Please Pass the Milk, Please

Today, I got to see They Might Be Giants live! Twice! For free! I'm not a huge They Might Be Giants fan, but I find all of their songs very, very enjoyable, and I know all the words to "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," thanks to watching Tiny Toon Adventures in my youth. (This also earned me some cred in my 9th grade World History class.)

They played two sets: an early afternoon Kid show, and a mid-evening Adult show. Needless to say, the only real difference between the sets was a) a reference to drinking in the Adult show and b) confetti in the Kid show. And no, the confetti was not the reason I enjoyed the Kid show more.

In the early show, they played all my favorite songs: "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," "Particle Man," "Doctor Worm," "Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go To Work)," "Bed Bed Bed" and "I Am Not Your Broom." The only way it could have been "my" perfect set was if they played "Birdhouse In Your Soul" (which they played it in the Adult set, so in the end, happy!). Plus, the Kid show was littered with children that DIDN'T ANNOY ME. This is astounding guys. I have zero tolerance for annoying, crying children and/or babies. And there was no crying. No one covering their ears screaming from the loud music. Just babies chilling, and little kids rocking out. It was amazing. With babies clapping their little pudgy hands together while on their parents shoulders, to toddlers in baseball caps rocking out against the barricade, they all totally gave me hope for the future. (Especially this kid.)

The Johns have a good stage presence. Flansburgh does most of the chit-chatting and interacting with the audience (although I think I caught Linnell giving me the eyes once) and every song is a potential sing-a-long. From my experience, a TMBG show is a good time all around.