Brooklyn-based alternative rock band They Might Be Giants will play two all-ages shows at The Community Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The once-upon-a-time adults-oriented band, famous for the hit single "Birdhouse in Your Soul," which pulsated through college dormitories in the early '90s, turned its talents toward the tiniest music lovers–children–in 2002 and found a fervent following.
Their song "Boss of Me," the theme from the television show Malcolm in the Middle, won the band its first Grammy award in 2001. TMBG's 13th album, the second in their "Here Come ..." series, Here Come the 123s also won a Grammy for "Best Musical Album for Children" in 2009.
They quickly followed up that success with Here Comes Science, a fun and funky musical exploration of everything from biology and chemistry to the periodic table and solar system.
Morristown Patch recently spoke with John Linnell, co-founder of TMBG, about among other things: how Here Comes Science came about, performing for kids compared to adult audiences, future projects and, most importantly, Sunday's show.
First, let me thank you. Without your Here Comes Science DVD there's no way I'd be able to prepare dinner. My children love it and it's as entertaining as it is educational. How did Here Comes Science Come about?
Well, we'd done more traditional children's DVDs. We started with the letters (Here Come the ABCs) and then the numbers (Here Come the 123s) and we were a little resistant because it was starting to seem a little predictable but our producer said it was a smart thing to do business-wise. If you have a series, it's easy for people to recognize. So when it came time to make the next one we thought, "Let's make it more interesting for ourselves."
Do you guys have a background in science?
No more so than anyone else or any more than what you'd learn in school. We had a lot of refreshing to do for ourselves.
Have you had any parents say you've inspired their child to become a paleontologist?
Not yet. The thing that is very exciting and gratifying is that we learned, and we wanted kids to learn, that science can be for everybody. You don't have to be an adult to be a scientist. It's really a philosophical approach to looking at the world.
How difficult is it to make the switch from adult audiences to performing for kids?
It is difficult! The music isn't all that different; the same spirit applies. We still have the same playfulness and exuberance. I think our fans feel that the music for grown-ups is also appropriate for kids because it has that fun quality, at least I think it does. So that part would make you think it would be the same but it's harder to play shows for kids. It's fun and it's satisfying, but adults sit up straighter and are interested. They want the performance to go well. They applaud in all the right places. Kids don't do that.
You have a son, are you a hero in his eyes or are you just Dad?
I think I'm Dad. He doesn't know the adult music but knows all the kids' music and he knows that certain other kids are impressed that he's related to me but I think I'm just a guy yelling at him to finish his homework.
Your sound is so unique and original, who are you listening to right now?
The horrible truth is I listen to podcasts when we're traveling. It's mostly podcasts. But I do have the soundtrack to "Urinetown" here. I listen to that with my son.
Speaking of podcasts, do you guys have any plans to make any new ones soon?
We have to get back on that horse. We did make some new videos with sock puppets and we'll have to get those up and running soon.
Out of your vast body of work, do you have a favorite song?
No favorite song. The thing about it all; being elder rockers, the most exciting thing is that we cycle so much material in and out of our shows that it's really a great pleasure to reacquaint ourselves with old friends. There'll be a song that we haven't played in so long it's like hearing it for the first time.
I heard you were working on an adult album to be released in 2011, can you tell me about that? Do you have a tentative title?
We've been very slowly writing and recording in a piecemeal way but it's coming together and we've got a lot of material. We don't have a title yet, but I'm open to suggestions.
My family and I went to your show in Montclair last year and loved it. In fact, we still have They Might Be Giants puffy fingers decorating our playroom. Do you have fun surprises in store for the audience on Sunday?
Yes, but if I told you then they wouldn't be surprises. (Laughs) Things just happen and there's a certain spontaneity to each show. We'll be playing songs from all three Disney projects. There's definitely new material--all appropriate for young kids. We like to play things for the adults, too.
After almost 30 years of working and playing with many of the same guys, where do you still find the enthusiasm and inspiration that is so evident in your performance?
It was never really clear in the first place where this was going to go. So it just seems lucky. We're still the same people. We haven't lost our way.