After two years of The Big Show Tour, new wave/alt-rock legends They Might Be Giants returned in 2026 with an excellent new album and EP and an even more ambitious live show, dubbed The Bigger Show Tour, which launched near their homes in Woodstock, NY and delivered multi-night mini-residencies to devoted fans in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Chicago before a short break and similar runs in the Northeast (with more shows coming at the end of the summer and beyond). Co-founders John Linnell (vocals, keyboards, accordion, etc.) and John Flansburgh (vocals, guitar, etc.) continue to be supported by Dan Miller (guitar), Danny Weinkauf (bass), and Mary Beller (drums), all of whom have been in the group since 2004 or earlier as well as The Triceratops Horns, a three-piece trumpet, trombone, and saxophone section consisting of Mark Pender, Stan Harrison, and Dan Levine, all of whom have impressive resumes and are overflowing with talent. The horn section adds depth to about half of the songs performed at any given show and allows the band's horn-based songs to be performed in the fuller arrangements that are similar to their studio versions without having to substitute guitar and keyboard parts to cover for missing horns as they've sometimes done in the past. To say the band, now in its 44th year, continues to sound great would be an understatement. It's extraordinary to find a group with such a consistent delivery and dedication to both preserving and furthering the project after so many years.
Building on the concept of their previous outings in '24 and '25, The Bigger Show Tour features no opening act and two full sets by TMBG each night with an added bonus of spotlighting one particular album from their extensive catalog (24 LPs and counting), performing about half the songs from the selected record in addition to several hits, fan favorites, and new material from The World Is to Dig, and its sister EP Eyeball, both released earlier this year. Previously, the band only rotated between three specific featured albums (Apollo 18, John Henry, and Mink Car) but have now added Lincoln, Flood, and Factory Showroom to the list, making sure that each show is a unique experience, even when performing two or three times in the same city in as many days. The only trick is you don't know which album will get the spotlight until the show begins. (Full disclosure: I am a mega-fan of this band and couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch them as many times as possible while they were in my region of the country, so this will be a run through each of the five shows I made it to on the spring run. If a Deadhead did it, no one would bat an eye, but for this band? I'm not sure if we're "Giantheads" or not, but if we were, we'd want prosthetic foreheads to wear on them.)
Following the tour kick off in New York, TMBG journeyed to Indianapolis, Indiana for a full weekend of shows at The Vogue Theatre, one of the area's most intimate and energetic venues. After making it through some severe spring weather prior to the Friday night show, fans were delighted to experience a spotlight on Lincoln, the band's second LP from 1988, with a mix of singles and deep cuts from that album throughout the first set. After starting with a rocking "Santa's Beard," rarely performed tracks like "Stand on Your Own Head," "Piece of Dirt," and "Pencil Rain" surprised and delighted even the most jaded among the crowd and gave the 50+ year-old members of the audience serious flashbacks to a bygone era when few outside of the audience of 120 Minutes knew the band and their music. "Lie Still, Little Bottle" continues to be performed with The Stick for added percussion, and Marty Beller successfully executed the three notes required on a large bell (in place of the traditional glockenspiel) during "Shoehorn with Teeth" to thunderous applause from the crowd. The horns sounded best on a lushly arranged performance of "I'll Sink Manhattan," a Lincoln B-side, further extending the show's spotlight theme, and two of the albums three hit singles, "They'll Need a Crane" and "Ana Ng," were featured in the last third of the set. Potentially to keep both the audience and the band themselves on their toes, two new songs, "Wu-Tang" and "Hit the Ground," were mixed in before the intermission, which was preceded by another amazing, sonically backward performance of Flood's "Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love," now known as "Stellub," and one of the group's biggest hits, "Particle Man." Technical difficulties prevented the playback of the recording of "Stellub" in reverse (which allows the audience a chance to hear the song in its forward arrangement, by watching a film of the live performance played backward). The second set featured more hits and fan-favorites from other albums and did a good job of sprinkling in songs from Apollo 18, Flood, and Factory Showroom, which were not being featured that night. A rocking cover of The Raspberries' "Overnight Sensation," also from the band's latest LP, fit well next to zippy runs through "Twisting" and "Letterbox" from Flood. Fans rejoiced at the inclusion of "Fingertips," the modern classic, "Brontosaurus," and the lengthy improv jam that concludes "Spy." Other new tracks like "Eyeball" and "Get Down" kept the vibe strong into the double encore which featured both "When Will You Die" and "Doctor Worm," arguably the best choice for a closing number among the band's nearly 1,000 songs.
What Nut (intro tape)
-----
Santa's Beard
Stand on Your Own Head
Piece of Dirt
Where Your Eyes Don't Go
Pencil Rain
Lie Still, Little Bottle
Shoehorn with Teeth
Cowtown
I'll Sink Manhattan
They'll Need a Crane
Wu-Tang
Hit the Ground
Snowball in Hell
Ana Ng
Stellub
Particle Man/Elusive Butterfly
-------------------------- (intermission)-------
Stompy (intro tape)
Synopsis for Latecomers
Birdhouse in Your Soul
The Guitar
You Probably Get That a Lot
Overnight Sensation (The Raspberries)
Twisting
Letterbox
Fingertips (pts. 1-21)
Till My Head Falls Off
Eyeball
Moonbeam Rays
Brontosaurus
Spy/Imagine (John Lennon)
Get Down
-------------------
Let Me Tell You About My Operation
When Will You Die?
-------------------
Doctor Worm
**************************
While fans who attended the Sunday show were treated to a spotlight on Flood, an album the band played in full nightly during a multi-year anniversary tour from 2020-2023, TMBG's second Indianapolis show on Saturday night put the spotlight on 1994's John Henry. Somewhat divisive at the time of its release, the band's fifth album was its first to feature a backing band rather than only the core duo of Linnell and Flansburgh, forever changing their sound both on stage and in the studio. Only "Snail Shell" was a moderate alternative rock hit, but the album features a number of fan favorites like "Subliminal," "Meet James Ensor," "Spy," and "The End of the Tour," all of which were performed. In addition to other great tracks from that record, the band inserted a five-song interruption halfway through the first set, including "The Famous Polka" and "S-E-X-X-Y" in addition to a repeat of two new songs. A throwback reference to more than 20-years ago occurred when a portion of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" was included during the "Spy" improv jam, a song that was performed in full to conclude "Spy" during the Mink Car era in 2001. The video-in-reverse portion of the show worked as planned this night, impressing fans old and new with the execution of performing a song backwards so well! The second set that night featured a great mix of hits and deep cuts from other albums, including "Damn Good Times," during which Dan Miller performed the closing solo from the balcony, the Tik-Tok sensation "Stuff Is Way," and the demo (rock, non-disco) version of "Man, It's So Loud in Here," which got the crowd dancing, nonetheless. While the usual double encore was shorter this night, with only one song in each, "She's an Angel," from the band's 1986 debut album, made a rare appearance to close the evening. For the uninitiated, the Indianapolis weekend was a fantastic opportunity to cram tons of different songs and eras of the band into three consecutive nights. For the hardcore fan, getting to hear five new songs each night along with a number of choice deep-cuts made the trio of shows an experience that would have been impossible more than a year or two ago.
Indy #2 (4/25/26) set list:
What Nut (intro tape)
--------
Subliminal
Snail Shell
Out of Jail
Meet James Ensor
The Famous Polka
Wu-Tang
Overnight Sensation (The Raspberries)
Synopsis for Latecomers
S-E-X-X-Y
Dirt Bike
No One Knows My Plan
Spy/Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan)
Stellub
The End of the Tour
------------------------(intermission)---------
Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love (video)
Stompy (intro tape)
------------
Istanbul (The Four Lads)
Authenticity Trip
Brontosaurus
Man, It's So Loud in Here (demo)
Eyeball
Hit the Ground
Damn Good Times
Stuff Is Way
Cloisonne
How Can I Sing Like a Girl?
When Will You Die?
Get Down
------------------------
Doctor Worm
------------------------
She's an Angel
*******************************
A few days later, the tour rolled north and east to Detroit for two consecutive weeknight shows at The Majestic Theatre, TMBG's home base for Michigan performances for nearly a decade now. After playing three nights in Indy without spotlighting Factory Showroom, fans were hopeful for that album and Lincoln, seemingly the most emphasized additions in the pre-tour advertising, but alas it was not to be. The Tuesday night Detroit show again featured a focus on John Henry, and for the most part, the show was the same as Indy #2 from only a few nights before. Among the few changes, "Birdhouse in Your Soul" was added near the end of the first set, and while "Spy" did not feature a portion of "Mr. Tambourine Man," a brief return of "Jazz Waltz," most commonly played from 2004 to 2006 while Flansburgh thanked members of the audience (individually) for attending, was included prior to the intermission. While "Istanbul" still opened the second set, this night's version began with Dan Miller's acoustic guitar solo into ("Miller Time") rather than Dan Levine beginning the song with a trombone solo at Indy #2. Whether it was because the show was on a Tuesday night, because the guys were a bit tired from traveling, or because John Henry's songs are still somewhat obscure to the casual or non-fan, the crowd at Detroit #1 was restrained at best and sagged at times throughout the show, which the band noticed and commented on during both nights there. The second set that evening was again almost identical to Indy #2, but the fan favorite, "Number Three" was added to the first encore (while the second still consisted solely of "She's an Angel"). The band played great as usual, and while a superfan like me would never tire of seeing them perform any of their songs live, it's notable that John Henry was also spotlighted when the band played two nights in Chicago in 2024 and in one of two nights in Cleveland last November, so fans traveling for multiple shows throughout the region in recent years have encountered songs from that particular album more than any other.
Detroit #1 (4/28/26) set list:
What Nut (intro tape)
--------------
Subliminal
Snail Shell
Out of Jail
Meet James Ensor
The Famous Polka
Wu-Tang
Overnight Sensation (The Raspberries)
Synopsis for Latecomers
S-E-X-X-Y
Dirt Bike
No One Knows My Plan
Spy
Birdhouse in Your Soul
Stellub
Jazz Waltz (jam)
The End of the Tour
---------------------(intermission)-------
Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love (video)
Stompy (intro tape)
---------------
Istanbul (The Four Lads)
Authenticity Trip
Brontosaurus
Man, It's So Loud in Here (demo)
Eyeball
Hit the Ground
Damn Good Times
Stuff Is Way
Cloisonne
How Can I Sing Like a Girl?
When Will You Die?
Get Down
------------------------
Number Three
Doctor Worm
-----------------------
She's an Angel
************************************
The second of two nights in Detroit was a stronger show with a better crowd and reception, spotlighting Lincoln. While only a handful of songs from the band's second album were hits, the material is a cornerstone of the whole project, so even older fans and those less familiar with every nook and cranny of their catalog were engaged. Harrison, Pender, and Levine continued to shine on the songs that featured horns, and all members of the group seemed to be in generally better spirits. While the majority of Detroit #2 was similar to Indy #1, the order of the songs was shuffled a bit, "Stellub" was not performed, and John Linnell's segue quote during "Particle Man" changed from the lines about the elusive butterfly to a bit of Neil Young's "Southern Man." Linell brought Flansburgh to frustrated laugher during the dialogue routine in "Snowball in Hell," and he added his own clarinet to the mix of the three horns during "Cowtown," things that did not happen in Indianapolis. The second set this night featured a few alternate deep cuts and provided more variety when compared to Indy #1 (as opposed to the back-to-back John Henry shows that had very little difference between them). "The Darlings of Lumberland," one of the most intricate of TMBG's horn-based songs, sounded amazing and fit in with the other tracks perfectly. The always timely "Older" got the crowd singing as well as laughing along, and the brilliant "Wearing a Raincoat," the only song from The Spine to be included, reminded everyone of the sharpness and creative irony in Linnell's lyrical phrasing. "The Mesopotamians" opened the first encore and was an unexpected thrill. While only three songs from TMBG's previous album, BOOK, were included, it's worth noting their tracks always continue to appreciate with time, and the incredible skill of the horns on "Synopsis for Latecomers" and especially the brilliant "Brontosaurus" all served as strong reminders of the band's consistency. While they were there partly to plug their latest, 24th LP, there were plenty of strong tracks on their 23rd as well. Overall, Detroit #2 was a much stronger show than the night before, with a vibe and audience that redeemed some of what was missing or lost during Detroit #1.
Detroit #2 (4-29-26) set list:
Sammy (intro tape)
------------
Santa's Beard
Stand on Your Own Head
Piece of Dirt
Where Your Eyes Don't Go
Pencil Rain
Lie Still, Little Bottle
Cowtown
I'll Sink Manhattan
Shoehorn with Teeth
They'll Need a Crane
Overnight Sensation (The Raspberries)
Wu-Tang
Snowball in Hell
Ana Ng
Particle Man/Southern Man (Neil Young)
--------------------------------------------------------(intermission)-----------
Stompy (intro tape)
---------------
Synopsis for Latecomers
Birdhouse in Your Soul
Let Me Tell You About My Operation
The Darlings of Lumberland
You Probably Get That a Lot
Fingertips (pts. 1-21)
Till My Head Falls Off
Older
Moonbeam Rays
Wearing a Raincoat
Hit the Ground
Get Down
The Guitar
--------------------------
The Mesopotamians
Brontosaurus
----------------------------
Doctor Worm
******************************************
TMBG ended their Midwest run in Chicago, a home-away-from home that has celebrated the group since they first began touring in the late '80s, as usual, at The Vic Theatre. Much like in Indianapolis, they played three consecutive nights over the course of one weekend, with the first show again spotlighting Lincoln, similar in structure to Detroit #2. The second night in Chicago shaped up to have the best vibe of the five shows I attended on this run, with a large number of young and extremely enthusiastic fans who were seeing the band for the very first time! With heavy anticipation for a Factory Showroom spotlight, the night began with "Subliminal," immediately indicating Chicago #2 would be yet another John Henry show. However, added surprises and changes in the structure of the show made for a more unique experience compared to Indy #2 and Detroit #1, which were nearly identical. The first set this night saw the return of "Unrelated Thing," a John Henry deep cut that had been part of the spotlight for that album in '24 and '25 but had yet to appear in '26. During the improv jam on "Spy," Flansburgh included an a cappella version of "Token Back to Brooklyn" the (pre-gap!) hidden track from Factory Showroom, for only the second time ever, thrilling even the most seasoned TMBG live veterans. All of the selections from John Henry were performed as one large chunk of the first set before the band broke off into a six-song run through two new tracks, three classics, and an always impressive rendition of "Stellub," which was played back to the audience in reverse to begin the second set as usual. The second set of Chicago #2 was a great way to end the run for me as it contained a sampler platter of selections from all the other albums in the featured rotation and abandoned the orders used in shows over the previous week. An especially lively "Twisting" was matched in energy by "Can't Keep Johnny Down," from Join Us, making its tour debut. The audience in Chicago seemed more familiar with the deep cuts as well, which always makes seeing them live more enjoyable. Hearing the crowd sing the high-voiced lines of the raindrop during "Cloisonne" is one of the most delightful moments one can have at a TMBG concert. Also, notably different in Chicago #2, the band only included two of their biggest five songs, saving them to end the second set and the second encore, respectively. This is especially rare for a band most don't know in the first place and who seem to bow to the pressure to play at least three of their best-known songs every night, no matter what. It's worth noting that a more energetic and seemingly more dedicated audience can absolutely affect the song selection and running order, at least at They Might Be Giants shows. Frustratingly for me, Flansburgh announced the following night would spotlight Factory Showroom to potentially entice some ticketholders to come back again for Chicago #3, but Sunday night shows are always a bigger ask for out-of-state fans who traveled to catch what they could within the context of their work week schedules, and I was unable to stick around to see it.
Chicago #2 (5/2/26) set list:
Sammy (intro tape)
------------
Subliminal
Snail Shell
Out of Jail
Unrelated Thing
Meet James Ensor
The Famous Polka
Dirt Bike
No One Knows My Plan
Spy/Token Back to Brooklyn
The End of the Tour
Stellub
Wu-Tang
Overnight Sensation (The Raspberries)
Synopsis for Latecomers
S-E-X-X-Y
Where Your Eyes Don't Go
----------------------------------------(intermission)----------------
Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love (video)
Stompy (intro tape)
----------------
The Mesopotamians
Brontosaurus
Authenticity Trip
The Guitar
Man, It's So Loud in Here (demo)
Twisting
Eyeball
Hit the Ground
Can't Keep Johnny Down
Cloisonne
Get Down
Doctor Worm
----------------------
Number Three
Till My Head Falls Off
-----------------------
Birdhouse in Your Soul
*****************************************
Returning home to New York, the band took a few weeks off to rest up for a run of shows in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Boston before going on hiatus for the summer. Fans are already excited for the next run of shows, situated in Wisconsin and Minnesota, to kick off in late September before heading south to Texas and then back north to Washington D.C. to finish the year with a mega blowout four-night stand that should provide the most set list variety of the entire year. Unique and creative in all aspects of the project, from the songwriting down to the structures of tours and even individual concerts, They Might Be Giants continue to spread love and their ironic world view in shockingly impressive ways for a band coming up on its 50th anniversary (in 2032). Those who have seen them before already know how much fun their live performances can be, but for those who have not yet had the pleasure, you owe it to yourself to be immersed in their brilliance while you still can during this one-of-a-kind group's golden years.
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