This Might Be Mardi Gras - VGF

***CaptHayfever*** · 02-18-2007, 02:09 AM

Came home this weekend with some friends to see They Might Be Giants playing a free show at the 3rd-largest Mardi Gras party in the world: St. Louis.
This trip was not my idea; despite my love for the band, I didn't want to bug someone to give up a whole weekend for the 4-hour-each-way drive to mi ciudad, especially if it wasn't someone who would have a place to stay. Besides, I knew that TMBG has played St. Louis every year since the late 80s, so I figured I could catch 'em another time.
But a few friends of mine decided to go on their own and invited me along. Very nice folks.

The drive down: Snow + Dark + Driver unfamiliar with city = Stress. But we did rock out to some nice tunes on the trek, and the two of us in the car who did know where we were going helped out.

The preshow activities: Whilst my 3 compatriots, all staying at the one's house, accompanied the one & her father to a mineral convention of some kind in Kirkwood, I got a haircut and did some stuff around the house.
I met up with them later in the historic Soulard district, home of St. Louis's Mardi Gras festivities, at the historic Soulard Farmers' Market, which was unfortunately overrun with drunk people peeing on the floor. Very few of the Market's vendors were open, and it was very cold outside, so we walked up Broadway to Taco Bell to warm ourselves and grab dinner.

The opening act: Wild Stallyns (no joke) played while we were a mile away in Taco Bell, so we didn't hear them at all.

The venue: About 40 minutes before showtime, we hoofed it back down to the party zone, past the Market a few blocks to the stage. The snow on the ground packed very quickly as the crowd formed--mosh pit only seating--but everyone was in boots, so very little falling happened. There were two big drawbacks to this location (the weather being ignored): The rancid stench of cigar smoke, and the girl standing behind me who shrieked directly into my ear a few times during the night.
I can take the audio onslaught of a rock concert with minimal pain and ultimately no irreversable hearing damage, but girls shrieking into my ear bring me down like a shotgunned duck.

The show: John & John walked out and everybody went wild. Then the band started playing and everybody jammed, only screaming between songs. Sublime musicianship, even better showmanship, a healthy dose of humor, and really freaking weird songs, that's what a TMBG concert is all about.
I cannot remember the order of the set list, but I shall do my best to remember the songs themselves:
"St. Louis"
"Asbury Park"
"Alphabet of Nations"
"Why Does the Sun Shine?"*
"New York City"*
"Ana Ng"
"Spy"
"Particle Man"
"Fingertips"*
"Twisting"
"The Famous Polka"
"Til My Head Falls Off"
"James K. Polk"*
"Drink"
"We're the Replacements"
"Doctor Worm"***
"Boss of Me"**
"D--- Good Times"****
Close: "Birdhouse in Your Soul/Istanbul***/The Joker"
There might be one or two that I forgot.

*Fanvid; no official video exists.
**Fanvid; official video was pulled by Viacom.
***Alternate video; official video was pulled.
****Video is on the Venue Songs page.

The aftermath: Walked about a mile back to the car, drove home, smiles all around. There was no big traffic surge, because most of the revelers planned to remain far later into the night/next day/until Tuesday.

The return trip: Beautiful weather, less traffic, all was well.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

02-18-2007, 02:09 AM	#1
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,283 Thanks: 161 Thanked 734 Times in 475 Posts Points: 105,567.96 Bank: 923.79 Total Points: 106,491.75 Donate	This Might Be Mardi Gras Came home this weekend with some friends to see They Might Be Giants playing a free show at the 3rd-largest Mardi Gras party in the world: St. Louis. This trip was not my idea; despite my love for the band, I didn't want to bug someone to give up a whole weekend for the 4-hour-each-way drive to mi ciudad, especially if it wasn't someone who would have a place to stay. Besides, I knew that TMBG has played St. Louis every year since the late 80s, so I figured I could catch 'em another time. But a few friends of mine decided to go on their own and invited me along. Very nice folks. The drive down: Snow + Dark + Driver unfamiliar with city = Stress. But we did rock out to some nice tunes on the trek, and the two of us in the car who did know where we were going helped out. The preshow activities: Whilst my 3 compatriots, all staying at the one's house, accompanied the one & her father to a mineral convention of some kind in Kirkwood, I got a haircut and did some stuff around the house. I met up with them later in the historic Soulard district, home of St. Louis's Mardi Gras festivities, at the historic Soulard Farmers' Market, which was unfortunately overrun with drunk people peeing on the floor. Very few of the Market's vendors were open, and it was very cold outside, so we walked up Broadway to Taco Bell to warm ourselves and grab dinner. The opening act: Wild Stallyns (no joke) played while we were a mile away in Taco Bell, so we didn't hear them at all. The venue: About 40 minutes before showtime, we hoofed it back down to the party zone, past the Market a few blocks to the stage. The snow on the ground packed very quickly as the crowd formed--mosh pit only seating--but everyone was in boots, so very little falling happened. There were two big drawbacks to this location (the weather being ignored): The rancid stench of cigar smoke, and the girl standing behind me who shrieked directly into my ear a few times during the night. I can take the audio onslaught of a rock concert with minimal pain and ultimately no irreversable hearing damage, but girls shrieking into my ear bring me down like a shotgunned duck. The show: John & John walked out and everybody went wild. Then the band started playing and everybody jammed, only screaming between songs. Sublime musicianship, even better showmanship, a healthy dose of humor, and really freaking weird songs, that's what a TMBG concert is all about. I cannot remember the order of the set list, but I shall do my best to remember the songs themselves: "St. Louis" "Asbury Park" "Alphabet of Nations" "Why Does the Sun Shine?"* "New York City"* "Ana Ng" "Spy" "Particle Man" "Fingertips"* "Twisting" "The Famous Polka" "Til My Head Falls Off" "James K. Polk"* "Drink" "We're the Replacements" "Doctor Worm"* "Boss of Me" "D--- Good Times"** Close: "Birdhouse in Your Soul/Istanbul/The Joker" There might be one or two that I forgot. Fanvid; no official video exists. Fanvid; official video was pulled by Viacom. Alternate video; official video was pulled. **Video is on the Venue Songs page. The aftermath:* Walked about a mile back to the car, drove home, smiles all around. There was no big traffic surge, because most of the revelers planned to remain far later into the night/next day/until Tuesday. The return trip: Beautiful weather, less traffic, all was well. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!" Last edited by CaptHayfever; 02-21-2007 at 07:01 PM.