Shows/2025-02-27

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 2016, first performance of "Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes" since 2019, 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.