You know when you're going to a
Flaming Lips show that you're going to see a spectacle. You know there's going to be a cool light show when you see the light streamers hanging from the stage rafters and you see the giant screens behind the band. And you know you're in for a musical adventure.
However, as I learned on Day 1 of Toronto's
Riot Fest, when I got to see Flaming Lips for the very first time, that I didn't know the half of it. They've got giant mushrooms and a giant rainbow, giant worm/butterfly things and, I think, aliens. Not to mention the "Fuck Yeah Riot Fest" balloons, confetti canons and Wayne Coyne in a giant hamster ball, walking across the crowd. Quite a trip.
And the music was all that as well. Some familiar, some not, but all incredible. I understand why you'd want to quit your job, leave your family behind and follow The Flaming Lips around a la Deadheads and see them perform every day.
Here are a few tracks from their
setlist.
"Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1"
"Race for the Prize"
"Look... The Sun Is Rising"
"Do You Realize?"
Their cover of The Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"
