Wayne For President!

I have to admit that I don’t like writing concert impressions, because well, I’m crap at it. I never seem to get it right and it’s just not fair to the bands. But there is no way that anybody could write yesterday’s concert experience accurately so I might as well have a go at it. Because yesterday was the day of The Flaming Lips concert (at the Paradiso, Amsterdam). I say concert but I really mean insanely fun party with great music. It’s the first and, if there is a God, certainly not the last time, Bean and I have ever been to see them. We had heard and read about the craziness that went on at their concerts, but nothing could have prepared us for the real thing.

How will we ever enjoy another concert without confetti, streamers and giant balloons?? Oh but that wasn’t all, there were also dancing Santas and aliens, supposedly representing Christianity versus Scientology, a kid’s toy turned futuristic instrument and a singing nun. But the one person that truly made the concert the happy gathering it was, was the ever charming Wayne Coyne. He has been doing this for years now, but we never felt like it was just another concert to him. When he talked about what is special about The Flaming Lips audience as opposed to cool posing concertgoers, he seemed genuinely moved that we, the audience, participate in all the silliness. The people were amazing, they sang along with the songs from their latest album At War With The Mystics as loudly as their older stuff, while they tossed around the balloons like there was no tomorrow. The thing that made them so much more than just a crazy props band besides the excellent music, is Mr.Coyne’s belief that he’s there to help us forget our daily dreary lives where religion and war are the only silly things we have to deal with. Ok that sounds a bit heavy for a band that sings about fighting robots, but in the world of The Flaming Lips there is no place for cynicism. So listen to the music, visit their sites and go see them in the flesh. It’ll make every other concert you’ll go to from then on as boring as watching grass grow, but it’s more than worth it.

Bean Chimes In: Tam isn’t exaggerating, people, I’ve been babbling all day about how amazing the Lips were last night, and how it was unlike anything I have ever seen anywhere. It was New Year’s, my birthday, Christmas, and Halloween all wrapped up into one. What makes it more than just a good laugh, like Tam already said, is Wayne Coyne’s total sincerity in his belief that everyone just needs to have a good time sometimes, that everyone needs a break from the insanity of the world, that everyone can help each other do this. His conviction is so endearing, even the biggest cynic can’t help but believe him. I think Tam and I are the Lips’ new #1 Fans, and it rocks.