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

Latest Episodes:

40: Interview with Kurt Hoffman! Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

A while back Jordan and Dave masked up to have an outdoors, socially-distanced interview with They Might Be Giants collaborator Kurt Hoffman! Kurt is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and visual artist whose footprints are all over TMBG, from opening for them on their Flood tour as part of the legendary group The Ordinaires, to recording on Apollo 18 and John Henry-era songs, to playing keyboards and brass as part of their 90's touring band, plus a handful of hidden projects we discover in this discussion!

We talk to Kurt about learning accordion, writing and performing in The Ordinaires, meeting TMBG and later opening for them, and then joining TMBG as a member of their first ever live band! We also go into lengthy discussions about the making of John Henry, composing the string section for S-E-X-X-Y, the infamous stage-collapse concert, and we hear many surprising tales of show business! Follow our Twitter @dontletspod for tons of links to all of Kurt's projects, and enjoy the episode, there's nothing "ordinary" about it!

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39: APOLLO 18 Wrap-Down: One Door Shut, Another Door Closes Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

Finally splashing down from our lunar mission, Jordan and Dave close the (space?) book on They Might Be Giants' Apollo 18 by resurrecting and inspecting the demos and dial-a-songs made for the album! We begin with a viewing "party" of the infamous Apollo 18 Promo, featuring the hit song "Integrity Project", and a pre-Power Point Power-Point-esque slideshow, with funny jokes and cool stuff! DON'T LET'S START POD "EXPLAINS" THE POWER SPHERES, 20,000K YOUTUBE HITS! Yeah, man!

Then we discuss a WALLOPING NINETEEN demos and dial-a-songs, including the WALLOPING I Palindrome I written by Mr. John Flansburgh, a shockingly funky (so pack your bag!) She's Actual Size written by Mr. John Flansburgh, and a mind-bending nightmare version of Turn Around (written by Mr. John Linnell)!

We also nitty the picks of the Apollo 18 B-side demos (you better believe they are WALLOPING), including the Fun-derful (Ⓒ Jordan Cooper) Welcome To The Jungle demo, and the terrifying tale of Music Jail, "Free Bird's Rebirth." Throughout the jam-packed episode Jordan and Dave discuss songwriting methods, "what is a demo", running into Mr. John Flansburgh at a record store, "what is a praline", camel misunderstandings, and so much more! Coming to you faster than you can say 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...blast off!

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38: APOLLO 18 - Part 6: I Will Leave And I'll Return Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Tranquility base! Jordan and Dave are stuck circling the various moons and planetoids surrounding They Might Be Giants' 4th album Apollo 18, as we hitch a ride on our superfueled freaksicle and explore the out of circulation b-sides sifted off of the album and cast out into the void!

First we have some exclusive and fascinating insight on the I Palindrome I EP photography by one of the photographers! Then our bus drives by Cabbagetown as we talk about so many big ideas relating to the song! Jordan dances to Siftin' while Dave sifts to dancin'!

Then special guest Laura Cantrell tells us more tales of TMBG and about the cover photography for The Guitar EP! All the remixes on this EP are truly one, including the Williamsburgh and Outer Planet remixes! Think you're gonna like as we put aside the fun and games for our discussion of Welcome To The Jungle! Then we say the same words of what will be our next song: I Blame You! And finally, the trip we've planned concludes as we drive our Nova carefully while Moving To The Sun. Come on!

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37: APOLLO 18 - Part 5: I Heard A Sound Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Hey now everybody! After being lost in deep space, Jordan and Dave can't leave They Might Be Giants' fourth album Apollo 18 alone! We're once again joined by second engineer Edward Douglas, plus special guests PETER STAMPFEL and ELMA MAYER, who make unforgettable appearances on Fingertips! You won't remember why you liked our discussion of Hypnotist Of Ladies, but you will!

Then, everything catches on fire in the Don't Let's Pod studio as Jordan and Dave understand every single word of all 21 tracks of Fingertips! Blown wind, New friends, wrecked cars, passed milk, blue things, mysterious whispers...something grabbed ahold of our hands and we're serious as a heart attack! Who IS that standing out the window? Who IS that knocking on the wall? Aren't WHO is the guy who hit WHO in the EYE? And finally, Apollo 18 is set free as Space Suit, all alone, all by itself, is unhooked and floats endlessly into those black, beautiful darkened corridors.......CAME TO PLAAAAY!

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36: APOLLO 18 - Part 4: All Dressed In Black Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

This episode covers ONE TWO THREE FOUR! songs off of Apollo 18, the ONE TWO THREE FOURTH album by They Might Be Giants! We are once again joined by Edward Douglas (the one two three IVth), the 2nd engineer on the album! First, Jordan lies and Dave sighs as we discuss the convoluted, controversial and cryptic bad feelings of Which Describes How You're Feeling!

From one guy in the sky to the one made of dots and lines, Jordan tells Dave everything he already knows about The Ramones as we explore the inspiration and consternation of See The Constellation! Then Jordan steals all the microphones to discuss the why of If I Wasn't Shy! And finally, we calm our nerves and hope you find us highly amusing as we do a deep dive into death in all its many horrible forms in Turn Around! Which is fine, which is fine...

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35: APOLLO 18 - Part 3: I Don't Want A Bean Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

Turn it up! Take one step through the doorway and un-narrow your ears because our latest episode is waving hello! In this episode we explore four shockingly different They Might Be Giants songs off of their fourth album Apollo 18, and we are joined once again by Apollo 18 studio engineer Edward Douglas!

Hey! Who's that commenting on The Guitar? Is it Jim? NO! It's LAURA CANTRELL, our special guest for this episode! Laura talks all about meeting TMBG and recording vocals on the song (her full interview will be released at a later date!) Then Jordan and Dave have been salivating, just waiting for the chance to devour Dinner Bell! Do the bell thing!

Jordan doesn't want to change Dave's mind about Narrow Your Eyes...because they both agree! They discuss the relatable story in the song, which is only half as relatable as Hall of Heads. Is this our favorite one? Please don't try to leave...before enjoying this fantastic episode!

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34: APOLLO 18 - Part 2: Your Turn To Burn Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

Ladies and gentlemen! Jordan and his evil twin Dave are back, along with genuinely good triplet engineer Edward Douglas, to discuss They Might Be Giants' out of this world fourth album Apollo 18!

We begin with a space-shattering revelation about the Apollo 18 album art! Then we've grown so grateful for the devilishly catchy My Evil Twin! Mammal (MAAAAMMAL!) is next and...do you hear that? Let me try again: Mammal (MAAAAAAMMAL!) (there it is again!) is next, as we discuss the surprising sadness of this cute and complicated song.

The big single The Statue Got Me High gets a monumental segment, as we leave no stone unturned! It's as concrete and solid as anything you'll hear about this classic rock song! Finally, eight legs good! We promise not to kill you with our obsessive crawl through the reference points for your friendly neighborhood Spider! We love you, Spider!

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33: APOLLO 18 - Part 1: Words Fail Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

That's one small step for MAN O NAM! After being in deep sleep, Jordan and Dave awaken in their silver spaceship Apollo 18, also the name of They Might Be Giants' indisputably fourth album! We get too into the background of the album's conception, title, artwork and the production style, and helping us along to fact check and offer unique insight is special guest Edward Douglas, credited as second engineer on the Apollo 18 studio sessions!

Every time Dave looks in Jordan's eyes he wants to talk about the punky chunkies of Dig My Grave! Then we are able, we say, though we scare ourselves...to discuss the psycho-drama masterpiece of I Palindrome I! And finally, us big men tremble as we step aside for She's Actual Size, the last song we had time for in this nationwide episode. Believe!

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32: GRAB BAG #2: People With Thoughtful Opinions Sep 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Jordan and Dave pull five random They Might Be Giants songs without a home out of the grab bag and discuss the ever-lovin' bejesus out of them! One of these songs is an exclusive recording of an extremely rare TMBG song that nobody has ever heard before, secretly provided to the podcast by a generous benefactor! What will all of these songs be? Will some be new? Will some be old? Will some be silver, some be gold? Listen now! We also discuss the very latest TMBG news, give important updates on the podcast, answer letters from our listeners, and more!

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31: Scream As If You're In Hell - TMBG Live in the 80s! Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

Take a trip with us back to slimy New York City in the late 1980s for a whirlwind tour through They Might Be Giants' most inspired, hilarious, and sometimes tragic on-stage moments! Dave and Jordan discuss 80's TMBG live show staples like The Stick, Countdown, Scream As If You're In Hell, and MORE SURPRISES!

We also travel around the slimy world and experience the horror of a typical UK rock show audience, the classic "German indifference", and the risky folly of bringing (drunk?) audience members up on stage! Then we discuss our favorite 80's TMBG opening act, Risky Folly! Also featuring a high-spirited Letterbox and Unrelated Thing section to gently ease you out of this harrowing episode!

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