Review: Flaming Lips

Standing in Liberty Hall during a sold-out Flaming Lips concert was like being inside a kaleidoscope. In fact, the overwhelming number of balloons, confetti and streamers made things a little claustrophobic.

The Oklahoma City rock band brought so much firepower to its two-night stand in Lawrence that the show opened with a disclaimer from frontman Wayne Coyne: Don’t stare at the strobe lights, and be cool when the space bubble rolls out.

The famous inflated see-through orb that Coyne inhabits and then rolls over the outstretched hands of the crowd came out during a cover of Pink Floyd’s “On the Run.” As Coyne rolled over the masses, it looked like he could have easily hopped into the balcony.

With a capacity of 1,200 people, the building seemed like a bandbox compared to the acres of festival grounds the Lips usually have to play in during summer festival seasons. A massive mirror ball hung so low over the stage it seemed like Coyne might be able to touch it. Late in the set he donned giant hands that shot lasers and pointed them at the ball, spraying light across the room. A giant LED screen filled the back of the stage and troupes of dancers dressed like Dorothy Gales buttressed the wings.

Fans got their chance to sing early. Favorites “Race for the Prize,” “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” “She Don’t Use Jelly” and the slow campfire arrangement of “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Part One)” all came out in the first half of the set. The second half displayed newer, more experimental material. It wasn’t as bubbly, but fans ate it up just the same.

Deerhoof: The four-piece experimental band’s carefully planned cacophony was balanced by singer Satomi Matsuzaki’s manic pixie singing and dancing. Lips drummer and Lawrence resident Kliph Scurlock joined the openers for two numbers, and the two bands joined forces for two songs during the Lips' encore. Their first collaboration was a curveball –- a cover of Canned Heat’s “Going Up the Country.” For the second number they went full-prog with a thunderous cover of King Crimson’s “21^st Century Schizoid Man.”

The show was part of the 100^th annniversary party for Liberty Hall. Seventh Street was blocked off south of the venue, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets. Vendors sold everything from beer and BBQ to T-shirts and cake. Families lined up around the bounce castle while groups performed on the stage at the other end of the block. A screen at the back of the stage broadcast a live feed of Lips show.

Setlist: Race for the Prize, She Don’t Use Jelly, The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power), On the Run (Pink Floyd cover), Worm Mountain, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Part One), Sea of Leaves, Drug Chant, The Ego’s Last Stand, What Is the Light?, The Observer. Encores: Going Up the Country, 21^st Century Schizoid Man, Do You Realize?

| Joel Francis, Special to The Star

Comments

[Bubba]

Wow. 1,200 people in Liberty Hall? Sounds like sardine city like whenever 1,200 are squeezed into the Beaumont Club. I love the FLAMING LIPS and all. Glad I finally got to see them at the Uptown a couple of years ago with a killer opener - BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW, I believe it was.

[Jack]

an amazing show, glad I got to witness the spectacle in such an intimate venue

[Green]

Night one was great, didn't seemed to crowded but I was first row up top, so i had some space.

[Green]

Where are the photos!

[Adidas Porsche]

It was a glorious day. So much fun!!!It doesn't get much better than that!

[KC Jones]

my friend said that when the laser hands came out, the room started to fill with smoke... the people in the balcony couldn't see what was going on with the people on the floor due to the layer of smoke. Wayne was whipping the people on the floor into a frenzy and the people in the balcony had no idea what the heck was going on. I guess it was a night full of mindf*cks (i.e. the funeral dirge version of Yoshimi). Sounds fun.