by Marc Fong
On night three of their sold-out Fillmore run, They Might Be Giants turned back the clock—sort of. The band dedicated the first half of the show to their 1992 album Apollo 18. Playing select tracks to the crowd’s delight, the band took us on a quirky journey.
From the bouncy depth of “I Palidrome I” to the chaotic burst of “Fingertips,” Apollo 18 was a reminder of how joyfully strange the band’s peak experimental era was. “The Statue Got Me High” and “Turn Around” hit harder live, thanks to a tight six-piece band and a brass section that added bite to the weirdness. The first set closed with The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight); a perfect end to an Apollo 18 showcase!
The second set was kicked off with an amazing rendition of Istanbul (Not Constantinople) which began with an extended intro played on an acoustic guitar. The band pulled from across their deep catalog, mixing hits like “Birdhouse in Your Soul” with fan favorites and deep cuts. Flansburgh’s deadpan banter kept the mood light, while Linnell’s offbeat delivery anchored the night’s gleeful oddity. And the room exploded when, during the encore, “Particle Man” was played!
They Might Be Giants didn’t just play the past—they made it feel freshly bizarre all over again.
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