They Might Be Giants, often abbreviated as TMBG, is an American alternative rock band formed in Brooklyn in 1982 by vocalist and guitarist John Flansburgh and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist John Linnell. During the band's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a musical duo, often accompanied by a tape machine or a drum machine. In 1992, They Might Be Giants expanded to include a backing band. The band's current backing artists are Danny Weinkauf, Dan Miller, and Marty Beller, and their horn section consists of Dan Levine, Stan Harrison, and Mark Pender. Over their career, they have found success on the modern rock and college radio charts. The band is known for its satirical outlook in many of their songs’ lyrics. They have also found success in children's music with several educational albums and in theme music for television programs and films. They Might Be Giants has released 24 studio albums, starting with their self-titled album, They Might Be Giants, which was released in 1986. Their latest album is The World Is to Dig, which was released in 2026. The band's third album Flood is certified platinum, while their children's music albums Here Come the ABCs...
Extract from Wikipedia: “They Might Be Giants” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Concerts
5/10/2024 · Millvale
The Big Show
They Might Be Giants
Mr. Smalls Theatre
9/24/2022 · Millvale
30th Anniversary Flood Tour
They Might Be Giants
Mr. Smalls Theatre
2001
3/23/2001 · Orlando
They Might Be Giants · OK Go
Hard Rock Live
1998
10/8/1998 · Pittsburgh
They Might Be Giants
Metropol
1998
8/25/1998 · Morgantown
They Might Be Giants
Mountainlair Ballroom
1997
4/25/1997 · Indiana
Then: The Earlier Years
They Might Be Giants
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
1996
12/14/1996 · Pittsburgh
Factory Showroom Tour
They Might Be Giants
Metropol
1994
4/15/1994 · Bethany
Brian Dewan · They Might Be Giants
Bethany College
Vinyl
2022 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo
Mink Car
They Might Be Giants
2020 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo
Flood
They Might Be Giants
2019 · Vinyl, 7", Single
The Communists Have The Music / I've Been Seeing Things
They Might Be Giants
2019 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
2018 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Lincoln
They Might Be Giants
2014 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Apollo 18
They Might Be Giants
2013 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
John Henry
They Might Be Giants
Members
5 people from MusicBrainz
- 1982–John Flansburgh
- 1982–John Linnell
- 1996–1998Hal Cragin — additional, bass
- —Dan Miller — guitar
- —Kurt Hoffman
Discography
256 releases from MusicBrainz · ★ 8 in my collection
Albums (25)
- 1986★They Might Be Giants
- 1988★Lincoln
- 1990★Flood
- 1992★Apollo 18
- 1994★John Henry
- 1994The Power of They Might Be Giants Dial‐a‐Song
- 1996Factory Showroom
- 1999Long Tall Weekend
- 2001★Mink Car
- 2002No!
- 2004Here Come the ABCs
- 2004The Spine
- 2007The Else
- 2008Here Come the 123s
- 2009Here Comes Science
- 2011Join Us
- 2013Nanobots
- 2015Glean
- 2015Why?
- 2016Phone Power
- 2018I Like Fun
- 2018My Murdered Remains
- 2018The Escape Team
- 2021BOOK
- 2026The World Is to Dig
EPs (30)
- 1988(She Was a) Hotel Detective
- 19901990-01-18 - Andy Kershaw Session, BBC Radio 4, London, UK
- 1992I Palindrome I
- 1992The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)
- 1993Why Does the Sun Shine?
- 1994Back to Skull
- 1996S‐E‐X‐X‐Y
- 1999What We Did This Summer
- 2000Working Undercover for the Man
- 2001“Mink Car” Retail Sampler
- 20012001 Radio Sampler No. 1
- 20012001 Radio Sampler No. 2
- 2001Non LP Tracks
- 2001Songs From the Crypt
- 2001Special "Mink Car" Sampler
- 2001They Might Be Giants in… Holidayland
- 2003Bed, Bed, Bed
- 2004Indestructible Object
- 2004The Spine Surfs Alone
- 2006Podcast Highlights
- 2011Instant Fan Club 7″
- 2011Join Us* *Four Advance Tracks
- 2011TMBG's Other Thing Brass Band
- 2012Four Covers From TMBG
- 2013Nanobots EP
- 2019Some Murdered Remains
- 2021The Pamphlet EP
- 2024Beast of Horns (Sampler)
- 2026Eyeball
- —Gab On
Singles (39)
- 1986★[untitled]
- 1987Don’t Let’s Start
- 1988Ana Ng
- 1989Purple Toupee
- 1989They’ll Need a Crane
- 1990Birdhouse in Your Soul
- 1990Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
- 1990Twisting (LP version)
- 1990Your Racist Friend
- 1992The Statue Got Me High
- 1993O Tannenbaum
- 1994Snail Shell
- 1995Sleeping in the Flowers
- 1998Doctor Worm
- 2000Boss of Me
- 2001Man, It’s So Loud in Here
- 2001Shooting Star / Ram On
- 2005I Enjoy Being a Boy
- 2005T-Shirt
- 2007I'm Impressed
- 2008Kids Go!
- 2018The Communists Have the Music
- 2020I Lost Thursday
- 2020Who Are the Electors?
- 2021I Broke My Own Rule
- 2021I Can’t Remember the Dream
- 2021I Can’t Remember the Dream (alt. version)
- 2021Part of You Wants to Believe Me
- 2021Super Cool
- 2022Hearing Aid (alt. version)
- 2022Instant Fan Club: Book Edition
- 2022Particle Man (live at Nola Studio)
- 2024Lazy
- 2024stelluB b/w Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love
- 2024Two Tracks for You
- 2026Outside Brain
- 2026Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
- 2026Sleep’s Older Sister
- 2026Wu-Tang
More: singles, compilations, live & other releases
Lives (78)
- 1985Live at the Pyramid Club, March 1, 1985
- 19871987-03-04: Frank O'Toole Show, WFMU, East Orange, NJ, USA
- 19901990‐02‐28: Arena Wien, Vienna, Austria
- 1993Dr. Spock’s Back‐Up Band
- 1993Live (Thursday, June 24, 1993, 10pm EST)
- 1994Live!! New York City 10/14/94
- 1994New York City Live!!
- 1996Kit Kat Acoustic Break
- 1998Severe Tire Damage
- 1999★Live
- 2001The Flood Show
- 2001TMBG Unlimited: The Ritz Show
- 20022002‐10‐18: George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- 2003Live at Philadelphia Borders 11‐14‐2003
- 20042004-07-04: WXRT Free Concert: Taste of Chicago, Grant Park, Chicago, IL, USA
- 20042004-07-09: First Avenue Mainroom, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- 20042004-07-18: Trees Lounge, Dallas, TX, USA
- 20042004-07-22: The Gibson Beale Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- 20042004-07-24: Live on Penn, Washington, DC, USA
- 20042004-09-17: The Egg, Albany, NY, USA
- 20042004-10-02: Irving Plaza, New York City, NY, USA
- 2004Almanac Live 2004
- 2004Live at Lincoln Theater 9‐27‐2004
- 2004Live at the TLA 9‐30‐2004
- 2004Stumpbox III: The Ceaseless Screaming
- 2004The Spine Hits the Road
- 2004Venue Songs
- 2005Live at the Bellyup Tavern (Venue Songs) 3‐26‐2005
- 20062006-01-01: North Six, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- 20072007-07-18: Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY, USA
- 20072007-07-25: Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY, USA
- 20072007-07-28: Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, USA
- 20072007-08-01: Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY, USA
- 20072007-08-08: Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY, USA
- 20072007-11-07 Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH, USA
- 20072007-11-10: Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL, USA
- 20072007-11-23: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, USA
- 2007Brass Show at the TLA 11‐24‐2007
- 2012At Large
- 2014First Album Live
- 20152015‐05‐31: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- 2015Flood Live in Australia
- 2016Live in Brooklyn
- 20182018 Live
- 20182018‐03‐11: Fox Theater, Boulder, CO
- 2019Brooklyn Trio Sessions
- 2020Asbury Park Live 8/8/13
- 2020Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg 11.29.15
- 2021Unofficial Live Collection
- 2024Beast of Horns
- 20251987‐12‐31: Gusto House, New York City, NY, USA
- 2025Flood Live in America
- 20262026-05-27: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, New York City, NY, USA
- —1987-09-xx: Frank O'Toole Show, WFMU, East Orange, NJ, USA
- —1987‐11‐28: Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany
- —1988‐09‐28: The Knitting Factory, New York City, NY, USA
- —1990-10-02: The Knitting Factory, 47 East Houston St., New York City, NY, USA
- —1992-02-10: The Nordeutscher, Hamburg, Germany
- —1992-11-11: Cabaret Metro, Chicago, IL, USA
- —1995-08-02: Beacon Theater, New York City, NY, USA
- —1995-08-07: Beacon Theater, New York City, NY, USA
- —1999-09-30 (Early): The Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR, USA
- —1999-10-22: Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY, USA
- —2000-08-19: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- —2001-12-13: The Arena, Brisbane, Australia
- —2003-04-28: Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA
- —2004-07-14: Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO, USA
- —2004-07-17: Trees Lounge, Dallas, TX, USA
- —2004-09-25: Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, USA
- —2005-03-13: Providence, RI, USA
- —2006-06-30: WXPN "Free at Noon" Concert, World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- —2006-12-16 (Late Show): Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- —2008-09-14: Jonathan Clarke's "Out of the Box", Q104.3 FM, New York, NY, USA
- —2015‐04‐18 (early show): The Electric Fetus, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- —It May Be a Bootleg
- —Live – 2002/07/21 – Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA (EMP Kids’ concert series)
- —Live at Borders
- —Live at the Pyramid
Soundtracks (1)
- 2001Music from Malcolm in the Middle
Compilations (53)
- 1989Don’t Let’s Start
- 1991Miscellaneous T
- 1996Stumpbox
- 1997Selections From the 2-CD Retrospective Then: The Earlier Years
- 1997Then: The Earlier Years
- 1999Best of the Early Years
- 1999Direct From Brooklyn
- 1999Giants Jubilee
- 1999Kids Sampler
- 1999Mightathon
- 1999Superfueled Freaksicle
- 2001They Might Be Giants vs. McSweeney’s
- 2001TMBG UnLtd #1 January
- 2001TMBG UnLtd #2 February
- 2001TMBG UnLtd April
- 2001TMBG UnLtd August
- 2001TMBG UnLtd December
- 2001TMBG UnLtd July
- 2001TMBG UnLtd June
- 2001TMBG UnLtd March
- 2001TMBG UnLtd May
- 2001TMBG UnLtd November
- 2001TMBG UnLtd October
- 2001TMBG UnLtd September
- 2002Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants
- 2002They Got Lost
- 2005A User’s Guide to They Might Be Giants
- 2005Podcast 1A
- 2006Rhino Hi‐Five: They Might Be Giants
- 2006They Might Be Ringtones
- 2007Cast Your Pod to the Wind
- 2007They Might Be Giants Podcast
- 2007Wired Magazine “Snacktones”
- 2008Dunkin' Donuts Campaign
- 2011Album Raises New and Troubling Questions
- 2013Flood + Apollo 18
- 2013John Henry + Factory Showroom
- 2013Them Ain't Big Eye Ants
- 2014Idlewild: A Compilation
- 201550,000,000 They Might Be Giants Songs Can’t Be Wrong
- 2015Dial‐A‐Song Direct
- 2015The Music of They Might Be Giants: 1986–2013
- 2015Video Jail
- 2016Songs for Chop
- 2017Up to Date
- 2018Dial‐A‐Song — 2018
- 2019Instant Fan Club 2019 Compilation
- 2020Modern
- 2020Secret Music, Vol. 1
- 2020Songs About Coffee
- 2021Secret Music, Vol. 2
- 2022Unofficial Demos and Rarities
- 2024The Spine Surfs Alone: Rarities 1998–2005
Remixs (2)
- 2026Get Down (Michael Wilbur remix)
- 2026Join Us (Nightcore)
Demos (11)
- 19841984 Promotional Demo Tape
- 19851985 Demo
- 19851985 Promotional Demo Tape #1
- 19851985 Promotional Demo Tape #3
- 1985Wiggle Diskette
- 1988Roughs from 2nd LP
- 1991Rough Mixes from Apollo 18
- 1996The Complete Factory Showroom Sessions
- 1999Leaked 1999 Studio Tape
- 2012John Henry Demos
- —Bill Krauss Demos
Others (17)
- 1988'Lincoln' Sampler
- 19931993 Sampler
- 20002001 Sampler
- 2006Podcast 10A
- 2006Podcast 11A
- 2006Podcast 2A
- 2006Podcast 3A
- 2006Podcast 4A
- 2006Podcast 5A
- 2006Podcast 5B
- 2006Podcast 6A
- 2006Podcast 6B
- 2006Podcast 6C
- 2006Podcast 7A
- 2006Podcast 8A
- 2006Podcast 9A
- —1997-02-02: Idiot's Delight with Vin Scelsa, WNEW-FM, New York City, NY, USA
Related artists
4 from MusicBrainz
Subgroups & offshoots (2)
- 2001–Sapphire Bullets
- 2009–The Avatars of They
Supporting musicians (2)
- The Other Thing Brass Band
- 2006–2007Velcro Horns