Record Service, Spring 1993:John Linnell (thin, accordion) and John Flansburgh (not thin, guitar) of They Might Be Giants stop to shop in campustown on their way to a show at Eastern Illinois University . Flansburgh checks out first.
Clerk (recognizing Flansburgh . . . not as a band member but as someone he met the previous evening at the Blind Pig): Hey, man. How’s it going? Is this all you need today?
Flansburgh: Fine. Yeah – that’s all. How are you?
Clerk: Doin’ great. Dollar pints was pretty great last night?
Flansburgh (playing along): Yeah – drank a bit too much, always do.
Clerk: I hear that. Hey – I’ve got our time for Bandjam this weekend. We’re playing at 3 p.m. – you gonna make it?
Flansburgh (still playing along): I’ll be there – lookin’ forward to it. Anything special planned?
Linnell approaches the counter to check out. Standing side-by-side, the clerk realizes that he’s made a huge mistake. However, his hangover prevents him from remembering the name of the band.
Clerk (awkwardly): Hey . . . it’s you guys . . . would you mind signing this? (Bandjam flyer)
(Both Johns smile politely, sign flyer and then stare blankly at the clerk)
Clerk (trying to laugh it off as he hands Flansburgh his bag): So . . . should I save you a spot down front on Saturday?
No response as the purchases are collected and the Johns file out.
Tales from the Record Store - bonus
Approximately two weeks later . . .
Better Than Ezra’s singer/guitarist Kevin Griffin is spotted but, again, mistaken as someone new to the C-U music scene. The band is in town for a show at Follinger Auditorium. The clerk approaches and Griffin acknowledges him. About two sentences in the clerk realizes that, again, he’s made a huge mistake . . . yet can’t place the singer with his band. He wishes him a good show and decides to limit his participation in dollar pint night.
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