TMBG Shirt #63: Saint Joseph's University

On April 24, 1997, I attended my 12th They Might Be Giants show. They were supposed to open for the Violent Femmes, who were also managed by The Hornblow Group. However, the Femmes were late in arriving so TMBG went on first. Years later, I found this shirt on eBay. True story.

Yup, staff shirt. Nice color!

MP3 of the Week:
Cowtown

Performed at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD on 2/17/12.
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TMBG Shirt #62: Home Taping

"Home Taping Is Killing Music" was the slogan of a 1980s anti-copyright infringement campaign by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), a UK music industry trade group. With the rise in cassette recorder popularity, the BPI feared that people being able to record music from the radio onto cassettes would cause a decline in record sales. The logo, consisting of a Jolly Roger formed from the silhouette of a cassette tape, also includes the words "And It's Illegal". 

TMBG has appropriated the cassette-and-crossbones logo and slogan for this Fall '09 tour shirt. Why exactly, I'm not entirely sure. I suppose because it's amusingly retro. I attended both of the New York City shows on the list: October 4 and October 18.

Hey guys, here's the plan for my 2012 TMBG Tattoo, which is four months away. I'm getting their newest logo above tattoo #1 of John Flansburgh's autograph. This really may be the final leg area available that could be considered "ankle space".

MP3 of the Week:
Mr. Me

Performed at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD on 2/17/12.
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TMBG Shirt #61: Science Is Real

This Tuesday is National Science Day.. in India. The event is commemorated in honour of Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman for his legacy and discovery of the Raman effect, which I believe has something to do with college student economy. Anyway, here's the shirt. It's on fire! Dang volcanos.                

This shirt features fake cover artwork by David Cowles for a non-existent single. The cover artwork is a direct parody of The Louvin Brothers' 1960 "Satan is Real" album cover (below), and mimics almost every feature of the original cover, including the addition of a fictional "Chemistry Records" logo.

MP3 of the Week:
What is a Shooting Star?

This Here Comes Science song was performed by The Avatars of They at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on 7/30/11.
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TMBG Shirt #60: Union County MusicFest '09

Not to be confused with Union County Music Fest '05 (#37), here's a shirt that I picked up during my return trip to the annual festival held in NJ. This time, it took place in Oak Ridge Park in the city of Clark, with They Might Be Giants' performances on the second day of the fest; September 13, 2009.

On the back is a list of the bands that appeared, including Third Eye Blind as the headliner. TMBG played two shows this time around, the first being a family show preceded by a performance by 1910 Fruitgum Company, which was quite nostalgic for me as their song "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" was my favorite 45 in my parents' record collection when I was a kid.

MP3 of the Week:
Snowball In Hell

About two thirds of this seven minute performance at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD on 2/17/12 consists of The Avatars of They executing the bridge in a very drawn out and rambling manner. Classic!
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TMBG Shirt #59: Brooklyn's Ambassadors of Love

Here's a ringer in the style of the Mink Car design. A industrialish look to the band name adorns the front of the shirt.

On the back is TMBG's familiar title, "Brooklyn's Ambassadors of Love". There's even a little heart.

MP3 of the Week:
Celebration

Performed at the TLA in Philadelphia, PA on 9/30/11.
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