They Might Be Giants at Bowery Ballroom
photo by Stephanie Augello

They Might Be Giants played 'Flood' & more at Bowery Ballroom (pics, setlist)

They Might Be Giants are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough third album and major label debut, Flood, on tour this year, and the Johns and the rest of their band played the first of many upcoming Bowery Ballroom shows on Saturday night. They played the album out of order, opening with “Dead” and saving hit “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” for the penultimate song of the Flood set, finishing with album opener “Theme From Flood.” After a break, TMBG came back for “The Quiet Storm,” an “acoustic-ish” set featuring songs from their rest of their catalog, including the live debut of “2082.” They also did two encores, finishing the night with classic b-side “Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal.” Check out the setlist and video of “2082” below and photos from the night are in the gallery above.

TMBG will play Flood again at Bowery Ballroom on February 8, one of four remaining sold-out shows at the venue still to come. All tour dates are listed below.

SETLIST: They Might Be Giants @ Bowery Ballroom 1/11/2020
Flood set
Dead
They Might Be Giants
Twisting
We Want a Rock
Minimum Wage
Your Racist Friend
Particle Man
Hearing Aid
Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love
Letterbox
Lucky Ball and Chain
Hot Cha
Whistling in the Dark
Birdhouse in Your Soul
Road Movie to Berlin
Women and Men
Someone Keeps Moving My Chair
Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Theme from Flood

“The Quiet Storm” acoustic-ish set
Music Jail, Parts 1 & 2
2082
With the Dark
Wicked Little Critta
Let Me Tell You About My Operation
Wearing a Raincoat
Trouble Awful Devil Evil
All Time What
Mrs. Bluebeard
Pet Name
When Will You Die
Spy
She’s an Angel
The Communists Have the Music

Encore:
Damn Good Times
Doctor Worm

Encore 2:
The Mesopotamians
Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – 2020 TOUR DATES
FEB 6 THU – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT, United States
FEB 7 FRI – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI, United States
FEB 8 SAT – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY, United States
MAR 5 THU – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI, United States
MAR 6 FRI – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL, United States
MAR 7 SAT – Geek Bowl XIV – Chicago, IL, United States
MAR 8 SUN – The Majestic – Detroit, MI, United States
MAR 9 MON – The Majestic – Detroit, MI, United States
MAR 13 FRI – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA, United States
MAR 14 SAT – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY, United States
APR 8 WED – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC, United States
APR 9 THU – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC, United States
APR 10 FRI – 930 Club – Washington, DC, United States
APR 11 SAT – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY, United States
APR 30 THU – Royale – Boston, MA, United States
MAY 1 FRI – Royale – Boston, MA, United States
MAY 2 SAT – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT, United States
MAY 3 SUN – Academy Of Music Theatre – Northampton, MA, United States
MAY 5 TUE – State Theater – Ithaca, NY, United States
MAY 6 WED – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY, United States
MAY 7 THU – Mr Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA, United States
MAY 8 FRI – Mr Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA, United States
MAY 9 SAT – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY, United States
MAY 12 TUE – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – Cleveland, OH, United States
MAY 13 WED – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – Cleveland, OH, United States
MAY 14 THU – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL, United States
MAY 15 FRI – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN, United States
MAY 16 SAT – Fitzgerald Theater – St Paul, MN, United States
MAY 17 SUN – The Pageant – St Louis, MO, United States

photos by Stephanie Augello