The weirdness and creepiness of Wayne Coyne included holding this baby doll for a long time on stage.

A friend asked me “who have you seen lately?”  I quickly replied, “I saw The Flaming Lips at Terminal 5.  They were great.  Lots of fun.”  They replied, “Those guys are still playing?!”  The conversation then moved on to some punk band that was playing at the waterfront in Williamsburg.


Once again, the idea that music is such an individual choice strikes me hard.  Its hard to say music is “good” or “bad”, as opposed to “like” or “dislike”.


The weirdness known as Wayne Coyne was quite the show.  Although this was not one of their famous Pink Floyd shows, I was super glad to be there with my pal R.M.  A very understated music guy, my favorite type.


From the balcony rail stage right, I watched one of rock’s oddest frontmen ingeniously change genre speeds (like My Morning Jacket does) and use “Alien” (the movie) lighting piped from a stage center pulpit as he dazzled the sold-out venue (see Father John Misty) in his very economical 70 minute set.


Before I get to The Lips, kudos to Tame Impala. They have a big sound with matching Rickenbacker’s by the guitar men.


Huffington Post has a great story on the show with play by play.


Here is a little video I was able to capture w my phone:

During the set Coyne says, “We going to invite one of opening band’s mothers to join us for a song.”


I cringed.


But, I had no idea that the mom was Yoko One.  It was cool seeing this Yoda-like gal wearing a black top hat strut to the stage and stand upon the psychedelic pulpit.  As Yoko screeched Wayne Coyne tossed large flakes of glitter at the audience. Fun. 


I heard this young gal say to her boyfriend how great she sounds and that they ought to pick up some of her music.  Needless to say, I cringed again.


Watch this clip I grabbed, but warning…you will cringe too.

Swinging his mic ala Lester Claypool and donning a blue technicolor suit……the theatrics were real and authentic.

The thing I liked the most about The Flaming Lips show is…the unique and deep celebration of the music by Wayne and his fans.

The smelly gents behind put it so well…this music healed my bad mood.  I can now start all over again tomorrow with a smile on my face.

Below is the setlist…I really enjoyed “The W.A.N.D.” one of their newer songs and of course the acoustic “Do You Realize”. Here it is…

Gates of Steel(DEVO cover)
The W.A.N.D.
Don’t Worry Kyoko
(John Lennon & Yoko Ono cover) (with Yoko Ono)
The Terror
Race for the Prize
Try to Explain
All We Have Is Now
Butterfly, How Long It Takes to Die
Turning Violent
A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
Encore:
Do You Realize??