The Flaming Lips - Bank of America Pavillion, Boston MA, August 30, 2009

The Flaming Lips
Bank of America Pavillion, Boston MA
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Support - Explosions in the Sky and Stardeath & White Dwarfs

Late Friday/early Saturday I get an email from my buddy declaring "I got front row tickets to Flaming Lips" and he was kind enough to ask me along.

The weather cooperated and I actually ended up meeting him walking in to the venue. We were there pretty early, but that was okay, we don't see each other often so we could catch up.

Our seats were sure enough in the front row. We were a little off to the side, but if we had enough vertical leap, and the stones to go with it we could have been on stage easily enough.

At 7pm Stardeath and White Dwarfs came on stage. I had no idea who they were, but the four piece from Oklahoma did a fine job in warming up the crowd. Opening with a Butthole Surfers tune they'd spend their set filling with sonic bliss. They'd wrap up the main set with a Madonna cover and during the bulk of the set, Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne was on the side of the stage.

Explosions in the Sky were the middle slot band. The Austin Texas based band was on a short hiatus before heading out for a 10th anniversary tour this year. It was the final night on the tour for them as well and they really brought it.

Before the set, guitarist Munaf Rayani thanked the Flaming Lips with some heartfelt words about how if we thought they were nice guys, its was "true, they were and it was only the tip of the iceberg". I was a little worried since there a moments in EITS set where it gets pretty quiet and they grow louder and louder. There were times I felt it was a little bass washed, but overall they really had a great set and you could tell there was a fair number of people there to see them. The band all seemed thrilled with the response and stood, almost in awe waving thanks at the end of the set.

Their set was:
the only moment we were alone
greet death
the birth and death of the day
memorial

The Flaming Lips to this day still are out on stage setting up their own gear and soundchecking mics, guitars etc. It is sort of odd, but refreshing at the same time. Wayne would fire a confetti cannon from time to time to loud cheers. After a fair amount of time it seemed the band appeared to be ready to go.

The stage looked like a construction site. Everything seemed to be orange with yellow stripes on it. Behind the drum kit the visuals began. It was a woman, down on her hands and feet sort of pointing her privates towards the audience..to which she "birthed" the members of the band. Finally Wayne came out, and got in to a large inflatable ball and it rolled out in to the audience as the band got rolling.

Opening with "Race for the Prize" the stage was quickly flanked by women in short skirts and tops dancing on one side, and people in white fur suits on the other. We were on bassists/keyboardist Micheal Ivins side and the audience was quickly filled with balloons. The band has some connection for balloons as these are just massive. Confetti was going off, smoke, lights..it was a massive party with people dancing all around. Munaf from Explosions in the Sky was on the side of the stage bouncing around deflecting balloons as well.

The set would follow suit. We'd have more confetti than you'd ever imagine. Balloons would get bigger, and some would be stuffed with confetti, so when those popped confetti would spill out.

The setlist (pretty sure was)

Race For The Prize
Silver Trembling Hands
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Fight Test
Bad Days
Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Internal Existential Fear
Convinced Of The Hex
Vein Of Stars
The Firebird Suite
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1
See The Leaves
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
Taps
The W.A.N.D.
She Don't Use Jelly
--Encore--
Happy Birthday (To Lindsay a woman in the front row)
Do You Realize??

Having seen the Lips a few times, some of the gimmicks are played out some. Wayne is always waving his arms for the audience to get "louder" and there really is no need, the audience loves it..I assure you of that.

We got a some new songs as well as some classic live staples. It was a good mix and the band really seemed to be playing well off one another.

The main set ended with a big sing along to "She Don't Use Jelly" and the band smiled and waved and headed off. There honestly was an inch of confetti on stage.

They came out for a short encore of "Do You Realize?" a song that I personally just love. The crowd just ate it all up and we were sent off in the night with smiles on our faces.

Some tunes fall a little flat, but the sheer elation the band has for playing live just makes up for so much. If you ever get a chance, and have not seen them, try and check them out. It is really a trip and a half.

Some pictures:

This was Stardeath + White Dwarfs

A few Explosions in the Sky images.







This one was right before EITS started, the calm before the storm if you will.

Wayne, Steven and Micheal at random times during the show:

I love this one for some reason:



Yes, it was like this, over and over again.