They Might Be Giants, at long last, played the Bourbon Theatre on Sunday, delivering a thoroughly entertaining, impressively performed show that might just have been worth the three-year wait.
They Might Be Giants, at long last, played the Bourbon Theatre on Sunday, delivering a thoroughly entertaining, impressively performed show that might just have been worth the three-year wait.
Originally set for 2020, the first Lincoln appearance by TMBG in years, which sold out instantly, was postponed to 2021, then moved to May 2022 before coming off to a packed house Saturday night.
“Thank you for dealing with the Ticketmaster ticketing site and finding your tickets after three years,” guitarist John Flansburgh told the crowd late in the show, that, somewhat appropriately, celebrated the 30th anniversary of their platinum selling, career-making album “Flood,” three years late — it came out in 1990 bearing the hits "Birdhouse in Your Soul” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).”
And, on the extended version of the James Bond movie theme-like number, “Spy” they showed their control and the jazz elements on a Flansburgh, and Finnell directed final passage that made it one of the longest songs of the night – two minutes or so is the typical TMBG length.
That was obvious from the tongue-in-cheek first number, “Synopsis for Latecomers,” and Flansburgh’s introduction to the evening.
Telling the crowd that packed the Bourbon that they’d be playing two sets, and, therefore, opening for themselves, he instructed the audience to “treat us like every other opener — arms folded, a thousand-yard stare, no applause. Look at your watch. Maybe send some emails “
Recording it on video. Opening the second set, the video, reversed from its recording, played back, revealing the duo walking to the stage and leading the band through “Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love.”
Beyond the “Flood” songs, Sunday’s show was far from a “greatest hits” affair. There were a couple of songs that I had to wait until the chorus came around to remember the title, and — critic confession time — I don’t think I ever listened to “Book,” the band’s Grammy-nominated album from 2021. I will be now. The songs from it were excellent.