Ok, so I’m still trying to figure out what the hell just happened. Was this a concert or some sort of alien takeover??? Walking into the venue for my first Flaming Lips show ever, the stage looked like it was taken over by some futuristic, outer space looking get-up with big silver orbs all over the stage that had thousands of feet worth of rope lighting draped all over the place (it looked like tentacles of sorts). I really had no idea what to expect, and I’m certainly glad I didn’t because this was quite an experience. I’ve seen a ton of shows, but never have I ever experienced anything quite like this before. The show itself was certainly more of a “production” than a regular ol’ concert (very theatrical and choreographed to a certain extent) and the fans obviously love frontman Wayne Coyne; he certainly has an intoxicating effect on the crowd based on the look on everyone’s faces. And this was a solid performance and a hell of a show front to back, but I still need to admit that I’m still a little weirded out from the show.
This is the part of the job that I like, experiencing new music and seeing how happy it makes others, even if it leaves you feeling weird. I for one had a good time, and I would certainly do it all over again now that I have a better idea of what to expect. These guys certainly lay down a unique foundation musically and feed off of each other’s energy as well as have a really good time on stage. Here’s the setlist they played that night:
Setlist:
Look…The Sun Is Rising
The Terror
The W.A.N.D.
Virgo Self-Esteem Broadcast
Silver Trembling Hands
Try to Explain
Race for the Prize
Butterfly, How Long It Takes to Die
All We Have Is Now
Gates of Steel (DEVO cover)
Turning Violent
A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
Encore:
Do You Realize??
Always There, In Our Hearts
Hey Craig, good stuff! My band IBIS is playing with 7 Below: A Tribute to Phish, at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT on Dec. 1st. This may be presumptuous, but perhaps you’d like to come up and give a listen? We’d love the press, and it should be a great show.