You might say They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giant has seen growth that has been, well, giant.
The KMSU-FM radio phenomenon that started with a $100 day sponsor and the casual edict, “Play some They Might Be Giants,” has become one of the band’s biggest gatherings of fans. All in little Mankato, Minn.
Four years ago it ran for a few hours and pulled in a few requests.
Tom Royer and Chantill Kahler-Royer are the KMSU supporters that initiated the They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants event at KMSU.
Today, it’s an all out assault to get requests from all 50 states (which they’ve done the last two years) and all the continents (if you know anyone in Antarctica who loves the band, direct them to KMSU Friday for the all-day marathon of They Might Be Giants songs.)
Who are They Might Be Giants?
It’s a fair question. They’re not exactly commercial radio staples. In fact, unless you’re listening to KMSU’s Shuffle Function program, you’re not likely to find them anywhere on the radio dial.
But back in the day, they were college radio darlings. They were a clever and quirky band during a time when college radio mattered and people actually purchased albums. Albums with multiple songs. Ninety-nine cent digital purchases weren’t a thing yet.
TMBG is made up of John Flansburgh and John Linnell. Together they ...
Oh, heck, let’s run the same “primer” we ran a couple of years ago. Worked just fine back then:
This is known as the They Might Be Giants Manifesto. It was read on the air the first year they did They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants.
• Formed in the early 1980s in Massachusetts.
• If the band’s name sounds familiar to you, it’s from a 1971 film starring George C. Scott called “They Might Be Giants,” which, according to Wikipedia, was inspired by a scene in “Don Quixote,” the one where he mistakes windmills for giants.
• 1986 brought us their first hit, “Don’t Let’s Start.” Their second hit, “Ana Ng,” came a year later. (Music geeks take note: We realize our use of the word “hits” is an affront to everything you believe in, but bear with us as we abide by safe, mainstream media constructs for this report.)
• But the thing you really need to know about They Might be Giants — if you’re unfamiliar with their work entirely — is that these gentleman (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) are goofy, and their music reflects that. It’s catchy, fun, poppy and often sonically odd (yet pleasing) in a way that has truly separated them from, really, just about everyone else.
None of this TMBG business would be happening at all without the initial nudge from Tom Royer. A fan of the band since the early 1990s, and megafan/volunteer at KMSU, it was Royer who made that subtle TMBG suggestion to accompany his $100 pledge, a pledge that earned him the right to be a “day sponsor.”
He says he was a fan ever since he heard TMBG’s album “Flood.” That album contains some of the band’s most popular tunes, including “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).”
Year two of They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants saw it grow substantially. Flansburgh called in on the air. Twice. And they extended the programming’s length.
Throughout the show’s three years, they’ve taken requests from across the country and marked them all with pins on a map of the world. Royer and his wife Chantill are usually there for some of it. Royer handles social media while Chantill helps keep track of requests.
Shelley Pierce, one of the personalities behind Shuffle Function, said TMBG are a great fit for KMSU.
“They Might Be Giants has long been one of my favorite bands, so having the opportunity to talk with them has been a music geek/fan girl dream come true,” she said. “The Johns are also so interesting to talk with, and so funny! This year we are once again hoping to get all 50 States (we have already heard from 30 States through early requests!) and all & continents! If you know anyone in Antarctica, please let them know!”
She says having volunteers and dedicated supporters such as Tom and Chantill makes this kind of programming very rewarding. It has a grassroots vibe that is very much what public radio is about.
“Tom and Chantil have been the day sponsors for this great day from the get go four years ago,” she said. “Last year Tom joined us for the entire day, and Chantill joined us for a few hours too. It gets so crazy with the requests coming in that Tim and I need all the help we can get.”