the Flaming Lips ::: Red Rocks ::: 08.03.11

C=T correspondent, Bull McCabe, decided to take the gummy skulls all the way up to Red Rocks last night to get his dose of Pink Floyd for the night compliments of the Flaming Lips.

As the show started, Wayne Coyne informed the sold out crowd at Red Rocks Amphitheater what was in store for them last night and what he wanted to accomplish that night. The Flaming Lips were performing their rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” with Coyne as the ring master of the whole shabang. After the brief introduction, Coyne thanked the crowd and disappeared in the darkness.

A few moments later, the oversized balloons were released upon the crowd and the large screen on stage began to display various images of Wizard of Oz. Soon Coyne and company appeared on stage, with Coyne in his trademark human balloon ball. As the band began to start the first song, Coyne barreled his way up the steep incline of the bleachers at Red Rocks to much of the crowd’s delight. Making it up 2/3’s of the way up the crowd, Coyne stood victoriously on top of the crowd.

As Coyne made his way back down to the stage on top of the crowd, the real show began. Playing through “Dark Side of the Moon”, the Lips provided their own imagery and interpretations of Pink Floyd’s defining album. While the fans of the Flaming Lips enjoyed the spectacle of a traditional Lips’ show, the songs seemed to be lost on some of the fans. There were grumblings in the mens bathroom of wanting a more traditional Lips set.

Overall though, the show was a solid performance by the Lips and of course it was visually stunning. Coyne and company eventually closed out the night with some of the larger hit songs and the crowd erupted with a massive sing along. A great way to close out the night.

Photos and Review by Bull McCabe

the Flaming Lips (feat. Henry Rollings) – Us and Them (Pink Floyd Cover) [mp3]

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