As part of their BIG SHOW TOUR, They Might Be Giants stopped by the Crystal Ballroom for a three-night stint June 6-8, during Portland’s first major heat wave of the year. The humid atmosphere in the ballroom didn’t seem to dampen any spirits, though: All three shows were sold out, with diehard fans singing along to hits and deep cuts with equal amounts of enthusiasm.
The two Johns were happy to share their humor and even some personal connections to Portland: “The people are so nice, and the coffee is so strong!” John Flansburgh said. And a friend who helped them book their first show, a Sandinista rally back in 1982, lives here now, leading them to muse about the presence of antifa in the audience. The crowd seemed to appreciate the question, with clapping and cheers hurled back at the stage.
If you happened to attend more than one of the shows, the band made sure you were surprised with different sets every night. Saturday’s first set focused on songs from the 1994 album John Henry, with a second set providing a broader survey of their 40-plus years together. In a particularly zany moment, the band incorporated a sample from the Eagles’ “Take It to the Limit” into a sprawling remix of “Spy,” with John Linnell conducting the brass section through multiple false endings.
Each show also concluded with two encores, and the choice of “The End of The Tour” and “Birdhouse in Your Soul” for Saturday’s first encore made for a sweet goodnight to a show filled with mutual admiration and excitement. And a high-energy “Dr. Worm” to close it all out? The perfect way to get all of us ready to brave the still-sweltering heat after two-and-a-half hours of music, jokes and unpredictability.
