Don't Let's Start: A Podcast About They Might Be Giants

Latest Episodes:

50: JOHN HENRY - Part 4: O, Do Not Forsake Me with Wilbur Pauley! Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

It's our 50th episode! While we feel 1,000 years old, we discuss O, Do Not Forsake Me, the gothic centerpiece of They Might Be Giants' John Henry! Jordan and his indolent friend Dave try to piece together the possible references (or are they misbegotten notions?) in the song! But what do we know? Joining us in the second half of the episode is lead singer of O, Do Not Forsake Me, Wilbur Pauley!

Wilbur tells us all about his vocal group Hudson Shad, how he got started in music, and how he got involved with They Might Be Giants! We discuss the recording session for the song, his live performances with TMBG, and then some of his notable voice-over and vocal work in some quite popular and iconic movies you've seen! Do not forsake us! LISTEN NOW!

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49: JOHN HENRY - Part 3: You Will Never Understand Me Oct 02, 2022

Show notes

By random whim, we have recorded another episode! Jordan and Dave discuss four songs with four fascinating unreliable narrators from They Might Be Giants' 1994 album John Henry! We blurt our merest ideas and shoot our mouths off about the singer's predicament in I Should Be Allowed To Think! Guitarist Jay Sherman-Godfrey joins us once again to talk about recording the song!

There's no word in English to describe our appreciation for Extra Savoir-Faire! Through archival live show clips, we discover who John Flansburgh means to put down in this very modest song! We've both been thinking about Why Must I Be Sad, and now we understand what it's saying! We examine the Alice Cooper songs that John Linnell is referencing/mocking/tributing/??? in this heart-wrenching/funny/mean/sincere/??? tale.

And finally, we gaze (with our ears) on Spy, and take a few educated guesses at just who is flying that spy plane, baby. I am not allowed to share my feelings on what a fantastic episode this turned out to be! COME ONNNN!

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48: JOHN HENRY - Part 2: Unconnected And Free Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

I proclaim that John Henry Part 2 has arrived! We only just begin our journey on the dark roads of John Henry, They Might Be Giants' fullest length rockingest album! First we spin your head round and round all afternoon as we get freaky with Sleeping In the Flowers, in an England-size segment drowning in information, entertainment, and infotainment!

Then Jordan smiles because Dave is funny, as we mean what we say about the not-tender ballad Unrelated Thing. We're not joking when we tell you that joining us in this segment is lead guitarist on the song, Jay Sherman-Godfrey! Jay talks about recording John Henry, collaborating with John and John, and the special contraption that provided the guitar sound on the song!

After a full day's listening to the podcast, finally, we only have time for one last ride with AKA Driver, as we stay in our lane and discuss the effects of Nyquil, the origins of the song, and the shocking controversy behind the title. So tell your boss that you've been fired, don't seem ungrateful, put your big hand on the play button and your little hand on the volume! Hey podcast listeners, it's podcast listening time!

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47: JOHN HENRY - Part 1: Now I'm Where A Snail Has To Be Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

We Hate They Might Be Giants!...For making such a great album in 1994 named John Henry! IT'S TOO GREAT! Welcome to part 1 of our John Henry Prestige Limited Series. Before getting to the songs, Jordan and Dave (with backup from archival audio of John and John!) get into a discussion that's even longer than the entire album all about the changing music scene in 1994, TMBG's experience recording John Henry in Bearsville, New York, and their clashes with Elektra Records. We also discuss the album's sequence, title, and album art!

Joining us for an incredibly fun and revealing album art discussion about halfway through the episode is our very special guest, SCARLET KIM, one of the little John Henry rascals from the album art (holding the skull on the back, the cover of the Back to Skull EP, and more!) After reminiscing with Scarlet about that eventful day in Central Park, Jordan and Dave talk about SONGS!

We stare into the Subliminal for as long as we can! We notice something about car crashes, dreams, and the subtle (subliminal???) but effective arrangement of the opening track! We slooooowly but eventually get to consider Snail Shell, the slimy and strange single. We debate Linnell's intention behind the song, and we also talk about...well, snails, of course, in a brand new segment called Snail Tell: all snail stories, all the time. Ah....ah....ah....Thank you!

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46: WHY DOES THE SUN SHINE? EP: Spy vs. Spy May 10, 2022

Show notes

Yo ho! We're back from our 93 million miles away space trip to visit the land beyond, and we have a special job discussing They Might Be Giants' 1993 release, the Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is A Mass Of Incandescent Gas) EP! Their first studio recording with their new full band, this bright and shiny release is a jaunty, spirited and eclectic mix of cover songs and one early version of an original classic. Review: 7.5 stars. Actually, one GIANT star!

After a medium-sized investigation of the EP artwork, a majority of the episode turns up the heat on the origins of Why Does The Sun Shine and the album it originated from, Space Songs. A million podcasts could fit inside our discussion of TMBG's first encounters with Space Songs, their early approaches to Why Does The Sun Shine live, and the final (but not!) result of the recorded version you now hold in your hand (I hope?)

Next we get lost in the original endless version of Jessica and theorize on TMBG's decision to cover the bouncy-but-sophisticated instrumental. The Meat Puppets get a little mini-episode dedicated to them, as we gush over Whirlpool and spin some other Puppets songs we've enjoyed. Finally, the first studio recording of Spy gets scrutinized through our spy glasses, as we compare, contrast and congratulate its differences and similarities to the version that would be released on John Henry in 1994. This episode features exclusive insights from some of TMBG's friends and collaborators! Hot enough for ya?

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45: Interview with TMBG drummer Jonathan Feinberg! Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

We proudly present a conversation with Jonathan Feinberg, TMBG drummer for the Apollo 18 tour and the O Tannenbaum single! Jon talks to us about auditioning for They Might Be Giants, recording the Christmas classic, making demos with John Flansburgh, touring with the band, and the unpredictable rollercoaster ride that happened after his time with TMBG! Featuring tons of archival audio of the Apollo 18 tour, plus Jon's own incredibly fun pandemic songwriting, and other surprising surprises! Pull up a drum stool, kick back and crash!

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44: Pass the Dude, Stump the Band: TMBG Live 1990-1992 Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

In the midst of the Apollo 18 tour in 1992 They Might Be Giants transformed from a duo backed by a tape to a real band with real instruments. Jordan and Dave discuss this rock puberty, and all of the complications, consternations, and celebration that went along with it! With many archival audio clips from live concerts and interviews, hear from John and John themselves about why and how this transition took place!

Topics discussed by all include their final duo shows, Stump the Band, Spin the Dial, the band's cover of Frankenstein, and the increasingly rowdy crowds causing chaos at the concerts. So get in line 2 hours early, show your fake ID and join us in our slow, suspenseful buildup to John Henry!

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43: Interview with Laura Cantrell! Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

We present to you now the full interview with singer/songwriter/TMBG vocalist Laura Cantrell, of which only glimpses of were heard in our Apollo 18 episodes! In this limited supply expanded edition you'll hear Laura discuss her musical origins, her first bands, meeting They Might Be Giants, recording The Guitar, shooting the music video for The Guitar, touring with TMBG, and more!

Plus we get very deep into each song on her beloved Hello CD of the Month Club EP, produced by John Flansburgh! Laura talks about songwriting, what makes a country song a country song, and she also takes us (figuratively) on her tour with Elvis Costello, and through the process of recording her full-length albums!

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42: Letterbox Special! Volume 1 Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

This episode is not about us! It's about YOU! Jordan and Dave sit their beautiful bodies down in front of mid-priced microphones and answer some of YOUR e-mails about They Might Be Giants, and what makes us tick! Topics include: TMBG break-up songs! Severed heads! Frank Zappa! The riddles of Which Describes How You're Feeling! The sorrow of She's An Angel! The mysteries of the Birdhouse In Your Soul demo! The Frank O'Toole Show! Have we discovered the singer of I Might Be Giant, Too? What if TMBG never got a full band? Does Dave have a beard? Does Jordan want to get John and John on the show? All that and so much more! Till tomorrooooooow!

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41: BOOK Release Party! Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

The big day has arrived! Not only have They Might Be Giants released a new album, but for the first time on our podcast, Jordan and Dave are along for the experience! We sit down and spill some ink in a more casual chat (no research! no outline!) to discuss our first impressions of TMBG's new album BOOK, and dig into its contents, chapter and verse!

They open the book of BOOK, a massive and mysterious hardcover art project! They bookmark the possible lyrical themes running through the album! They also leaf through the four bonus tracks on the Pamphlet EP! Plus: What songs jumped out the most on a first listen? What had us scratching our heads? Should any of the Pamphlet songs have made it onto BOOK? And finally, Jordan ranks each and every song as Dave looks on in shock! Check out this BOOK right now!

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