We all know that a Flaming Lips show is a guaranteed good time. Anytime an artist encourages their audience to dress in odd costumes, make animal sounds and smoke weed in a public venue, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be really fun…or get us arrested. Maybe both.
Such was the case with Wayne Coyne and his merry men last night as they played a raucous four song set at the Nike Montalban theatre. The short set was part of the MySpace not-so-Secret Show series which showcases artists who generally play larger venues in smaller settings for hardcore fans.
The evening began with Coyne and drummer Kliph Scurlock inviting the audience to text questions for Coyne to answer by tweeting them to @kliphscurlock. The audience offered up gems ranging from the rather interrogation-style, “What do you do with all the money you make from commercials?” to “Will I get in trouble if I smoke weed in here?”
Wayne Coyne, being the brilliant extemper he is, showed no hesitation in answering. Regarding the former query, he told the audience that their manager Scott Booker runs a music school for kids in Oklahoma and the band donates most of their money to that. He added that they also donate money to animal shelters due to the large number of stray animals in his Oklahoma neighborhood. Considering Coyne leads a relatively humble existence with his wife Michelle and is known for his rich community involvement, we tend to believe him on this one.
Regarding pot smoking, Wayne just smiled and told the audience that he wasn’t the law and, “there are certain things in life worth taking risks for.” Not long after, we could all smell just exactly what those things are.
When asked about whether or not the band would play their new full length Embryonic in its entirety, Coyne stated that since the Lips famed The Soft Bulletin album just turned ten it’s more likely that we’ll see a series of shows where that album is played in its entirety. This revelation won a rowdy ovation from a very excited crowd.
Other gems included Coyne mentioning that if he could work with any artists living or dead that list would include: Miles Davis, Syd Barrett, Bjork, David Bowie and Radiohead. Wee!
The most jaw dropping news however was the Flaming Lips along with Coyne’s nephew Dennis Coyne’s band Star Death and the White Dwarfs have recorded the ENTIRE Dark Side of the Moon Album in Norman, Oklahoma with the eerie voices being dubbed in by Henry Rollins and additional scream bits by Peaches. No word on when that gem will come out but we certainly look forward to it!
With no segue from the audience Q&A to the show, the remaining members of the Flaming Lips then joined Coyne and Scurlock on stage and began to play. The set included cuts such as “Convinced of the Hex,” “I Can Be A Frog” off Embryonic and “Watching the Planets.”
Personal highlights included Coyne’s solicitation of audience participation on “I Can Be A Frog.” The song features Karen O contributing sounds via telephone on Embryonic, however at the show, it was all us. Coyne asked the audience to make sounds ranging from a helicopter to gila monster to a tiger to a bat. When our interpretation of a bat fell short, guitarist Stephen Drozd quickly admonished the crowd and showed us how a bat actually sounds.
Another top notch moment was “Watching the Planets,” which saw a giant illuminated gong get annihilated.
After the show concluded, 700 signed posters with original art made especially for the event were handed out for free. I’d like to take this moment to give props to “tall lady in orange” who nabbed one for me. There’s something about being 5’ tall with tissues up your nose that invokes sympathy from others and I welcome it!
Following the poster free-for-all, the band retreated upstairs just before ten to sign anything and everything fans had brought. Coyne vowed to stay until midnight with “you weirdos,” as he lovingly called us, in order to make sure everyone got an autograph.
Over all, the event felt less like a corporate shindig and more like a surreal house party with one of your favorite bands. It was truly an amazing experience. Coyne once jokingly told me in an interview, “If I don’t sound interesting, that’ll be your fault.” Wayne Coyne…boring? Impossible.
Some kid shot video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyjGTnKRN4g
Artist:
http://www.flaminglips.com
http://www.myspace.com/flaminglips
Album:
The Flaming Lips – Embryonic is out now. Buy it on Amazon.
Further Reading:
Ground Control's Flaming Lips Embryonic album review.
For More Information:
myspace.com/secretshows