With spring right around the corner, it’s time for The Flaming Lips to wake from their wintery slumber, brush the acid tabs out of their hair, brew some coffee with those acid tabs, and set about their usual spring and summer task of lording over the outdoor concert circuit. Sure enough, they’ve just announced some North American and European dates (a lot of them outdoors), including several stops at such festivals as Primavera and Sasquatch.
But just so they’re not touring in support of nothing but their own outlandish live show (not that they couldn’t do and still pack ‘em in if they wanted to), they’re also taking the liberty to release a new, limited-edition vinyl box before they head out for most of these dates. The set is (for real, now) called Heady Nuggs: The First 5 Warner Bros. Records, 1992-2002 and it’s dropping this April 16 (Record Store Day! You’ve got it circled, right?) at an independent record retailer near you on 140-gram vinyl. There will also be a special, multicolored vinyl edition available exclusively from the band’s website for those of you that are only excited by things that come in a variety of bright, pretty colors. The years 1992-2002 witnessed the release of such epic jams as Hit to Death in the Future Head (92), Transmissions from the Satellite Heart (93), Clouds Taste Metallic (95), The Soft Bulletin (99), and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (02). Classic Lips to be sure. And to sweeten the pot even more, they’ll also be playing The Soft Bulletin in its entirety at a few of these shows. This will probably go a long way toward quelling the annoying shouts of “Play ‘The Gaaaaaaaaash,’ bros!” that I am usually shouting at them from my shitty spot on the lawn.
Tourdates:
03.03.11 - New York, NY - Carnegie Hall (Tibet House U.S. Benefit)
03.06.11 - Avon, CO - Snow Ball Fest
05.13.11 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
05.14.11 - Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Music Festival
05.15.11 - Richmond, VA - The National
05.20.11 - 19 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle *
05.21.11 - Gulf Shores, AL - Hangout Festival
05.26.11 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound Festival
05.29.11 - George, WA - Sasquatch Festival *
07.01.11 - London, England - ATP *
07.07.11 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom *
* performing The Soft Bulletin
• The Flaming Lips: http://www.flaminglips.com
• Warner Broz: http://www.wmg.com