The last time I saw The Flaming Lips, they kicked it off strong with “Race for the Prize,” the opening volley of their 1999 masterstroke The Soft Bulletin. Everyone went nuts. There was confetti. There were balloons. There was, you know, plenty of weed. It felt like a 2076 New Years Eve party on Mars or something. And yet, when that tune was over, I couldn’t help but feel strangely upset that Coyne and his lads didn’t steamroll right into track two with “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton.” The show was still a blast and everything, but as the setlist wore on and nary another track from that record appeared, it became apparent that I wasn’t going to hear the band tear through “The Gash” live anytime soon. I was bummed.
Well, consider that bummer rectified. On their Twitter, the band just dropped the bomb that they are planning to perform The Soft Bulletin on December 31 in their home town of Oklahoma City! Which venue? Who cares! When are tickets on sale? Who knows! Ah, the magic of Twitter. I guess we’ll all have to stay tuned.
And hey, if a hazardous winter-time road-trip to scenic Oklahoma doesn’t sound like your trip (particularly if you don’t live in the U S of A) don’t forget that the Lips are also slated to play The Soft Bulletin in its entirety next July 1 at London’s Alexandra Palace as part of ATP’s “Don’t Look Back” concert series (TMT News). Whichever show you choose, rest assured that you’ve still got plenty of time to practice standing-up and saying “yeah.”
• The Flaming Lips: http://www.flaminglips.com
• ATP Don’t Look Back: http://www.dontlookbackconcerts.com
