They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock duo consisting of John Linnell and John Flansburgh that formed in 1982. The band is commonly abbreviated to TMBG. Best known for an unconventional and experimental style of alternative music, the group has found success on the modern rock and CMJ charts, in the children's music genre, and in theme music for several television programs and films.

TMBG's best-known songs include
Birdhouse in Your Soul
Don't Let's Start
Ana Ng

Their appearances on the show Tiny Toon Adventures also gained recognition for the song Particle Man. Their song Doctor Worm was a surprise hit in Australia, ranking 13th in the Triple J Hottest 100 for the year 1998. Two TMBG albums have been certified gold: Flood and the 2005 children's music album Here Come the ABCs.TMBG's song Boss of Me served as the theme to the Fox Television Network comedy series Malcolm in the Middle and earned them a Grammy Award in 2002. They have also contributed theme songs to
Comedy Central's The Daily Show
Adult Swims The Oblongs
Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse
Higglytown Heroes

History
Linnell and Flansburgh first met as teenagers growing up in Lincoln, Massachusetts. They began writing songs together while attending Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School but never officially formed a band. The two attended separate colleges after high school, and Linnell joined The Mundanes, a New Wave group from Rhode Island. The two reunited in 1981 after moving to Brooklyn to continue their career.

Then: The Earlier Years (1982 to 1989)
Taking their name from the 1971 movie They Might Be Giants, the duo began performing their own music in and around New York City Flansburgh on guitar, Linnell on accordion and saxophone, and accompanied by a drum machine and a prerecorded backing track on audio cassette. Their typical instrumentation, along with their songs which featured unusual subject matter and clever wordplay, soon attracted a strong local following. Their performances also featured oddly comical stage props such as oversized fezzes and large cardboard cutout heads of newspaper editor William Allen White.

During the pause, they began recording their songs onto an answering machine, and then advertising the phone number in local newspapers. They also released a demo cassette, which earned them a review in People magazine. The review caught the attention of Bar None Records, who signed They Might Be Giants to a recording deal.

Recent activity (2004-Present)
In 2004, the band created one of the first artist-owned online music stores, at which customers could purchase and download MP3 copies of their music, both new releases and many previously released albums. By creating their own store, the band could keep money that would otherwise go to record companies. The name of the store was TMBG MP3 Music Store.In 2004, the band released their first new adult rock work in three years, the EP Indestructible Object. They followed that up with a new album, The Spine, and an associated EP, The Spine Surfs Alone. For the album's first single, Experimental Film, TMBG teamed up with Homestar Runner creators Matt and Mike Chapman to create an animated music video. The band's collaboration with the Brothers Chaps also included several Puppet Jam segments with puppet Homestar, and the music for a Strong Bad email entitled Different Town.

Drummer Dan Hickey left the band around this timeframe and was subsequently replaced by Marty Beller, who had already played with TMBG for kids' shows and other projects.TMBG also contributed a track to the 2004 Future Soundtrack for America compilation, a project compiled by John Flansburgh with the help of Spike Jonze and Barsuk Records. The band contributed Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, a political campaign song from the presidential election of 1840. The compilation was released by Barsuk and featured indie, alternative, and high-profile acts such as Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, and Bright Eyes.

Their most recent album, The Else, was released July 10, 2007. The album was produced by David Byrne and The Dust Brothers. Their song, Man, It's so Loud in Here, is used on Real Madrid TV to publicize Real Madrid Castilla matches.They Might Be Giants has written a commissioned piece for Brooklyn-based robotic music outfit League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots (2007).

They Might Be Giants are John Linnell and John Flansburgh, an American alternative act that has casted alternative with the most commercial appeal. Distinct and unique in every dimension; from composition, to arrangements, guitar riffs, instrumental interplay and lyrics, the band went mainstream rather quickly. Their most unconventional sound and innovative music and lyrics earned them two RIAA platinum certified albums and a double Grammy win for one of Flood the album and a feature song. Their respective version of alternative rock helped them create thematic music and inspirational lyrics. For their initial years they hit off with Birdhouse in Your Soul, Ana Ng, Istanbul and Boss of Me, making them one of the highest selling alternative acts. Their eccentric approach to music was applauded by critics and reviewed positively by creative producers. Hence they were called to venture into thematic music production that led them to the children's music genre.

Their music was featured on films, television shows and special thematic occasions to complement the mood and deliver the kick required. From the Grammy winners Flood to Here Comes the ABC's the band had made a place for themselves in mainstream and international alternative scene. Equally popular amongst children and grown ups their songs featured on Malcolm in the Middle, The Daily Show, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Higglytown Heroes are sensational hits. Calling for live might, their concert tours attract an extensive outreach in fanfare, bringing forward, the most enjoyable yet self defined alternative music from. They Might Be Giants Tickets presents a special live act of the band every time, all time!