I think it was Ben Franklin who said “tornadoes are a lot like three-day-old fish… fucking horrible all the time.” Can’t very well argue with the first president of the United States now, can you?
That’s probably why on July 23, The Flaming Lips, along with some other guys you might have heard of (Kings of Leon, Jackson Browne, Built to Spill), are performing at the Rock for Oklahoma tornado relief benefit concert at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Tickets are on sale now (for $35 and $50) and all proceeds will be dispersed to central Oklahoma community organizations and charities (via local charities) to benefit ongoing relief efforts associated with the devastation left behind after this spring’s brutal Moore Tornado. According to a press release, losses “are estimated to reach upwards of $2 billion” and while many of the short-term needs of the people affected have already been met, “the goal of Rock for Oklahoma is to help them with long-term issues and problems, such as regaining livelihoods.”
Or, in the words of Lips frontman Wayne Quote-master Coyne:
Shakespeare said, “It is not enough to help the needy up, but to support them after.” In our small way we are trying to not just be here at the moment of immediate need, but to stay and help with the rebuilding. After all, this is our home and they are us and we are them.
I’m guessing that Coyne and the boys may choose to downplay the, y’know, blisteringly abject apocalyptica of this year’s The Terror (TMT Review) in favor of some more uplifting fare. But for those of you who just can’t get seem to get enough of that good existential dread in your diet (no matter how much Taco Bell you consume), don’t worry; the band has also added some more dates to their summer/fall trek. Heck, there’s even a few new dates with Spiritualized! So go ahead, moody brooders, get out there and get just as high on bummer-drones as you wanna be!
The Flaming dates:
07.11.13 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Cable Pavilion *
07.12.13 - Greenville, SC - Charter Amphitheatre *
07.13.13 - Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
07.15.13 - Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre ^
07.16.13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE Outdoors ^
07.17.13 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark
07.25.13 - Salt Lake City, UT - Twilight Concert Series, Pioneer Park
07.27.13 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield
07.28.13 - Seattle, WA - Capitol Hill Block Party
07.31.13 - Costa Mesa, CA - The Pacific Amphitheatre
08.01.13 - Las Vegas, NV - Bud Light Music First, House of Blues
08.17.13 - Omaha, NE - Maha Maha Festival
09.06.13 - Isle Of Wight, England - Bestival
09.07.13 - Stekene, Belgium - Crammerock Festival
10.21.13 - Tokyo, Japan - Blitz
10.22.13 - Tokyo, Japan - Blitz
10.23.13 - Osaka, Japan - Hatch
10.24.13 - Nagoya, Japan - Club Diamond Hall
* The Black Keys
^ Spiritualized
• The Flaming Lips: http://flaminglips.com
• Warner Bros: http://www.warnerbros.com
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