According to Webster’s Dictionary, a spectacle can be defined as “A visually striking performance or display.” If one were to add an addendum to this, they could add “The Flaming Lips in concert” and anyone would be hard pressed to dispute this.
The Flaming Lips brought their 2024 tour to Beak & Skiff in LaFayette on Tuesday, July 23. The psychedelic rockers from Oklahoma City were continuing a tour which has seen them play the 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in full, each night. most recently at Lewiston’s ArtPark. The album, one of 16 in The Flaming Lips catalog, brought the band their biggest commercial success, and has long been the centerpiece of the Lips’ highly regarded live performances.
As the 7:30pm start time drew close, a palpable energy set in across the apple orchard’s concert field. Front-man and equally skilled hype-man Wayne Coyne did his part to energize and excite the crowd as he sat side stage. Once the clock struck half past seven, Coyne moved to center stage and the band wasted no time getting the spectacle started. With the acoustic opening strums of Yoshimi’s “Fight Test”, and a large bust of confetti from the multiple confetti canons placed around the stage, the evening’s festivities were underway. As Coyne sang the song’s opening lyrics, giant pink robots inflated around the stage, dwarfing Coyne and his bandmates.
The spectacle would continue to take new heights as the band worked their way through the 2002 album. Dramatic lights draped the stage and the audience. Coyne shot copious amounts of confetti into the crowd, and tossed giant inflatable beach balls (again, filled with confetti) into the pit. He sang under a giant inflatable rainbow during “Do You Realize”, a song about cherishing the time you have with your loved ones.
Following the performance of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (and a short intermission), the band returned for a second set, which paid homage to the many other stand out tracks through out their career. The band returned to the stage and launched into their 1993 hit “She Don’t Use Jelly”. Other highlights of the second set included “Flowers of Neptune”, “The Spark that Bled”, “Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”, and “Race for the Price”.
It would be easy to anticipate musicians merely going through the motions after 40 years of performances. The Flaming Lips did anything but this. Coyne donned a giant smile between each song, and regularly summoned more and more energy from the crowd. He told stories of the inspirations behind the music, and urged a message of peace and love. In all, the band seemed to take great pride in delivering their spectacle to the audience at Beak & Skiff.
The post The Flaming Lips Bring Spectacle and Yoshimi to Beak & Skiff appeared first on NYS Music.
