Your browser is not supported. For the best experience, use any of these supported browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
Skip to main content
PayPal Preferred Payments Partner
They Might Be Giants

Rock

They Might Be Giants Tickets

go to reviews
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 584 reviews

Events33 Results

United States

No more results on this page

International

About

They Might Be Giants on Tour

They Might Be Giants have been playing together since 1982 — and writing their playful, witty songs as a duo even longer — so the band's onstage chemistry isn't in question. Hearing the Johns (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) banter between songs is a treat in and of itself, but the real spectacle is witnessing their mind meld as they pull lyrically and musically knotty cuts from their catalog of a few dozen albums, EPs and compilations. Although the Johns started out as a pair backed by drum machine and prerecorded cassette, they've been a band since the '90s and are currently backed by longtime members Dan Miller on guitar, Danny Weinkauf on bass and Marty Beller on drums. They're just as likely to go into a stormy Middle Eastern inspired rock-out during their famous version of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," as to strip back to acoustic guitar (Flansburgh) and baritone sax (Linnell) for the morbid fan favorite "Older." And with a large oeuvre including kids' songs (they won a Grammy for 2008's Here Come the 123s) and film and TV themes (they won another Grammy for Malcolm in the Middle's "Boss of Me"), TMBG have limitless ways to delight and surprise an audience.

They Might Be Giants in Concert

John Flansburgh and John Linnell met as teens growing up in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and began writing songs together in high school. They parted ways for college, but reunited in Brooklyn in 1981 when (somewhat by design) they moved into the same apartment building on the same day. Thus began an incredibly fruitful and truly creative career in music. As They Might Be Giants gained a local fandom for their atypical instruments and unusual subject matter — their synthy 1986 self-titled debut included songs called "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" and "Youth Culture Killed My Dog" — they also experimented with distribution methods. For years, they used local newspapers to advertise a phone number that would greet callers with new songs and fake ads. That answering machine service, dubbed Dial-A-Song, foreshadowed their pioneering use of the internet. TMBG released the first MP3-only album in 1999, and began podcasting in 2005. They also found early success in film and TV after signing with Elektra in 1989 and seeing their 1990 LP Flood go platinum thanks to their MTV-supported single "Birdhouse in Your Soul." Their cover of the Four Lads' "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" wound up getting animated for Steven Spielberg's Tiny Toon Adventures along with "Particle Man," and they subsequently wrote or performed songs for Malcolm in the Middle, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dexter's Laboratory and more. TMBG were even Tony-nominated for their work on SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical. Beginning in 2002 with the album No!, the Johns found success writing children's music and have interspersed their regular flow of rock-oriented albums with family fare. They Might Be Giants continue to be remarkably prolific, releasing three albums in 2018 alone: I Like Fun, My Murdered Remains and The Escape Team.

Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 584 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Still going strong

    by Natertot on 5/13/23The Depot - Salt Lake City

    TMBG were just as good as the first time I saw them back in 1996. Even look about the same. The venue was great and the setlist was just right to honor Flood and other songs.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    WOW

    by Kferik on 5/13/23The Depot - Salt Lake City

    This was an awesome show, we have been waiting for it since 2019 (thanks COVID). They even played a whole song backwards and the played the recording of the song frontwards. The most awesome thing I have ever seen.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Peak TMBG nerd experience

    by Joule on 4/25/23Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver

    These guys clearly have so much fun onstage and they make you feel a part of it. They also somehow make 30-year-old songs they've probably played close to a million times feel as bouncy and young as ever. "Sapphire Bullets" played backwards was a highlight.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    An Excellent Evening Worth the Wait!

    by Phil S. on 4/24/23Neptune Theatre - Seattle

    I've seen TMBG a couple of times before, and they have never disappointed. This show was no exception. This show was a package deal! The sound (thanks Techs!), the whole band's performance (Thanks Johns and Company), the wit and humor, and that stunt they pulled with Sapphire Bullets in the first and second set was phenomenal. I had purchased the tickets for this show in May of 2020, for a show originally scheduled for October of that same year. It was worth the wait. Why is the world in love again? TMBG live shows are why. :)

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Totally worth the 3 year wait

    by LeslieM on 4/24/23Neptune Theatre - Seattle

    This show was originally scheduled for 2020. One global pandemic and 3 rescheduled dates later, I finally got to see the show. It was a great show that was full of old favorites and newer music that I am (admittedly) not as familiar with. I’d absolutely go see one of their shows again in the future.

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    Mediocre show

    by A. B. on 4/19/23Fox Theater - Oakland - Oakland

    They seem to think they are Metallica. Most of the songs were muddled by shriekingly loud volume. They are fun songwriters and you couldn't enjoy the songs. The Fox played Fugazi's Waiting Room at the intermission. That had more energy and clarity than the band's entire 1st set.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Fun even in the rain

    by Califlower on 4/18/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    Humphreys isn’t a great venue unless it’s warm summer weather. Great location but it’s basically a big outside lawn area on the water at a hotel resort. The concert was scheduled during a very rainy spring, so of course it was raining. But these guys were such troopers and made it fun. They were in a downpour with the rain blowing right on them and all their instruments (including brass section) and still did a full length concert. I was gonna leave but they were so funny and entertaining it made it really fun. They were soaked but still put their full effort in. It turned out to be an excellent concert.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Worth the wait

    by evamophead on 4/17/23The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    We bought these tickets before the pandemic -they were totally worth the wait! Love them!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Fun times with a fun band!

    by fisxgrl on 4/17/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    This was my first time doing GA at Humphreys. I liked it. Usually a seated show here is very tight fitting. But because this wasn't a crowded show it was ok to stand and dance. The band was funny, fun and energetic! They have a great repore with the audience.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Rocking

    by Stephen on 4/17/23The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    It was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Worth the wait!

    by Collin on 4/17/23The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    Two sets and three encores! They left it all on the stage. I’d hate to have to be the one to clean up after them!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    They Might Be Great

    by Julia on 4/17/23The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    I saw them at the Wiltern in L.A. and the show was OUTSTANDING! Darlings of Lumberland, Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love and Damn Good Times were favorites. The crowd, including myself, sang to all the songs and the band sounded tight and put on a great show. I've lost count of how many times I've seen TMBG, but it never gets old.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Unbelievable concert. Worth the wait

    by Mammal on 4/17/23The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    Played entire Flood album on a double set list w an amazing dusplay of recording a song backgards and then replaying in forward to the audience

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Good show!!!

    by Dank on 4/17/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    They sound the same as when I saw them in tj in 1992 Great show! Thanks for finally showing up!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great band, Good venue, Bad merch line

    by Muse 2 on 4/16/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    I love this band with all my being. Massive fan since I was young, and getting to go to my first show was a dream come true. The venue was fine, but it being outdoors meant that it rained on us during the show. I honestly didn't notice during the songs, but you could see the guitarists wiping off equipment and they had to cover the piano between sets. (and apparently the drummer was getting rained on the entire show) Props to the band for sticking through it, and I'm definitely catching another show next chance I get. The main sore spot with this show for me was definitely the merch line and bathroom situations. The bathroom situation was just confusing with one set of bathrooms not nearly enough for everyone inside the actual concert venue, and apparently some port-a-potties outside the venue, except that the venue had no-reentry, so how were you supposed to use those? The merch line was so awful. They had one employee working the merch line who was clearly not familiar with the band or the items that were being sold, so the line moved at a snails pace. I arrived at the venue 40 minutes before the show started and by the time I got to the front of the line, the band had just played their opener, which made me very upset. Besides that, the organization and presentation of the merch was awful too. Most shirts were hung up normally except for one shirt where they hung up two of it to show off the front and back, which lead to unnecessary confusion on whether they were two different shirts or not. I'm half certain there were some items that just weren't displayed. I asked for a shirt in my size (large), and the employee had to move several boxes and start digging through one of them in what felt like the longest minute of my life. (again, band had started playing behind me leading to even greater frustration) I had gotten in that line with the conviction that I would buy whatever I wanted no matter the cost, but I ended up cutting myself off just so I didn't spend the rest of my life there waiting for the employee to figure out where everything was.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing!

    by Mrs. M on 4/16/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    Great venue with easy free parking with a short walk. No bad spot to stand with general admission. I am short so I prefer standing on the small brick wall on the outskirts of the venue so I can see. TMBG are a fun band to see live. So thankful the show finally happened after 3 Covid reschedules.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great Show

    by Jacque M on 4/16/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    Great show, great venue. TMBG are always so much fun to see live. This was my first time at this venue, and I really enjoyed it. Parking was super easy and convenient, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Best. Show. Ever.

    by Snek on 4/16/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    The venue is small and intimate so you can see and hear wonderfully wherever you are. Elite security is amazing and were able to accommodate my special needs son. The band was incredible. My favorite part is when they sang one of their songs backwards, live. It was gibberish, of course but when they played it backwards on video afterwards it actually sounded like the song. If I could give this show six stars, I would!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Worth the wait!

    by Tercher on 4/16/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    Finally! Purchased tickets in mid-2020 for this show and 3 years later (and 30 years since my first TMBG show) they took the stage in San Diego. I was 16 all over again. And how ‘bout them horns!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great Concert!

    by Nicole on 4/15/23Humphreys Concerts By the Bay - San Diego

    The band was so much fun to watch. The music was great and their commentary between songs was hilarious. Would definitely see them again!