16 SCOTIA GLENVILLE 08.pdf - Pirate CNY

Page 20 April 17, 2008 Spotlight
By JACQUELINE M. DOMIN
dominj@spotlightnews.com
T
hey Might Be Giants
are no strangers
to the Albany area,
or The Egg, where
they’ll be performing on
Saturday, April 19.
The group, made up of
John Flansburgh and John
Linnell both from Brooklyn,
was so captivated by the
unique performing arts
center that they wrote a song
about it. “Albany (The Egg)”
is featured on the duo’s
“Venue Songs” album.
They Might Be Giants’
latest trip to the Capital
District, though, will break
new ground. They’re doing
two shows, and each one has
a unique focus. At 3 p.m.,
they’ll put on a family show,
and at 8 p.m., they will stage
a more mature concert,
recommended for those 14
and older.
While the earlier show
will feature songs from the
group’s latest children’s
album, “Here Come the
123s,” Egg Executive
Director Peter Lesser
said all ages will enjoy the
performance.
“It’s still rocking music,”
he said.
Lesser said They Might
Be Giants are part of a
growing trend of musical
acts who are hooking the
children of their fans on
music geared to the younger
set. In They Might Be
Giants’ case, their foray
into children’s music began
with the CD “No!” in 2002,
followed by “Here Come the
ABCs.” Both reached No.
1 on Billboard’s Children’s
Music charts. The group
also released a children’s
book-and-CD set titled “Bed,
8 PM: Sat, Apr 26
Fri, Apr 25, May 2*
2 PM: Sun, Apr 20, 27
10 AM: Weekdays -
Apr 18, 22, 23, 24,
25, 29, 30, May 1
*sign language interpreted
performance
Recommended for ages 11
and up
At: Russell Sage
College, Troy-
Directions online
Tickets:
$20 Adult
$16 Senior/Student
$10 Children
(to age 12)
25% discount for groups
of 10 or more.
Box Office:
(518) 274-3256
www.nysti.org
Bed, Bed.”
There’s a good
chance parents and
kids who have never
bought a “They Might
Be Giants” CD are
still familiar with their
music. Flansburgh
and Linnell have
written and performed
theme songs for
“The Oblongs,”
“Higglytown Heroes,”
“Resident Life,” and
ABC’s “Nightline
Primetime,” as well
as songs for “The
Simpsons,” “Home
Movies,” “Dexter’s
Laboratory” and
“Courage the
Cowardly Dog.”
The idea of
combining their two
genres of music
by performing two
separate shows on
tour stops is a new
concept for They
Might Be Giants,
as well as the
music industry in
general, Lesser
said. For The
Egg, it was a
natural fi t since
it already has
a relationship
with the band
and it also holds
a family music
series.
“It is a popular
series, some things
more than others,”
Lesser said. He’s found
that acts like They
Might Be Giants, who
already had a core
following before trying
out children’s music,
seem to generate the
most excitement.
“People love them,”
he said.
by Marcelle Maurette
English Adaptation by Guy Bolton
Entertainment Spotlight
in the
Jumbo Sized
Performances
Anastasia Group to perform 2 shows at Egg
The later show will give
those long-time fans a
chance to see They Might
Be Giants perform hits
like “Birdhouse in Your
Soul,” “Ana Ng” and “Snail
Shell.” Lesser said that the
group’s desire to keep that
performance limited to those
14 and older isn’t a result
of staging a show for the
younger set earlier in the
day; the suggested age limit
has been standard They
Might Be Giants practice for
years.
“They like to do some
mature stuff,” he said.
Tickets for the family
show are $10 for children
and $15 for adults. Admission
to the later show is $25.
Tickets can be purchased
through www.theegg.org, by
calling 473-1845 or visiting
the box offi ce.
They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh, left, and John Linnell hail from Brooklyn.
Cover art: “Here Come the 123s” is They Might Be Giants’ follow-up
to “Here Come the ABCs.”