Gigantic Fun

A night with they might be giants

Ashley Sudeta

It was finally baby’s first They Might Be Giants show! In this case, the baby is me. In a fandom where people follow the band from city to city, seeing hundreds of shows, your first show is kind of a big deal. It’s like a baptism, just with more guitars. After being a fan for three years, I was finally in the Twin Cities at the same time as TMBG.

When my friend Greta and I entered First Avenue, we weren’t surprised most of the crowd was in their 50s. After seeing Neko Case last year, the two of us have made a habit of going to concerts that cater primarily to a middle-aged crowd. Despite this, I wouldn’t say age determined the vibe of the show. Instead, there was a feeling of familiarity and comfort from knowing I was surrounded by people who were likely obsessed with the same thing as me. While I usually get anxious in crowds and public spaces, I didn’t feel like I had to put all my effort into attempting to shrink myself and blend in.

Although most people stood still, nursing a drink while they sang along, they gave Greta and I room to dance through both sets. The first set featured songs from their album “Factory Showroom” and the second was made of a variety of their best live songs. They structure their shows like this so they can play multiple nights in each city, featuring different albums to avoid repetition. Both sets were fantastic, but the second might’ve had more energy. I literally screamed when John Linnell brought his accordion out to play Doctor Worm. It was one of those moments where you can feel a bucket list item being checked off.

They Might Be Giants might not be a ridiculously cool and famous band, but I’m just the type of person to know every single one of their songs. Seeing them live reminded me how important it is to chase the things you love, share them with those closest to you, and dance like nobody’s watching.