Get ready to feel the love as Secret Sounds presents the much-anticipated return of psychedelic alt-rock gods THE FLAMING LIPS. Last seen in Australia inspiring musical euphoria on the 2004 Big Day Out THE FLAMING LIPS don’t just put on a concert – they stage a psychedelic spectacular.
Now, with a brand new album scheduled for release in June, Oklahoma’s finest return for two very special shows in Sydney and Melbourne this July. Formed in 1983 and led since 1985 by singer/songwriter Wayne Coyne, THE FLAMING LIPS recorded several albums and EPs on an indie label in the 1980s and early 1990s, after which they signed to Warner Brothers scoring a hit with 1993’s ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’. Throughout the band’s long historythey have had numerous line-up changes (Wayne’s brother Mark Coyne was originally lead singer) and a sound that shifted from punk rock to symphonic, tripped out melodies with lush arrangements. Through this all THE FLAMING LIPS have retained their darling status via 1999’s critically acclaimed The Soft Bulletin (which was NME Magazine’s Album of the Year) and 2002’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. In fact, their career has been nothing short of prolific with the release of 12 full-length albums containing glorious noise.
In 2001, THE FLAMING LIPS began filming a low-budget film called Christmas on Mars. The film, released in 2008, tells the story of the first Christmas of a colony set-up on the surface of Mars. Written and co-directed by Wayne Coyne, the bands, as well as many of their friends, act in the movie. Released in various formats along with an accompanying soundtrack, the movie/album is a fantastical film freak out.
Ever prodigious, THE FLAMING LIPS are currently serving as guest curators for September’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in New York City, headlining and choosing all of the bands for the final day of the event.
Albums aside THE FLAMING LIPS are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and front man Wayne Coyne’s signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience.
Of THE FLAMING LIPS last show in Australia, The Melbourne Age said, “Wayne Coyne is an endearing combination of a big kid and an evangelist for a better world. By the end of the night he’d made us sing Happy Birthday to five fans in the crowd, play with balloons, laugh, almost cry, smile at strangers, dance along with people in fluffy suits, listen to the most beautiful music, and want to hug him for all of it.”
And that just about sums it up. Whatever you do, don’t miss the extravaganza that is THE FLAMING LIPS live. Don’t miss it, and don’t forget to bring your glove puppets, furry suits, fake blood and a big smile…
THE FLAMING LIPS will perform at the Sydney Hordern Pavilion on Tues July 28th and at Melbourne Festival Hall on Wed July 29th. Tickets are on sale Thursday April 2nd from 9am.
Tue 28th July 2009 – The Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Tickets through Ticketek, Ph 132 849 or http://www.ticketek.com.au
Web 29th July 2009 – Melbourne Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Tickets through Ticketmaster, Ph 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au or Festival Hall Box Office, 288 Rosslyn St.
