PHOTO REVIEW: The Flaming Lips - There Should Be Unicorns Tour

April 01, 2017 • Leave a Comment

I've never tried Acid, but I’m pretty sure I got to experience it last night. How did you spend your Friday night?

The Flaming Lips hit Raleigh on the There Should Be Unicorns Tour, and it was definitely one of the most entertaining and trance inducing concerts I have ever been to.

Upon walking into the venue, there were fans dressed in neon costumes with fuzzy balls attached all over. Toward the back of the room, there two giant inflatable mushrooms and there appeared to be streamers hanging across the entire stage.

The opening band, Clipping, was not what I expected. Lead by a very poetic lyricist, rapping extremely fast, the trio was extremely well received.

The Flaming Lips hit the stage with a very jam band style intro. Wayne Coyne lead the intro as if conducting every member on what to play and when. What I thought were streamers illuminated and I quickly realized that they were individual LED strands that formed a huge video screen in front of the stage.

Wayne Coyne stepped to the front of the stage and took a bow. Almost simultaneously a monsoon of confetti erupted from the cannons on each side of the stage and large balloons were tossed into the crowd.

I felt as if I had been transported to a completely alternate dimension because of all the colors, lights, and confetti. Throughout the set the acid trip continued with giant inflatable characters dancing on stage and Coyne riding a LED draped unicorn while wearing giant rainbow wings. During a performance of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” Coyne put himself inside of a ball and walked on the crowd.

This has to be that most surreal concert experience I have ever been a part of and I think it is something everyone should experience.