Thirty-plus years after Flood, They Might Be Giants are still masters of surreal, catchy pop

They Might Be Giants

When: April 22

Where: Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St., Vancouver

Tickets: $35 at ticketmaster.ca (sold-out)

For music fans of a certain vintage, They Might Be Giants are probably best remembered as an alternative to alternative-rock circa 1990. That’s when the duo of John Flansburgh and John Linnell released Flood, the third TMBG album and the record with what became two of the pop group’s signature tracks, Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and Birdhouse In Your Soul. The band hasn’t slowed down since that album, releasing a new one every two or three years. The latest is 2021’s Book, selections from which the band are including on its current, oft-postponed tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of Flood. We talked to Flansburgh about AI, the new record’s song about Winnipeg, and touring with a horn section.