They Might Be Giants’ Deliver a Feast for the Senses at Union Transfer

December 6th, 2024 – A parade of people wrapped around the perimeter of Union Transfer, waiting to see They Might Be Giants for their second of two sold-out shows in Philly, as part of The Big Show Tour.

The New York natives have been creating music since 1982, and during this decades-long career, they’ve remained untethered to genre or audience. In fact, it was probably their decision to write albums for children that created the generations of listeners present today.

Written by Erin Hunter ( @erinehunter ) + Photos by Steve Cerf ( @SteveCerf )

I saw little girls bobbing next to 40-something dads with eyes closed and mouthing lyrics, high schoolers inching closer to the stage saying, “I want my ears to bleed,” and millennials dancing during every song.

Their classic ’90s sound offers catchy hooks and punchy drums that make it easy to dance, but an enigmatic brass section and the unconventional addition of an accordion give many of the songs an identifiable baroque and jazz edge.

During the show, their commitment to the surreal created a feast for the (musical) senses. In a meta rendition of “Sonically in Reverse,” the band played the song backward onstage, then played a recording of this version in reverse so that it would sound like the original version.
The inspiration? The singer quipped, “Sometimes it feels like we’ve been taken over by the forces of Satin.” Perhaps most importantly, the band is all about fun to be honest, any band who writes a children’s album has the youthful energy we wish we could bottle.

Take co-founding member John Flansburgh, who marches on stage with a stick (or staff?) that prompts people in the crowd to chant, “Stick, stick, stick!” The fun takes the form of blunt sarcasm, which is apparent in song titles like “Science Is Real” and “Dead,” as well as in banter with excited fans.

The fans’ commitment resulted in TMBG coming back for not one but two encores, rounding out the show with fan favorites, including “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” and “Build a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul.”

People love TMBG because they don’t take life—or music—too seriously. Meaningful messages can be pulled from funny lyrics, and individualism is something to be celebrated.

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