They Might Be Giants are no strangers to the Albany area, or The Egg, where they’ll be performing on Saturday, April 19.
The group, made up of John Flansburgh and John Linnell both from Brooklyn, was so captivated by the unique performing arts center that they wrote a song about it. Albany (The Egg) is featured on the duo’s `Venue Songs` album.
They Might Be Giants’ latest trip to the Capital District, though, will break new ground. They’re doing two shows, and each one has a unique focus. At 3 p.m., they’ll put on a family show, and at 8 p.m., they will stage a more mature concert, recommended for those 14 and older.
While the earlier show will feature songs from the group’s latest children’s album, `Here Come the 123s,` Egg Executive Director Peter Lesser said all ages will enjoy the performance.
`It’s still rocking music,` he said.
Lesser said They Might Be Giants are part of a growing trend of musical acts who are hooking the children of their fans on music geared to the younger set. In They Might Be Giants’ case, their foray into children’s music began with the CD `No!` in 2002, followed by `Here Come the ABCs.` Both reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Children’s Music charts. The group also released a children’s book-and-CD set titled `Bed, Bed, Bed.`
There’s a good chance parents and kids who have never bought a `They Might Be Giants` CD are still familiar with their music. Flansburgh and Linnell have written and performed theme songs for `The Oblongs,` `Higglytown Heroes,` `Resident Life,` and ABC’s `Nightline Primetime,` as well as songs for `The Simpsons,` `Home Movies,` `Dexter’s Laboratory` and `Courage the Cowardly Dog.`
The idea of combining their two genres of music by performing two separate shows on tour stops is a new concept for They Might Be Giants, as well as the music industry in general, Lesser said. For The Egg, it was a natural fit since it already has a relationship with the band and it also holds a family music series.
`It is a popular series, some things more than others,` Lesser said. He’s found that acts like They Might Be Giants, who already had a core following before trying out children’s music, seem to generate the most excitement.
`People love them,` he said.
The later show will give those long-time fans a chance to see They Might Be Giants perform hits like `Birdhouse in Your Soul,` `Ana Ng` and `Snail Shell.` Lesser said that the group’s desire to keep that performance limited to those 14 and older isn’t a result of staging a show for the younger set earlier in the day; the suggested age limit has been standard They Might Be Giants practice for years.
`They like to do some mature stuff,` he said.
Tickets for the family show are $10 for children and $15 for adults. Admission to the later show is $25. Tickets can be purchased through www.theegg.org, by calling 473-1845 or visiting the box office.“
