Flaming Lips in Maine

Oklahoma psychedelic band rocks State Theatre in Portland

By Kayla Riley

Posted on Oct. 26, 2011, at 11:10 p.m.

PORTLAND — Monday nights don’t usually mean live music, confetti cannons and a giant plastic hamster ball with a human inside, but The Flaming Lips defy such conventions with a passion unrivaled by any band on the scene today.

Meet Wayne Coyne, frontman of the band and one of the most colorful characters in the rock world. With a hairdo to rival that of Einstein’s and a level of energy more often found in toddlers, he led The Flaming Lips to musical glory Monday night at The State Theatre in Portland.

As Talk Demonic, a male-female duo sporting a violin and serious piano skills, and guitar-heavy band Kurt Vile opened for The Flaming Lips, it was clear that while feet were tapping and hips were swaying, these were mainly time-killers before the real deal hit the stage.

Once the giant video screen toward the back of the stage lit up in a brilliant blue, the full crowd, packed like sardines pressing toward the stage, roared with the kind of anticipation only a truly great band can inspire.

Coyne hit the stage in a snappy grey suit, shiny black shoes and wacky fur neck wrap, ready to address the crowd with a vital public service announcement.

“I want you here with us because we love you, and I’m glad you’re here,” Coyne said. “I’m going to be coming out on top of you in my space bubble, but I don’t want you to rush and crush each other.

“We can have our magical space bubble touching moment together. Let’s all love each other and take care of each other,” he added.

Coyne also warned his legion of fans that, in typical fashion, The Flaming Lips would be using a variety of intense strobe lights and effects, and that if fans felt affected by the lights, they should simply “look away.”

With that, the lights went down and Coyne began to rock in the good company of stoic guitarist Michael Ivins, young percussionist Derek Brown, drummer Kliph Spurlock and lively keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist Stephen Drozd.

The Flaming Lips tossed out a few hits, like the ultra-catchy “Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” and select tracks from their latest but not greatest album effort, “Embryonic.”

It was as if Coyne had invited everyone to his 6th birthday party, with giant, colorful balloons floating overhead passed from hand to hand and confetti floating endlessly through the air. Mid-song, Coyne fervently popped a giant balloon with the tip of his guitar, spreading bits of colored paper over the crowd and several unimpressed bouncers.

Described on their site as an “Oklahoma psychedelic rock band,” The Flaming Lips are no passing fad. With strong, ethereal vocals, unforgettable instrumentals and more funky flair than a 1970s nightclub and indie flick combined, it is no surprise that the band has been jamming since 1986.

Bare feet and sparkly body paint were a staple at the show, as were wild hairstyles, from a neon green mop of curls to a spiky black and blond bed-head. Though no expression of personal style was off-limits, it was a no-niche audience. Music lovers young and old gathered to hear the magical musical stylings of Coyne and his counterparts.

Even without the pizzazz, The Flaming Lips shine. While piles of confetti, enormous balloons and the man himself rolling overhead in a giant plastic ball were nice, The Flaming Lips didn’t need to cover their talent in special effects like many bands often do.

Coyne and company were flanked by several women wearing skimpy Dorothy costumes, along with a man in a bizarre, oversized alien costume and one dressed as a tin man. The Flaming Lips know how to have fun, and better yet, they know just how to ensure that with a wide audience.

With the bittersweet nostalgia of a wonderful moment coming to an end, The Flaming Lips drew out the final bars of one of their most loved songs, “Do You Realize?” as the show’s encore. As the crowd sang along with their hands in the air, Coyne held on to each note. The confetti cannons continued to burst forth as the larger-than-life disco ball turned slowly above the stage.

The crowd could not tear from the beauty of the moment by the most raucous of fans, and as their feet stuck to the neglected beer on the State Theatre floor, a sense of satisfied calm swept the crowd.

After a quarter-century of rocking and rolling, it is clear The Flaming Lips are here to stay.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011, 11:10 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.