Monday, February 22, 2010
Mary Ginoza
Circulation Editor
“We’re here bringing high-velocity screaming and shouting children’s songs to adults,” quipped They Might Be Giants lead singer John Linnell, as he spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at the live performance at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Nov. 14.
The Guggenheim Grotto, an Irish pop/folk group comprised of Mick Lynch and Kevin May, opened the show. This band’s songs featured sparse instrumental and clean vocals from Lynch and May. Most memorable was Lynch’s unusual use of a ukulele on the set’s first and last songs, “The Universe is Laughing” and “What is This Feeling in my Heart Today?”
The show then proceeded to the main feature: They Might be Giants, an unique alternative rock group founded in the early ‘80s by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. In addition to its regular songs, the band has also produced many children’s albums which carry on that sense of childish silliness and energy.
They Might Be Giants began the concert with the semi-educational and extremely entertaining “Meet the Elements,” from their recent children’s album “Here Comes Science.”
After a few other selections, They Might Be Giants then moved on to the main part of the concert, a rare performance of their popular “Flood” album in it’s entirety. “Flood” is characterized by silly vocals, upbeat and energetic songs, and quirky lyrics.
Highlights included the cult-classic “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” a song about a nightlight, “Istanbul (not Constantinople),” the seemingly random yet entertaining “Particle Man,” and the eponymous “They Might be Giants.”
In one of the funniest moments of the show, the stage lights were darkened and the band was replaced by “The Avatars of They,” a pair of fuzzy, colorful sock puppets held by They Might Be Giants’ two Johns.
The sock-puppets performed two songs: “What is a Shooting Star?” from the album “Here Comes Science,” and “Shoehorn with Teeth,” from the album “Lincoln,” before the puppets vanished and the band returned to the stage.
In addition to “Flood,” They Might Be Giants also performed a scattering of songs from other albums, including “Damn Good Times” from their album “Spine” and “Don’t Let’s Start” from the album “They Might be Giants.”
They Might Be Giants performed an excellent concert with their usual wacky flair, and the return of their best hits from “Flood” and other albums was a treat for nostalgic fans and new converts alike.
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