of their career as a band. In addition to TMBG, they have also opened for Yo La Tengo and The Replacements.[25]
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
Buzz Zeemer[edit]
Buzz Zeemer is a power pop band from Philadelphia that was primarily active in the 90s. The band was formed by front man Frank Brown after the lack of success generated by his previous band, Flight of Mavis. Brown was joined by other former members of Flight of Mavis including bassist Dave McElroy, guitarist Tommy Conwell, and drummer Ken Buono. While the band eventually disbanded around 2007, they reunited in 2024 with the original lineup.[26]
While the band released two albums, Play Thing in 1996 followed by Delusions of Grandeur in 1997, they never had much commercial success outside of their local scene. In 2023 they released a compilation of tracks recorded from 1993 to 1997 that went unreleased, entitled Lost and Found.[27]
Buzz Zeemer opened once for They Might Be Giants in their hometown of Philadelphia. They have also opened for artists such as Sinéad O'Connor and Squeeze.[28]
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
Divine Weeks[edit]
Divine Weeks was an underground alternative rock band that formed in LA in the mid-to-late 80s. They have been regarded by the L.A. Times as one of the "best unsigned bands" in L.A.[29] Their early sound has been compared to the likes of U2, Pearl Jam, and R.E.M. They were acclaimed as possibly one of the next big bands at the time, but would later go on a hiatus after 1991.[30]
The band was originally comprised of lead singer Bill See, guitarist Raj Makwana, drummer Dave Smerdzinski, and bassist Steve Soto. (Unrelated to the late bassist of the Adolescents)[31] After years of inactivity the band reunited in 2016 to release their album Here's My Heart And Soul.[32] They then later released their final album in 2019 before calling it quits.[33]
In 1988 Divine Weeks opened for They Might Be Giants at a concert at Berkeley Square. In a review of the concert by Bill Wyman, the band's performance was referred to as "ferociously good." Bill See would later go one to publish a book, titled 33 Days: Touring In A Van, Sleeping On Floors, Chasing A Dream, recounting his stories from touring in the summer of '87. The book can be found here.
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
The Four One and Only's[edit]
The Four One and Only's were a Dutch band who describe themselves as "a weird kinda crossover wave garage beat psych punk anything."[34] The band's indie pop and post-punk influences have been the most referenced, with the band taking heavy inspiration from the likes of Jonathan Richman, Television Personalities, and Camper Van Beethoven.[35]
The band was formed by guys named Marthy, Marcel, Rob, Bart, and Felix, with only Rob having any background of musical performance. Their first album was released through their own label, "Noet Lachten," before being signed to Megadisc. After a lack of major label success, the band disbanded sometime around 1996.[36] However, the band is said to have achieved cult status due to their consistent release schedule and relentless touring.[37]
In 1990, the band opened for They Might Be Giants at one show in Amsterdam.
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
Kick Me[edit]
Kick Me was an alternative rock band formed by two former band members of the Jody Grind. They opened for They Might Be Giants on at least one occasion in 1992.
Kick Me was a part of the thriving rock scene of the Cabbagetown area of Atlanta. It consisted of Jody Grind members Bill Taft on guitar and Kelly Hogan on vocals, alongside drummer Allan Page of the Opal Foxx Quartet,[38] a group that Taft was also a part of. Taft and Hogan formed the band after two of their bandmates from Jody Grind passed away in a tragic car accident.[39]
Kick Me recorded one cassette titled Hidden Tracks before disbanding after Allan Page died of an overdose in 1994. Kelly Hogan re-recorded many of those tracks for her later solo work in 1996.[40]
- Concerts Opened: 1
Michael Maxwell[edit]
Michael Maxwell is an American musician and producer who opened for They Might Be Giants once at the Bowery Ballroom in 2000. Not much is written about him outside of his own personal website, but we know he released an album in 2000 which featured several "powerhouse" musicians including the late Robert Quine. In addition to opening for They Might Be Giants, Maxwell has also opened for Rustic Overtones and Agents of Good Roots.[41]
Maxwell's musical influences consist of artists like Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen, and Tommy James.[42] Currently, Maxwell is the creative director and owner of Pink Noise, Inc., a post audio house specializing in music for TV, film, and radio.[43]
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
- Pink Noise website (WARNING: Bright Colors)
- Official Website
Skeleton Key[edit]
Skeleton Key is a New York-based "junk-rock quartet" formed in 1994 by bassist Erik Sanko of the Lounge Lizards and vocalist and guitarist Chris Maxwell. They soon recruited drummer Steve Calhoon and percussionist Rick Lee, and would then "tour" with They Might Be Giants in 1995.[44] (However, they are only listed as the opener for one concert on TMBW).
The band released several albums throughout the nineties and going into the 2000s. While there was a successful crowdfunding campaign to release an album in 2012,[45] the band has been relatively inactive since then. Sanko remained the band's sole original member as the band "dissolved" in 1999.[46]
The individual band members themselves are notable for working with TMBG. While in the band, Steve Calhoon was also the drummer for John Flansburgh's Mono Puff; Erik Sanko's bass playing can be heard on a few They Might Be Giants and Mono Puff tracks; and Chris Maxwell went on to form the Elegant Too with Phil Hernandez, with the two both collaborating with TMBG on an individual and duo level.
- Concerts Opened: 1
External Links[edit]
Uncle Green[edit]
Uncle Green was an alternative rock band formed in New Jersey but primarily operated out of Atlanta, Georgia. The band consisted of lead singer Matt Brown, guitarist Jeff Jensen, bassist Bill Decker, drummer Pete McDade, and for a limited time Danny Giordano on tambourine and vocals.
Uncle Green formed while all of the band members were still in high school. After not achieving much commercial success with their initial output, the band reformed as 3 lb. Thrill and released one more album before going on a hiatus. The band reunited in the 2010s to release their back catalog and perform a few more shows.[47]
Uncle Green opened for They Might Be Giants at at least one show in 1988 while in Atlanta. While this is Uncle Green's only documented performance with They Might Be Giants, their Wikipedia page implies they may have opened for them on more occasions. However, it is unlikely they opened for the band outside of this show.
- Concerts Opened: 1