I am a TMBG concert junkie. You all know this. It is the whole reason this blog got started in the first place. You also know I've been without a fix for seven long months. This may not seem like very long to some of you, but for me it's an eternity. It is more than twice as long as any gap between shows that I've experienced since I've been following the band, and is, in fact, the longest break TMBG has taken in 20 years. And I have missed them. Oh, how I have missed them. Missed doesn't even seem like a strong enough word. I am sure I have missed things before. People and places, experiences and things. But I have no memory of ever missing anything as much as I have missed those five guys, the music and the stage, the crowd, the energy and the lights, the ritual, the anticipation and the experience of being at a show. There is nowhere I would rather be. Right there, in the middle of the crowd, with the guys on stage in front of me and the music washing over me, I am home.
And in a few short days I am going home. Four days from now, I will be in Toronto, the band will be on stage, and the grin on my face will be so bright you will be able to feel it shining across the globe. And it only gets better from there. The picture above is the current contents of my ticket box and represents a July and September spent doing what I love. In addition to Toronto, Gary and I will be hitting 5 shows in 11 days in July and 14 shows in 24 days in September. And with the band on tour through next spring, I am sure those numbers will only grow.
But for now, I have four days left to finish missing the band. And I am giving that horrible, loathsome feeling a proper send off and good riddance, with this (massive) list of things I have missed about the band and shows and the entire concert experience in general. Some of them are very personal. Some of them are pretty universal. All of them are things I will be so happy to see again I could cry (and I just might). Here's hoping I don't have to miss any of these things again for a long, long time.
100 Things I Have Missed About TMBG Shows
(in no particular order)
100. Waiting in line. I have legitimately missed the hours and hours of waiting in line before a show. It's part of the whole ritual and I have had some really good times waiting in line.
99. "Aw, shit, clap your hands!"
98. The mad dash from your chair to the front of the stage when Flans tells everyone to stand up.
97. Linnell's "Aw, yeah, check this out" face. I can't actually describe this. It's this face he makes sometimes while the band it executing something epic. I can replicate it for you if you ever see me in person.
96. Dan does this thing all the time where he'll play a single note or chord before the song starts to make sure the guitar is in tune and it almost always tips me off to what they are about to play.
95. Flans playing with his back to the audience.
94. Danny's strut-walk he does as he moves around the stage while playing.
93. Marty's mime act. This is another one I can't fully describe if you haven't noticed it. But because he's got earplugs in and is so far away from everyone he is perpetually miming things at people rather than just saying them.
92. Crew watching. I love watching the crew set up the stage. It fascinates me.
91. Band member sightings outside the venue while waiting in line.
90. The first moment you see the bus parked outside the venue and you know you found the right place.
89. Those few seconds of music in Birdhouse after "but I am", when the keyboard starts going and the drums start pounding and every single person in the room is pogo-ing like crazy.
88. Linnell bending over to squint at his setlist for the next song while still playing the end of the last one.
87. The noise the confetti blizzard canon makes when it goes off. I actually expect to hear it now every time I listen to Older and I'm always slightly surprised when it isn't there.
86. Flans waving his guitar around in the air while singing.
85. The way Dan bobs his head while playing.
84. The joy of getting a perfect shot with my camera and knowing I have captured a tiny little piece of the show forever.
83. Bellows mashing on the accordion during any of the accordion solos.
82. Blue Avatar's eyeball routine.
81. The fake ending on Istanbul when the confetti canon explodes and Flans is hopping up and down on one foot while playing.
80. Danny putting his hand behind his ear because he can't hear you yelling "The bass, the bass, the bass is Danny Weinkauf."
79. Marty's OCD drum adjustments. Admittedly I did not notice this until I started seeing him play with JoCo but just watch next time how many times he touches that cymbal between songs. And again. And again.
78. The pre-show playlist. One of my favorite parts of waiting for a show.
77. The excitement over realizing one of guys is wearing your favorite shirt.
76. The way Linnell sings "Mysterious" in Mysterious Whisper with a giant pause before it and between syllables.
75. The psychedelic freakout portion of The Guitar, especially the way Flans almost screams the last lyrics before it.
74. Here You Come Again in Particle Man. Particularly the "And here I gooooooo."
73. The opening bars of Damn Good Times.
72. Any time they are introducing a song and you think you know exactly what they are going to play and then they completely surprise you.
71. The repeating jokes that you only realize are repeating because you've been at the last five shows straight.
70. "Ladies and Gentleman"
69. Linnell's coffee cup. I continue to be amazed that it never spills on the keyboard.
68. Clarinet/Euphonium jokes.
67. The giant fan with the band logo on its center.
66. Watching Linnell reach for the light switch on the side of the keyboard stand knowing the canons are about to pop.
65. The Dan-Tone 3000
64. Linnell's spastic arm gestures.
63. Dan sticking his guitar picks in his mouth.
62. Danny playing with his tongue sticking out.
61. Screaming for Marty until I am hoarse.
60. "H-E-A-R-T attack to you girl."
59. The way both Flans and Danny twang their strings with this big arm flare in Don't Let's Start.
58. The crack of Marty's drum sticks as he counts off a song.
57. The slightly ratty, taped-together-in-the-middle, always confetti laden, occasionally treacherous carpet that they lay down on the stage. And all the little tape marks on it indicating where to put stuff.
56. Marty's light up drum kit.
55. The rock doves.
54. Every time one of the Johns cracks the other one up.
53. The boom car electronic drum demo.
52. Linnell jumping up and down while playing The Guitar.
51. Danny playing with his eyes closed and his head tilted up in the air.
50. The disco ball with the missing tiles.
49. Marty's noisemakers on Bed Bed Bed.
48. The way Flans always has to watch Dan to know when to come in on back-up.
47. The keyboard riff in Withered Hope.
46. The bass line in Ana Ng.
45. Miller Time.
44. Marty's sequined "M" wristbands.
43. Danny singing with his head tilted up at the mic because it is never at the right hight for him.
42. The look of absolute joy on Flans' face when he watches one of the guys solo.
41. Linnell standing on stage with his arms crossed while he is singing.
40. "Guatemala!"
39. Jumping up and down like an idiot with everyone else in the room when commanded to "jump in the air."
38. Dan's "ahhh" face from Meet the Elements.
37. There is this face/head gesture that Marty makes when someone has thanked him for something or paid him a compliment. It's this kind of silent nod with his eyes closed. It's very regal looking. Because he is the king of the drums after all.
36. Flans offering the guitar to the front row.
35. Either of the Johns asking what key a song is in before they start to play.
34. Celebration!
33. The banter. All of it. It's like watching a favorite sitcom every night. And so very quotable.
32. The ritual of setlist acquisition.
31. Dan's ginormous shoes. I have spent so many shows standing at his feet, I actually miss his shoes.
30. The red pants. Both as a harbinger of a good show and a most excellent article of clothing.
29. When everyone in the crowd shouts "WHO WATCHES OVER YOU!"
28. Being absolutely pummeled with confetti from the blizzard canon to the extent that you have to close your eyes and you get it in your mouth.
27. The crazed, surprised look that Marty does while he is wrecking his one good drum kit, when he stands up and stops playing for a second and then just explodes all over the drums.
26. "It's the green house at the end of the block."
25. Linnell's various ways of introducing Flans and Dan's guitar solo in Birdhouse.
24. Flans and Danny playing their guitars up in the air for the solo on Doctor Worm.
23. The guys' frozen in midair poses in Older while they watch the confetti fall.
22. Danny rocking back and forth from foot to foot when he gets really into a rhythm, especially when he does it while kind of shaking his head with his eyes closed.
21. The way Dan looks up and to the side while leaning into the microphone to sing sometimes.
20. Linnell's lazy flubbing of notes on the keyboard during difficult passages, particularly the end of Meet the Elements.
19. Flans singing with his hands in his pockets, Art Garkfunkel style.
18. Danny playing Marty's drums on Why Does The Sun Shine?
17. Marty's dancing.
16. Flans' drive-by solo on Bed Bed Bed.
15. The puppets staring at Dan while he plays the beginning of What Is A Shooting Star?
14. The lip blubbering at the end of Fibber Island.
13. Marty tossing his arm around Flans on the "when it's time to celebrate with all you friends" line of High Five!
12. Danny's Doctor Worm leap.
11. The little head flip thing Linnell does while singing.
10. The anticipation of not knowing what they are going to play next. Because it could be anything.
9. Knowing my job in all of the audience participation.
8. Danny's smile.
7. Dan's laugh.
6. Marty's drumming faces, tongue perpetually hanging out the side of his mouth.
5. Linnell's soul piercing gaze as he makes eye contact with you in the front row.
4. Flansburgh's hair after he has run his hands through it a few times and it is standing straight on end.
3. The post show break down where we spend hours dissecting the show and discussing favorite moments. And quoting good lines back and forth at random.
2. All of my band buddies, most of whom I have not seen since my birthday or the show last October or even longer.
1. The few seconds after the intro music has started but before the band hits the stage when you know the wait is over and the show is starting but you still have the entire show to look forward to.
I could go on. I keep thinking of more but I'll save them. I don't know how well this actually works as an Audience Participation topic, but if any of you would like to add your own contributions to my list, please, feel free.
Posts
Now dear, you know I haven't been to as many TMBG shows as you have, but I do miss the band, and I will say a few things about that.
ReplyDeleteI miss their music. I've fallen out of my regular TMBG listening (which explains the inactivity on the chats and whatnot as well-- it's not personal, it's that I'm busy as well), and when I hear a song I hastily added to a playlist for the car, I think, "Awww, John!" And I said this on tumblr at some point: TMBG's like my old, reliable best friends. They're comforting.
In the spring I usually want to watch Homestar Runner and the video for Experimental Film for nostalgia's sake. Last summer I drove around with State Songs and John Henry in my car, and discovered how wonderful Mink Car really is while driving to visit family in another state. Part of me wants to whip out John Henry and play it like I did while driving home from my then-best-friend's house, but you know, people change like their music. I'd happily say I've become more eclectic in my music taste, but I still hold TMBG dear, and I look forward to their imminent return to, well, my life.
April 5th I heard "Can't Keep Johnny Down" for the first time, just before I left for a taping of The Daily Show. I will never forget that day for a number of reasons, but I will always distinctly remember thinking, "The boys are back!" when I heard the first song from Join Us.
As for the live shows: I do miss Linnell's unintentional stare. I miss how he looks at the ceiling sometimes when he sings. I miss everybody's photos and recaps after shows (I live vicariously through you guys). I miss discussing what the band wore. I miss Linnell's deadpan one-liners and Flansburgh's stories about Friendster. I miss Danny and yelling "THE BASS, THE BASS, THE BASS IS DANNY WEINKAUF!" I miss Dan's acoustic guitar bits. I miss Flansburgh breaking strings and swearing and jumping around. I miss yelling "drink, drink!" I miss confetti showers. I miss the Avatars. I miss waiting around to see if you can get a setlist.
You know. The usual. And I miss my TMBG friends. I apologize for not dropping by Cabbagetown or the blog. But I'm sure I will. And I'm sure this summer and fall will be an unforgettable one in the TMBG universe.
Fantastic list. I was overflowing with excited anticipation of Saturday, but now I'm practically salivating. :-) There are so many things I've missed about the live shows these past 7.5 months. First, can I say that I'm so happy you didn't forget "Ladies and Gentlemen!"? And just a few others to add and/or emphasize: Linnell's deadpan humor, stare, and adorably rolled up pant cuffs. Also -- the moments when he needs to take out his glasses. Flans' occasional toe-walking, the way his hair sticks up after it has gotten sweaty and fingered-through, and all the pirate talkin'. The whole of the band introductions (especially the times when Flans feels the need to individually introduce each member as being from New York City). All the accordions. Marty's tongue and his endless jittery movement especially when he takes center stage for "High Five". Hearing any song (new or old) live for the first time. Yelling "We want cake! Where's our cake!" along with Dan and Flans and all the clapping, stomping, and jumping. The brass and the reeds whenever they make their appearance. The mounds of confetti that you keep finding in your pockets, hoods, bags, and car for days afterwards. Foam hands! Blue Avatar's regular routines (the eye, "It is our pleasure to serve you" cup, soul patch for the ladies) along with Green Avatar's less predictable humor. The way Danny walks casually around the stage, coming all the way forward for somewhat random, special moments. Flans' occasional tweeting of backstage news and photos before shows as you wait outside. Watching the guys connect with their families (from the stage or afterwards) whenever they're in attendance. And the banter, oh the banter. And finally -- getting to hang out with people as addicted to the live shows as you are. It's normalizing. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis almost made me cry with joy. I can hardly get to any live shows now (UK based and a bit immobilised at present), so your fantastic description of the 100 things felt like a surrogate sort of being there. Hope you have the best time ever with the 'Join Us' Tour. I know you will! Please have a pogo and a wistful smile at Linnell for me! XXX
ReplyDeleteThis was a beautiful read, honestly—you perfectly captured all of the little nuances of TMBG shows that only a Deadhead-level fan like yourself would be able to compile so thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until the band starts touring again this summer. I'll definitely see you guys around, at least at the NY and NJ shows. :D I also have a new camera, so I'll be able to get some HD video of TMBG for the first time to throw up on the ol' YouTube channel. Exciting!