I Might Also Be Giants
As many have pointed out to me (often concluding with the phrase “Noooooooooo!”), my show in Chicago on the 10th is competing directly with a They Might Be Giants show at the Vic Theater. Also it is a Flood show, which is the worst possible thing it could be vis a vis making it a difficult decision for those of you who are fans of both of us. Flood is the record that made my head explode way back when, they are a huge influence on me, and I wish I could go see this show. I believe there are still tickets available. It’s Flood people, seriously.
But as I was pondering this cruel turn of fate, it came to me: I should also do a Flood show. Unbelievably, at least a few people have bought tickets to see my little show at Park West (tickets also still available, ha ha, just saying), so apparently I have to do some kind of performance. I’ve strategized with Paul and Storm about it, and we’ve decided that by stealing a little time from each of our sets (and by learning to “play our instruments”), we can probably make it happen. Many of you have heard our fantastic cover of “Birdhouse in Your Soul” so really we just have to do that 18 more times. And it still leaves plenty of time for us to do our own stuff, so those of you who bought tickets to our show because you hate They Might Be Giants will still be entertained.
THERE WILL BE NO ACCORDION.
If you live in Ann Arbor and are coming to see us at the Ark on the 8th, the answer is no, we will absolutely not be ready to do the same thing for you. But maybe we can sneak in a song or two if we’re feeling frisky. Turns out tickets there? Also still available…
October 1st, 2009 at 3:07 pm
This is pure genius. If only i was in chicago.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm
This is the coolest thing I have ever heard.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
2 sad things about this (very, very) happy thing:
1) I don’t live anywhere near Chicago
2) THERE WILL BE NO ACCORDION
Truly, it is genius, though. Everyone go have fun!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:16 pm
If only humans were evolved enough so that this performance might be purchasable. Alas, copyright being what it is…
Actually, you should talk to them (and/or the Deranged Millionaire) and see if you can work something out. I know that TMBG has an unusual amount of control over the digital versions of their music.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:17 pm
This is unspeakably awesome. I raise my prosthetic forehead high in an eyebrow-twitch salute to you, good sirs.
Can’t wait!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:24 pm
This sounds a lot like a potential (Second)Best.Concert.Ever
Seriously, set a camcorder up on the sound booth and hope that none of your fans are freakishly tall.
I’d buy it.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Now I’m even MORE upset that I can’t make the show. Ironically, I’ll pass you guys on 94 when I’m coming from Michigan back to Chicago … *sigh*
Kudos for trying to accommodate all the fans. I’ve never seen an artist be so cooperative with his fans.
… now what happens if TMBG decide to do some JoCo covers … ?
October 1st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
It just occurred to me that there’s probably someone living in Chicago who knows all of the TMBG songs on accordion, and would rather be the guy playing them with you than see TMBG play them without being that guy.
Maybe this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI2a7_XfKaI
October 1st, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I’m seeing the TMBG Flood show in St. Louis the night before! I think I can make a Flood-high fueled 5 hour drive for back to back awesomeness! Especially since I missed the show at Off Broadway last month.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I’ll be at the Ann Arbor show (was at the last Ann Arbor show as well) and, as weird as it sounds, I sure hope you guys are feeling frisky!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:01 pm
No, Gordon, you don’t understand: the lack of accordion is by choice.
And, as far as we’re concerned, that’s a selling point.
P&S.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
do The Giants know you’re also Flood-ing a show? Maybe they will be honoured and thrilled. Maybe they will throw an octopus at your head. Since there will be three of you perpetrating this upon the world, your chances are two in three that your head will not be directly targeted by said octopus.
Hmm, is there a saving throw against octopus?
October 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I’m running merch for the Ann Arbor show, so I’m hoping that if you’re feeling frisky the other couple songs might be “Twisting” and “They Might Be Giants”.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
awesome! wish I could go…. I’ll be seeing TMBG’s Flood show when they come to seattle, but it would be uber to see it from you as well!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
i am coming to your chicago show, and had no idea tmbg was also playing that night… and flood!!! how can this be?! the worst of all concert conflicts!
i’m sticking with you, but i’m ever pleased at the thought of tmbg paul, storm and joco style. the birdhouse in your soul cover killed me the first time you did it
October 1st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Just did a phone interview with Jonathan earlier this afternoon and I’m really excited for the concert – now especially with this announcement because I’ve been a huge TMBG fan for a long time!
If anyone’s interested in checking out the interview, you can read it here:
http://www.buzznews.net/interviews/entertainment/5136-the-great-ukulele-resurgence-is-upon-us-an-interview-with-jonathan-coulton
October 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Ah c’mon Joco…. if you can learn to play that weird electronic loopy-bloopy thing you’re always carrying around, surely you can learn to play the accordion by the 10th….
October 1st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Aw!! C’mon! Can’t you guys try to change the time of your show so we can go to both?
How can do you do this to me? You’re breaking my heart!
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 am
I’ll be at Ann Arbor. Feel frisky. Go on, do it. We all know you really want to!
…or not. Still, can’t wait for next week! First JoCo concert for me
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Another one making the pilgrimage to Ann Arbor here…
Storm should be able to learn the piano part to Dead by the 8th. It’s so easy, even I can play it!
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hopefully this leads to the ultimate nerd rock supergroup, with Coulton, P+S, TMBG, Weird Al, and MC Frontalot performing on the same stage.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
OK, this might be totally nutsoid, but what if JoCo & Co play the first set at Park West while TMBG are playing at the Vic and then (and here’s where it gets good) they SWITCH THEATERS and do their second sets a la Bizarro World. They Might Be JoCo / Jonathan Might Be A Giant. It’d be like watching the first half of the Blues Brothers and then the last half of The Fugitive, or verse visa.
October 4th, 2009 at 9:26 am
The tech is to go to the TMBG show at 4pm then go to the JoCo show at 8. Mwahahahahaha.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Wow. I thought this was a joke when I saw it on the twitters. You guys rock! Would love to see it.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:31 am
You know, I would dream of having the money to blow, just to fly from Tampa to Chicago, but I know that as soon as I got there I would come to a horrible realization: I STILL wouldn’t be able to decide between the two.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Whoo hoo. I will be at your Chicago show. I’m bummed about the TMBG concert, but I’ve seen them a couple times and this will be my first live joco.
Can you learn “Women and Men”?
I would be even more happy if you were to perform “Nightgown of the Sullen Moon,” which isn’t a Flood song but is amazing anyhow.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:19 am
I’ll be at the Ann Arbor show and if I can put in a request:
“Road Movie to Berlin”
(It’s pretty austere guitar-wise, and just think of the opportunity to whistle!)
October 5th, 2009 at 11:50 am
TMBG?! WOOO
damn man you should do your show early and then hop on over to see TMBG. that would fix everything!
October 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
TMBG is playing an early (4 PM) show at The Vic for All Ages. If one had the wherewithall, they could see both shows. It IS possible.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Hm… It seems my ride might not be able to make it and I’ve exhausted all other options.
By chance is there anyone from Purdue going to the Chicago concert with a couple extra seats in the car who might be willing to drive a guy and his girlfriend to see the wondrous JoCo?
Of course, we’d chip in for gas and everything. I’d really appreciate it.
Contact me at: tsujiku *at* gmail.com
October 5th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
WOW. My wife and I are going to see this show. I saw Weird Al at the IL State Fair last year, and he was incredible, but I am much more excited to see you. I am a fan of Neil Diamond and such golden oldies (seeing as I am in my EARLY forties), but my wife is young and HATES such singers. She likes you, except when your doing “moldy oldies”, but she loves TMBG (esp. their children friendly stuff which is brilliant). Their kid podcasts rock.
Anyway, I am excited. We had to lie to the kids about where we are going, because they adore you! I have the Joco For Kids playlist on WMP. Their favorite is Code Monkey, but they also love Creepy Doll a lot. (Scary, no?)
OK, you better show, ’cause I have my tickets and I am an super big, super tall, nerd with impulse control issues and a love of badly dubbed Kung Fu movies. (Yes, it is amazing that I am actually married. My lovely nerdette bride saved me from a life of living in my parents’ basement and sowing my own klingon uniforms.)
October 6th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Whoa, look like even TMBG themselves have heard of the JoCo/P&S Flood show and are bummed to miss it. Just got the TMBG news email with their ‘itinerary’ in it: “DAY FOUR. Saturday. On to Chicago [...] It’s a double-header at the Vic. Families and Flood! Miss the Jonathan Coulton tribute to Flood the same night.”
So. Awesome.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
What are these “instruments” of which you speak?
October 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Just saying, Accordion-playing-Chicago-based-JoCo-TMBG-fan here who still hasn’t made his Saturday plans offering his services if you have a change of heart. Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S27YGvQyyD8
October 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Find a way to somehow sync your Flood performance up with theirs so people in between the two concerts will get a perfect mix of both.
The Vic and Park West are pretty close to eachother, if you both just play really really loudly it could work.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Hope I don’t come across like Debiie Downer. Not that I do not like TMBG, but I hope this will not eat in too much to the main sets. First time seeing JoCo and I am super hyped up for it. Will be a bit disappointed if I come for the JoCo and see TMBG. TMBG is a fine band and all, but if I wanted to see them I would go to their show instead. As long as I see plenty of JoCo songs though I will be happy no matter what.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
@DStock: Well, the album itself is about 38 minutes. We’re going to steal some from my set and some from P+S to make room. I usually do about two hours just me, so that still leaves lots of time for JoCo stuff.
Also, this is HISTORIC.
Seriously, I’m aware that not everyone wants to hear us do Flood, and we didn’t announce till after most of you already bought tickets. So if anyone feels cheated out of a good show at the end of the night, please write to me and I’ll make it right.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I move that JoCoPaSto henceforth be known as “They May or May Not Be Giants.”
October 6th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
No problem JoCo. Still leaves over an hour and a half of your stuff, so I am happy. I was worried it would be over half the set or something. Either way, looking forward to the show!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
My only disappointment is that my friends already bought TMBG tickets and wont be joining me. (bastards)
October 7th, 2009 at 10:44 am
My first time seeing JoCo will be tomorrow! Woo hoo!
More importantly, since the merch guy is here and all: which CDs/DVDs will be available at the show?
And another vote for “Women and Men.” Let Friskiness Abound!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Holy crap. Someone BETTER get a recording of this!
October 7th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
“I might also be giants.”
When will we know?
October 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
JoCoPaStoChiGoFlo?
October 7th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I’m a little sad I have to miss this. My best friend from Canada was originally going to fly in to see TMBG with me on the 10th, and also on the 8th in Detroit. When we realized you also had shows on both of those days, we discussed which one we should go to, and decided to see you on the 8th.
Turn out, while TMBG is still my favourite band of all-time, I think I’d rather see you play Flood than TMBG (as it is something i’ve never seen before).
In conclusion, we would highly appreciate you guys playing some TMBg on the 8th, so we don’t feel like were missing out as much.
Alternately, you guys could crash the Vic and play -with- TMBG. I think after that my mind would be permanently blown.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:04 am
What’s a real bummer is that is ALSO the night of Dead Milkmen in Chicago. Three acts, and I’d love to see any/all of them. I bought tickets for TMBG before I saw this (your?) show so I’ll honor that but, having seen them 5 or 6 times before, I would have seen this (your) show instead had I known.
Anyway, very cool idea about also doing Flood or even parts of it. Maybe John and John will reciprocate if people tweet/twit your plans enough?
October 8th, 2009 at 8:29 am
TMBG is playing in Detroit the same night as the JoCo show in Ann Arbor. Lots of us Southeast Michigan people would love to go to both. I’ll be at the Ark tonight, though.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I and three of my friends are going to be at the Ark tonight. There would be more going except you just had to pick the same night as TMBG to hold a concert. I say, BE FRISKY!
October 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I already have tickets for this, but didn’t hear this news until today.
Glee!
October 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Seriously, I can’t be there, but I NEED TO HEAR THIS. JoCo, can this be made available in some way? Crossing your style with the TMBG songs I grew up with…this demands availability for widespread public consumption!
October 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I just heard all of Flood straight through for the first time today.
AWESOME doesn’t begin to cover it.
My fiance Steve and I are excited, this will be our second JoCo/P+S show
Birdhouse in Your Soul is still my fav, and Steve loves Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love.
Still contemplating if we should join the whole Twitter thing, if we did it would be to follow you guys and Amanda Palmer.
Yay!
October 9th, 2009 at 12:35 am
i think using your fancypants machine for Mr. Horrible would be lovely.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Oh heck yes. I saw a show of yours here about a year or so ago, and it’s the best live show I ever saw. Just got my tickets.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Ann Arbor show was fantastic! Nice job.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Just got back from the Chicago JoCo/Flood show at The Park West.
Absolutely Awesome!
However at one point I thought JoCo was pulling an Andy Kauffmanesque stunt and that there would be no JoCo Tunes (and that TMBG at The Vic were actually performing JoCos full show- the ol’ switcheroo)
Thankfully the JoCo tunes were indeed played!
(tho it would have been nice to announce mid-Flood that The JoCo songs we know and love were indeed ahead.)
Rock on!
October 11th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Please, dear Lord in heaven… PLEASE tell me someone recorded this show. The Internet needs to hear Peter Segal’s arch-yet-disembodied voice. Forget cover songs, I want to see this show as the start of a new trend: Bands lovingly covering other bands’ albums, start to finish.
And again, please, Internets. Please tell me someone recorded this show. If only to hear “Dead” again.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Yes. Recorded. Check back later for details.
October 16th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
@Erin:
Recording available on YouTube of Flood intro and Birdhouse In Your Soul:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTwCMB9nPSE
Wish I had been there!
October 16th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Don’t miss the awesome soundboard recording of the Flood show, available in the forum:
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=1305