(no subject)
Last weekend was They Might Be Giants' "3rd Annual Audience Appreciation Show" on Saturday AND Sunday at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and Sean and I went to both!!! The drive over and back was about two hours each way, and we didn't stay overnight so each day was like a mini roadtrip. The shows were SO MUCH FUN. Not that I'd expect any less, but I seriously feel SO stupidly happy at TMBG shows and I'm thankful that I was able to do two nights in a row. The venue was small and really strange. . .a random restaurant type area literally in the center of the casino. (It's called "The Wolf's Den" and the Johns treated us to numerous howls to make fun of it. After one of Linnell's howls he said, "Caribou!" Silly Linnell is the greatest thing in the world!)
We got there in the early afternoon and made some new friends with a few of the other folks at the very front of the line, who were ALSO back on Sunday! That was pretty cool. For the most part, other TMBG fans are good folks.
The first night, our seats were at one of the front tables directly under Linnell's keyboard!! I didn't even have to stand up because the view was glorious. The only thing you have to keep in mind about being that close to John Linnell, though, is that sometimes he might look right at you, like for example when you're singing along to "Upside Down Frown," and the magic of that moment is almost too much to handle. (Just, FYI, in case you were not already aware of this phenomenon.)
The second night we were at one of the front tables again but I had promised the other fans from the day before that I would stand up with them this time, and I was really in the mood to stand anyway, so I ended up against the stage near Linnell again but also with a most enjoyable proximity to one Mr. John Flansburgh. Both shows were amazing and they played a bunch of songs that I've really been wanting to hear live but hadn't yet, (like "I Palindrome I" and "Till My Head Falls Off" and "How Can I Sing Like A Girl?" and "Mr. Me!" And holy shit, you haven't lived until you've been mere feet away from the accordion during "The Statue Got Me High!" I AM NOT EXAGGERATING.)
So, the first night was a "Factory Showroom" themed set:
And the second night was devoted mainly to "Apollo 18:"
The important thing to note about that second setlist is, well first of all, it's specifically John Flansburgh's! ALSO, do you see that silver circle around the last song? Do you know what that is? JOHN FLANSBURGH'S FUCKING GUITAR STRING!!! He broke a bunch of them in a most rockin' fashion during the crazy horn-blasting second encore finale, and Sean was kind enough to get his hands on one and pass it along to me! I kept holding onto it after the show like a giant dork for fear that it would disappear and I wouldn't have it anymore. Oh man, I was PSYCHED! I'm sticking that setlist and the string in a frame and hanging that shit up. I don't even care how silly it makes me look. I'm not too good at obtaining things like setlists and highly sought after guitar strings, because I'm easily overlooked and softspoken. Luckily I have an awesome friend who's nice enough to share the magic. :)
Sooooo, last weekend was wonderful, and I once again realized that nothing in life makes me as happy as I am in the presence of TMBG. It's about two solid hours of smiling and laughing and jumping around and loving everything. I really wish I had known this a long time ago, but I'm glad to have this band in my life right now, and I'm making up for lost time. I currently have a ticket to see them again once in September and twice in October. (Two nights in a row again!)
Love, love love, love
We got there in the early afternoon and made some new friends with a few of the other folks at the very front of the line, who were ALSO back on Sunday! That was pretty cool. For the most part, other TMBG fans are good folks.
The first night, our seats were at one of the front tables directly under Linnell's keyboard!! I didn't even have to stand up because the view was glorious. The only thing you have to keep in mind about being that close to John Linnell, though, is that sometimes he might look right at you, like for example when you're singing along to "Upside Down Frown," and the magic of that moment is almost too much to handle. (Just, FYI, in case you were not already aware of this phenomenon.)
The second night we were at one of the front tables again but I had promised the other fans from the day before that I would stand up with them this time, and I was really in the mood to stand anyway, so I ended up against the stage near Linnell again but also with a most enjoyable proximity to one Mr. John Flansburgh. Both shows were amazing and they played a bunch of songs that I've really been wanting to hear live but hadn't yet, (like "I Palindrome I" and "Till My Head Falls Off" and "How Can I Sing Like A Girl?" and "Mr. Me!" And holy shit, you haven't lived until you've been mere feet away from the accordion during "The Statue Got Me High!" I AM NOT EXAGGERATING.)
So, the first night was a "Factory Showroom" themed set:
And the second night was devoted mainly to "Apollo 18:"
The important thing to note about that second setlist is, well first of all, it's specifically John Flansburgh's! ALSO, do you see that silver circle around the last song? Do you know what that is? JOHN FLANSBURGH'S FUCKING GUITAR STRING!!! He broke a bunch of them in a most rockin' fashion during the crazy horn-blasting second encore finale, and Sean was kind enough to get his hands on one and pass it along to me! I kept holding onto it after the show like a giant dork for fear that it would disappear and I wouldn't have it anymore. Oh man, I was PSYCHED! I'm sticking that setlist and the string in a frame and hanging that shit up. I don't even care how silly it makes me look. I'm not too good at obtaining things like setlists and highly sought after guitar strings, because I'm easily overlooked and softspoken. Luckily I have an awesome friend who's nice enough to share the magic. :)
Sooooo, last weekend was wonderful, and I once again realized that nothing in life makes me as happy as I am in the presence of TMBG. It's about two solid hours of smiling and laughing and jumping around and loving everything. I really wish I had known this a long time ago, but I'm glad to have this band in my life right now, and I'm making up for lost time. I currently have a ticket to see them again once in September and twice in October. (Two nights in a row again!)
Love, love love, love