We went to see the Johns tonight at Higher Ground and it was teh awesome. I've gone through a number of "favorite" bands over the years -- REM, Liz Phair, Radiohead, The Decemberists, various mousy folk chicks -- but through it all, TMBG have been right up there, always listed amongst my most favorite musicians, and always putting out great effing records.
Tonight's show delivered on many levels. Yes, Nato, they played We're the Replacements. They also premiered their new album, The Else, due out in a few weeks. It's great stuff. I already like it more than their last major release, The Spine.
They're keeping a count on this tour of the number of follow-spot operators who have beards as opposed to the number of those that don't. Current score: 2 to 2.
During tonight's performance of Why Does the Sun Shine?, Flansburgh said "Ladies and people of Burlington, Vermont: The heat and light of the sun come from the nuclear reactions caused by a failed foreign policy, a failed domestic policy and a failed presidency." Wild cheers followed, natch.
They improvised a song about Higher Ground on stage.
They said that they made it a professional goal to return to Vermont in six months because they like it so much and they play here so infrequently.
They played Fingertips. They also pulled out Ana Ng, Birdhouse, Twisting, Istanbul, James K. Polk and Older, among other classics.
Emily and I snatched a show poster (which doubles as a papercraft accordion) and an autographed DVD of their "Venue Songs" compilation. We then raced home and each blogged about it because we are the biggest nerds in The Universe (in fact, I'm such a big nerd that I capitalized "The Universe" because it's the proper name of the universe in which we live).
Now I'm going to watch the DVD and push my glasses up on my nose and snort when I laugh. Nerd rock rulz.
Read Emily's post about our experience on her blog.