What it's like to watch The Flaming Lips from the side of the stage
Death Cab did a show not far from Cleveland a few days ago. The lineup was pretty stellar. Our stage had The Hold Steady, Sonic Youth, Death Cab and The Flaming Lips. The Secret Machines were on a second stage somewhere with some band that sounded a lot like Interpol. We loaded in at around 10AM since my growing megalomania prompts me to drag a dozen lights and assorted backdrops into festival settings and make everyone's day miserable. The structure was an ampitheatre-like building with a domed roof.
The inside was all wood. Designed for the symphony. Fancy.
So Wayne Coyne turns up around 11 to load in his show. This isn't really a big deal, but in my world the singer of any band, much less a well to do band who is headlining a festival, is the last person you will see at 11 AM pushing cases around. Here he is inflating that damn bubble that he rolls around in. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my one good eye.
Since they were pretty darn close to Coyahoga, Ohio Death Cab and the Flaming Lips covered REM's Coyahoga. I detest REM, but I have to say I have always really liked that song.
My day got pretty lame pretty quickly. Things stopped working, it rained and it got miserable. I wandered out into the crowd and spotted this guy who, for a moment, looked exactly like my friend Harley. I decided that he must be his evil twin. He had a shaved head, a big red beard, he was loving the Hold Steady and seemed to be generally mad at the world. I was so taken with this guy that even as I was taking his picture with ultimate stealth, I didn't notice the guy dressed as a cougar walking, rather casually, through a festival crowd.
The Hold Steady, holding it steady. I've got a real soft spot for rock bands that lack pretense and seem to always be having a good time. As I'm writing this Mates of State are soundchecking just down the hall. I kind of think they are dicks.
The backstage area was pretty sweet. They had lots of cookies, chocolate milk and video games. Andy, our production manager was really taken with this virtual reality tank game. I didn't like it so much.
Sonic Youth caught a flight from Thailand to make it to the show. In a mixup Kim Gordon wasn't booked on the flight and their lighting designer had to give her his seat. Long story short, I got to do lights for Sonic Youth. It was the middle of the day, but it was still pretty amazing. That's me gloating just a little.
The Flaming Lips went on right after us. They dragged all of their equipment, mostly without cases and mostly spray painted orange on to the stage. We started pushing cases out to our truck only to discover the trailer had been used as a staging area for the greatest show on Earth, or at least a hell of a party.
The Flaming Lips are one of those bands that can really just turn your whole day around. It's like going to see the Polyphonic Spree or Lemon Jelly. They're just so goddamn happy that you can't help but join in. Magic.
The atmosphere right before the band goes on is nothing short of chaotic. Watching it from the side of the stage, in a comfortable chair, is one of the most enjoyable experiences that I've had on this tour. One side of the stage is filled with Santa Clauses all laughing at each other and shining giant flashlights into the crowd.
The other side is filled with girl aliens doing much the same thing.
The band wanders onto the stage as their crew, dressed as superheros, ready the confetti cannons, balloons and whiskey.
And then just like that....it's a party of epic proportions.
Viva Wayne Coyne!
The inside was all wood. Designed for the symphony. Fancy.
So Wayne Coyne turns up around 11 to load in his show. This isn't really a big deal, but in my world the singer of any band, much less a well to do band who is headlining a festival, is the last person you will see at 11 AM pushing cases around. Here he is inflating that damn bubble that he rolls around in. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my one good eye.
Since they were pretty darn close to Coyahoga, Ohio Death Cab and the Flaming Lips covered REM's Coyahoga. I detest REM, but I have to say I have always really liked that song.
My day got pretty lame pretty quickly. Things stopped working, it rained and it got miserable. I wandered out into the crowd and spotted this guy who, for a moment, looked exactly like my friend Harley. I decided that he must be his evil twin. He had a shaved head, a big red beard, he was loving the Hold Steady and seemed to be generally mad at the world. I was so taken with this guy that even as I was taking his picture with ultimate stealth, I didn't notice the guy dressed as a cougar walking, rather casually, through a festival crowd.
The Hold Steady, holding it steady. I've got a real soft spot for rock bands that lack pretense and seem to always be having a good time. As I'm writing this Mates of State are soundchecking just down the hall. I kind of think they are dicks.
The backstage area was pretty sweet. They had lots of cookies, chocolate milk and video games. Andy, our production manager was really taken with this virtual reality tank game. I didn't like it so much.
Sonic Youth caught a flight from Thailand to make it to the show. In a mixup Kim Gordon wasn't booked on the flight and their lighting designer had to give her his seat. Long story short, I got to do lights for Sonic Youth. It was the middle of the day, but it was still pretty amazing. That's me gloating just a little.
The Flaming Lips went on right after us. They dragged all of their equipment, mostly without cases and mostly spray painted orange on to the stage. We started pushing cases out to our truck only to discover the trailer had been used as a staging area for the greatest show on Earth, or at least a hell of a party.
The Flaming Lips are one of those bands that can really just turn your whole day around. It's like going to see the Polyphonic Spree or Lemon Jelly. They're just so goddamn happy that you can't help but join in. Magic.
The atmosphere right before the band goes on is nothing short of chaotic. Watching it from the side of the stage, in a comfortable chair, is one of the most enjoyable experiences that I've had on this tour. One side of the stage is filled with Santa Clauses all laughing at each other and shining giant flashlights into the crowd.
The other side is filled with girl aliens doing much the same thing.
The band wanders onto the stage as their crew, dressed as superheros, ready the confetti cannons, balloons and whiskey.
And then just like that....it's a party of epic proportions.
Viva Wayne Coyne!
posted by L at Saturday, August 05, 2006
2 Comments:
That interpol band is she wants revenge i kinda like them.
the above post was by me not a spamvertiser for shewantsrevenge
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