Making their way into one of our favorite venues in Los Angeles, The Wiltern, The Flaming Lips took the stage for a monumental and extremely intimate performance. We were there front and center, so please read on for our complete review of the night’s event.

This show was supposed to happen YEARS ago but thanks to a lot of people not wanting to cover their faces and stay home for a while this show was canceled and rescheduled then canceled and rescheduled again then canceled and rescheduled AGAIN, finally. Most of the people in the iconic Wiltern that night had held onto those tickets for over two years. Now I'm sure dear reader you are asking me “Was this worth the wait?” and i'll tell you what!! Always take the chance to see The Flaming Lips live. It is the one of the most joyful, life affirming and communal live music experiences you can be a part of and isn't that what we want from a concert? To be a part of the crowd.

Straight out of Luck Ranch in Travis County, Texas is Particle Kid. Particle Kid is the solo project of Micah Nelson and has released seven albums in its ten year existence. The Kid considers his genre “experimental future-folk”. His band shredded and Micah in his floor length cape jumped around the stage as trippy visuals dripped down on the huge led screen behind him as he soloed over every open section that he could.

Now I am not going to give a biography for The Flaming Lips if you would like to learn a little if not a smidge outdated information about the band i highly recommend the documentary, The Fearless Freaks, directed by frequent band collaborator Bradley Beesley who co-directed a large chunk of the bands music videos with the bands singer Wayne Coyne over the years. Oklahoma City’s finest modern psych rock outfit The Flaming Lips were finally able to take the stage surrounded by a massive led screen, multiple massive inflatables, streamers, confetti and these twenty foot tall clear plastic giants that the massive amount of lasers were shit through. Wayne Coyne did not ever start the first song till his iconic plastic bubble was fully inflated. The band then plowed through a over two hour set consisting of songs from all over their thirty year career together (including singing Happy Birthday to one of the dudes in the audience!). It seriously feels like memories of that show have been glitter bombed. Every moment feels so bright and sparkly but also fleeting. When I reflect on it all though it brings a smile to my face and that's the best.

Review & Photos by: Ben Lacross

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