SPINmc: Hello everyone! Welcome to the world of SPINonline and They Might Be Giants! We've got John Linnell here with us tonight....so stick around and we'll begin in a second.
OnlineHost: TMBGlive has declined the invitation.
OnlineHost: TMBGlive has entered the room.
OnlineHost: Copyright 1996 America Online, Inc.
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SPINmc: It's about five of 9, but what the heck...let's start taking some questions, shall we?
SPINmc: We're here with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants...They have a new album out on Elektra records called Factory Showroom
SPINmc: Joh L. will be taking any and all questions, so press that interact button!
SPINmc: That's John L.
SPINmc: Here we go...Crane100:
Question: Are you a tea drinker, John?
TMBGlive: Flansburgh and myself drink coffee....Flansburgh has the occasional Martini
SPINmc: Tmbg345:
Question: When will your House of Mayors come out? And how was the idea concepted?
TMBGlive: House of Mayors CD will be out momentarily on Hello Records...it was inspired by the Disney Hall of Presidents and is based on a ficticious New York Hall of Mayors
SPINmc: Fisker2:
Question: Do you still have your "Song of the Day" phone line?
TMBGlive: Dial a Song is still reachable at 718-387-6962 It features a different unreleased TMBG song everydayOnlineHost: The auditorium consists of two major areas: the
: audience, where you are right now, and the stage,
: where the speakers appear. Text which you type
: onscreen shows only to those in your row, prefaced
: by the row number in parentheses, such as (2) if
: you are in row 2. To interact with the speaker,
: use the Interact icon on your screen.
SPINmc: Tuxedo Sp:
Question: How's the weather in Brooklyn?
TMBGlive: Unseasonably warm
SPINmc: ROSS2MYRR:
Question: i've not heard any of your music--who would you be similar to?
TMBGlive: we pride ourselves on sounding original...we...you know...we do our best to sound like no other bandSPINmc: We're here with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants...Send your Q's by pressing Interact
SPINmc: Jasonkral:
Question: What's up John, How YOU doing?
TMBGlive: I'm in strangely good health considering we just doing some touring that's just stopped doing some touring
SPINmc: Doubaya:
Question: Do any of your songs have a serious or deep meaning to them?
TMBGlive: we think of all of our songs as meaningful...sometimes the meaning is more obvious than othersSPINmc: Rorschach:
Question: Will you be publishing TMBG sheet music ever??
TMBGlive: We've been tossing that idea around (songbook) for a few years...we still havent figured out what to do...we'd like to find something for the casual instrumentalist ...as well as the dedicated fanatic
SPINmc: Amy KES:
Question: How would you say that your style has changed, from, say, Lincoln, to Factory Showroom?
TMBGlive: We've both aged about 7 years...other than that, our intent has
more or less remained...the same...I think that techinally we are better musicians than in 88SPINmc: John Linnell might be a giant...no that's silly...he's normal- sized and he's chatting now.SPINmc: Halos13:
Question: so....where'd did the idea come from for that song on Apollo 18 with all the little songs on it like "please pass the milk please"
TMBGlive: it was partly inspired by the ads for song collections that you
here on late night TV hear
SPINmc: Send your questions by pressing the interact button.
SPINmc: Mr Avocad:
Question: I have heard that an Elektra singles b-side compilation (called
Superfueled Freaksicle, I believe) will be released some time next year... Is this true? Any idea what will be put on it?
TMBGlive: superfueled freaksicle is the b-side complitlation from the Elektra years...as it stands it's either 2 or 3 as the next TMBG album set for take-offOnlineHost: The auditorium consists of two major areas: the
: audience, where you are right now, and the stage,
: where the speakers appear. Text which you type
: onscreen shows only to those in your row, prefaced
: by the row number in parentheses, such as (2) if
: you are in row 2. To interact with the speaker,
: use the Interact icon on your screen.
SPINmc: Qyzwx82:
Question: When do you plan to perform again in Columbia, MO? I will
definately be there!
TMBGlive: we're not going to perform in Columbia again this year, but we will be in KC ...at the end of November
SPINmc: Zombie455:
Question: I thought "I Can Hear You" was really cool! How'd you get the idea for that? How did you get to use Edison Laboratories' equipment?
TMBGlive: We were invited by them to come record on their 100 year- old wax cylindor recorder...naturally we leaped at the chance
SPINmc: Mr Avocad:
Question: I have been told that a collection called "They: The Early Years" will be released early next year, containing all Restless albums as well as 18 unreleased songs -- is this true and what will some of the 18 songs be?
TMBGlive: the collection is called "Then- The Early Years"...the unreleased tracks are mostly dmos from that same time period (85 to 88) many of which have appeared on Dial - a - song (718) 387- 6962SPINmc: We're here with John Linnell from TMBG...he's hand-picking your questions now!
SPINmc: Jasonkral:
Question: Is the Moscow concert in Idaho or Russia?
TMBGlive: We're playing in Moscow, Idaho in a few weeks...our first
performance in the state
SPINmc: Xiff:
Question: hey john... ive been watching two very disturbing things on T TV... It seems too me that their both things that can't be stopped... what do you recomend we do about the Ebola Virus...and um, the "Single Guy"? Between the two of them... I feel the
apocolapse coming...
TMBGlive: I dont know
SPINmc: GoodOmenz:
Question: how was the conan obrien show? the suits rocked!!TMBGlive: we had an unusually easy-going time on Conan last night it was our first time suiting up the entire band in identical
costumesSPINmc: John is taking great care to pick only the finest of questions...SO MAKE 'EM GOOD!
SPINmc: MiamiSkat:
TMBGlive: I hope that people appreciated the experiment
Question: Does S-E-X-X-Y have anything to do with chromosomes?
TMBGlive: Flansburgh has kept pretty quiet about this issue...it's not clear
if the "XXY" reference was intentional...personally, I think it makes the song more interesting
SPINmc: Xiff:
Question: On your recordings, as one myself, I always find the accordian
playing the best part... it really rounds out the sound. how important is accordian too your songwriting? Do you just addit to the recordings, or write the accordian oriented songs with
accordian first?
TMBGlive: I'd say I write about half the songs on the accordion these days...on the last record we gave ourselves the freedom to use any
instrument that...we felt suited the song. I think the accordian showed up on three tracks
SPINmc: Call the Dial A Song number (718) 387-6962 for your daily dose of TMBG
TMBGlive: 718-387-6968
TMBGlive: Dont call that number it's 718-387-696(2!)SPINmc: Drayco:
Question: I Am Not Your Broom is nifty. will there be other movies on your web page soon?
SPINmc: We've gone crazy and dumped all the questions!
OnlineHost: The auditorium consists of two major areas: the
: audience, where you are right now, and the stage,
: where the speakers appear. Text which you type
: onscreen shows only to those in your row, prefaced
: by the row number in parentheses, such as (2) if
: you are in row 2. To interact with the speaker,
: use the Interact icon on your screen.
SPINmc: Ask your questions now!
TMBGlive: We recently purchased the camera that looks like an eyeball on a pyramid...we'll probably be making more little films with it soon
SPINmc: TMBG 34:
Question: Hey John, What's your favorite movie?
TMBGlive: I just saw Badlands last night...worth checking out
SPINmc: AmLarry:
Question: What kind of new things can we expect to see on the new tour or in Salt Lake City on Friday?
TMBGlive: We'll obviously be playing material from our new release "Factory Showroom" in addition to unreleased material, with many visual surprises
SPINmc: AnaNg32:
Question: Who will win XTC or Adam Ant?
TMBGlive: XTC and Adam Ant will battle eternally in Heaven
SPINmc: SUNSHIN79:
Question: What is the address of your web page?
TMBGlive: I believe its www.tmbg.comSPINmc: Tmbg345:
Question: Where is your favorite place to visit while on tour?
SPINmc: John Linnell is here with us tonight...
SPINmc: Sifting through the silly and the profound...ask your questions now
TMBGlive: we were recently reacquainted with the fine cities if Louisville, KY and Madison, Wisc...on our last tour
SPINmc: VxDopusxV:
Question: Who is your favorite pro wrestler?TMBGlive: I think the Iron Sheik
SPINmc: Smallpig:
Question: what's the stumpiest song you ever got in stump the band?
SPINmc: After much deliberation....
TMBGlive: It's hard to remember...the stumpier they were, the less memorable they were
SPINmc: RFPkr:Question: linell - ive seen you guys 22 times this year. how come you neverhang out after the shows? how many brian doherty signed tix stubs can one own?
TMBGlive: I'm usually exhausted after shows, which is why I'm not too good at shmoozing after a gig
I'd like to make a permanent apology to fans who might have been burned...by my anti-social behaviourSPINmc: AMgdr:
Question: what is your relationship with the band Cub, and led to your
covering of New York City?
TMBGlive: Flansbourgh heard Cub on the radio and went to enourmous lengths to find the name of the band...I still havent met them, but Flans bumped into them on our last tour..and says they're nice people
SPINmc: John Linnell...answering your questions *live* Press interact now!
SPINmc: Nmarzano:
Question: My friends and I have a theory that Spider represents music, is
this correct?
TMBGlive: Um...I dont understand the question, but it's a fascinating one
SPINmc: Triz:Question: Will the next record be coming out in 2 years? or possibly sooner because of the song recorded for FS which didn't make it on this album?TMBGlive: the next release will be the collection of early material called
"Them - The Early Years". followed by our next album which will probably be out by next summer
SPINmc: We've got about 5 more minutes with John Linnell...
SPINmc: Qyzwx82:
Question: What inspired you to write James K. Polk? It's not the kind of song I'd expect you to come up with...
TMBGlive: The inspiration for this song was form a country singer named
Johnny Horton - who was ...well known in the 50's and 60's as a writer of historical pop songs
SPINmc: AlyceF:
Question: How did you guys like opening up for Elvis Costello at the Beacon Theater in New York City last year?
TMBGlive: It was personally thrilling for us because we've been fans of Elvis Costello's since we...were teenagers
SPINmc: Rtmmk:
Question: Who is really the powerhouse of the band? or is it an equal thing?
TMBGlive: we like to think that we have at least 5 if not 7 powerhouses on
stage during our live performances
SPINmc: GoodOmenz:
Question: you wont answer this but- who's Certain People about?
TMBGlive: I can never resisit a challenge It was inspired by noticing a similarity between Kurisawa's "the Seventh Samurai" and a good friend of mineSPINmc: We're just going to take a couple more questions...the clock is
ticking...
SPINmc: Mr Avocad:Question: Are there any current musicians whose music you enjoy? Do you listen to much music?
SPINmc: One more question......
TMBGlive: I just heard an album from a band called "Adventures in Stereo" that I liked a lot
SPINmc: The last question go to Junglelad:
Question: what do you do in your spare time?
SPINmc: Oops! Goes to Junglelad
TMBGlive: As rare as it is...My spare time is reserved for 1) staring out the window...
2) hanging out with people and staring out the window
3) riding my bicycle 'round Brooklyn
4)playing cards
5) reading the newspaper
SPINmc: We'd like to thank John Linnell for tearing himself away from his window to be with us...
SPINmc: And thank _YOU_ for coming by...
SPINmc: Come by SPINonline and check out the transcripts....
TMBGlive: I wish I liked Slurpees
OnlineHost: TMBGlive has left the room.
SPINmc: We'll be posting them in a couple of days...SPINmc: Thank you, America Online, and good night!OnlineHost: Copyright 1996 America Online, Inc.
