They Might be Giants Sell Out AF in KC

They Might be Giants performing at the Truman in Kansas City. Photo by Josh Chaikin

The wonderful thing about music is it is boundless in its appeal. On one end of the spectrum, you have Taylor Swift, further down the line, there are more mainstream rock bands, your Ghost, there are legacy acts like Motley Crue and Def Leppard still packing the stadiums. And sometimes you find yourself at a show where many people want to Make Istanbul Constantinople Again.

When They Might be Giants played at The Truman in Kansas City, the show wasn’t just sold out – it was sold out AF, as the signs on the door let us know. Formed in 1982 by childhood friends John Flansburgh and John Linnell, the duo quickly became known for their quirky, intellectual songwriting and DIY ethos, with a dash of satire; comparisons have been drawn to Tom Lehrer, and the comparison could not be more apt.

Originating in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the duo relocated to Brooklyn in 1981, where they began performing with unconventional instrumentation like accordion, saxophone, and drum machines, quickly becoming staples of New York’s underground art-rock scene.

With 24 albums to their name, the duo certainly has ample material to draw from and, from what I can gather from other setlists on the tour, every city was treated to a different selection of songs. A wonderful throwback to the days before the internet when every song was a surprise. In Kansas City, we were treated to their 1994 album John Henry.

There’s a strange energy at a They Might be Giants concert. The atmosphere and enthusiasm are electric and palpable, without having to worry about getting kicked in the head by a crowd surfer (though I’m sure they have a song about that). But also very much a community feel…though you may still need to give yourself a few minutes to make your way through the crowd to get to the merch table.

One thing is more than apparent though, the band loves their fans as much as the fans love them, and concerts become more like a gathering of friends than a performance. Now are they or aren’t they giants? I might need to see them again before I let you know.

Words and Photos by Josh Chaikin

Setlist:

Set 1: John Henry

Subliminal
Snail Shell
Out of Jail
Unrelated Thing
Meet James Ensor
The Famous Polka
Dirt Bike
No One Knows My Plan
Spy
The End of the Tour
Wu‐Tang
Hit the Ground
Get Down
Doctor Worm

Set 2:

Eyeball
Let Me Tell You About My Operation
Birdhouse in Your Soul
Brontosaurus
The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)
The Communists Have the Music
Moonbeam Rays
Man, It’s So Loud in Here
Fingertips
Till My Head Falls Off
Authenticity Trip
The Darlings of Lumberland
Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Encore:
Twisting
When Will You Die

Encore 2:
Particle Man