Mr. Furious Records

I’ve had cause over the past couple weeks to attempt explaining my various bands, projects, and recordings to an audience that’s been mostly out of the loop since howie&scott’s signs.comets. We determined quickly that a flowchart of sorts was needed, and it was interesting enough to put together that I thought you guys might dig it too.

PRIMER: Bands of -h

Any conversation about They Might Be Giants starts for me with a memory of seeing them with Tim, Rebecca, JT, and Bluebird of Friendliness knows who else six or seven years ago at the old Royal Grove in Lincoln, NE.
It was a strip club.

Not during TMBG, though!  The venue regularly held rock shows, then clear everybody out after the music and switch over.

It was the James K. Polk tour, complete with light show, confetti, bunting and Polk banners.  The Band of Dans killed.  Linnell gave me a masters class in surliness, while Flansburgh rocked. out. on. the Telecaster, lifting it high for anything remotely resembling a big riff, roaming the stage with his wireless mic and stand, and tearing into his background vocals with an enthusiasm usually reserved for the showiest of show choir members.

Happily, not too much has changed.

Jill, Doug, and I were thoroughly rocked by the Giants’ set Friday night.

Kudos to the Beaumont for starting yet another show on time; this is becoming quite the habit over there.  And the sound was solid, with the exception that Flansburgh’s vocals were a little buried.

TMBG’s current incarnation is a stripped-down, loose outfit that reminds me of nothing so much as early Elvis Costello.  Their set spanned their entire career, including the expected highlights from “Flood” and a few selections from their recent children’s albums (”Seven”).  Flansburgh joked (At least I think he was joking) that the band doesn’t rehearse for their children’s gigs (they had one Saturday) except for onstage at their adult shows.

Given my history with the band, hearing the phrase “adult shows” from the stage was extra-special.

TMBG gave us a few surprises, including a masterful acoustic guitar introduction to “Istanbul,” a noisy, deconstructed interlude in the middle of “Particle Man,” Flansburgh introducing the members of the band…  twice…  and a pleasantly ramshackle version of “Fingertips.”

If you’ve ever been a fan of the band, or think you might become one, catch them on tour.  They don’t disappoint. -h

“Songs of -h” is still available; mail your cash or check gift to

St. Peter’s United Church of Christ

Mexico Trip 2008

700 E. 110th St.

Kansas City, MO 64131

and we’ll use it to build a house in Tijuana this June for a family that needs one. In the meantime, check out these desktops!

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• 4 cans of beans (I use 2 black / 2 red kidney)
• 3 cans of diced tomatoes
• 2 granny smith apples, shredded
• 1 small can of chipotle peppers en adobo, blended/processed
• chopped celery (optional, but recommended. 0-5 ribs, depending on how much you want to cut the heat of the chipotles)

Season with bullion, a good shot of olive oil, cumin, garlic, a bit of salt (I like Crazy Jane’s), and maybe a bit of lime juice.

Combine it all in a BAP (Big Ass Pot), add liquid as needed, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 10-45 minutes, however you like the beans.

Serve with crackers or rice (thanks, Drew!) and fresh veggies + dip. A bold dose of cinnamon in a bowl of this chili will take it in a completely different direction.

I just posted The Sleepover’s “Built For It,” from their obnoxiously long-titled EP, below as our twelfth “Furious Instance.”  We should do more of those, it’s a good idea; a home for all the stuff that doesn’t have a home on a proper release.

(The streaming version is also up-to-date)  -h