Do You Realize? The Flaming Lips at Rivers Edge Fest

“and instead of saying all of your goodbyes

let them know you realize that life goes fast
it's hard to make the good things last
you realize the sun doesn't go down
it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round”

My husband scored free tickets to Day 2 of the first (potentially) annual Rivers Edge Music Fest this past weekend. The Flaming Lips were playing. I had never seen them live. So we went. And it was beautiful.

First, I’ve always liked the Flaming Lips since they first hit the big scene with “She Don’t Use Jelly” in 1993. Their 1999 album, The Soft Bulletin, holds a soft place in my heart as the first album the husband and I bought together. We picked it up New Year’s Eve 1999 and listened to it on repeat while we prepped his apartment for a party later that night.  Their song “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1” is definitely in my top 25 songs of all time.

But I’ve never been a HUGE Flaming Lips fan. Like, I don’t anticipate the release of their albums. I haven’t purchased a new release of theirs since 2006’s At War with the Mystics.

But I do like them and had heard all about the beautiful circus of a live show they put on.

And it was beautiful.

We got there just as local act Polica were finishing their set on the same stage. They got done and everyone sort of walked away and so I just sidled up front with super ease. Once the crowd filled back in and shifted, I was about 10 rows back, but still super close.

It was a most perfect summer day. Hot – but not humid – the sky a perfect blue. Just gorgeous.

The stage was set up with confetti cannons, a translucent orange drum set, a paint splattered keyboard covered in – what appeared to be – tinfoil. Backstage, you could see a net filled with balloons.

As they entered the stage, they were followed on each side by a group of gals in candy striper uniforms. They spent the set jumping and dancing on the sides of the stage. I loved that they were never discussed or explained.

The show kicked off with “Race for the Prize” and confetti and balloons and jumping and just all around happiness. It was so automatically euphoric. They then went right into “She Don’t Use Jelly” and encouraged everyone to sing along  - and we did.

The majority of the whole set was just a big colorful sing along of love and happiness. There was a lag in the middle when they performed – what I believe were – much newer, heavier, darker songs that just didn’t quite fit with the beautiful summer day.

But, the encore song was “Do You Realize”. Once again, always liked this song, but never paid much attention to it or really gave the lyrics much thought.

I cried.

When they came back out and started it, I was just happy they played something else that I knew. And then, Wayne Coyne got really into. And they quieted down the ending and it was just him singing those last lines I posted up top there over and over again and they just sort of got stuck in my brain and suddenly they hit me and it was pretty much the most amazing lyrical moment ever. They just stuck me.

And I cried. So very relieved to have my sun glasses on so no one saw.

I just keep saying it was a beautiful show, because that’s the only way I can think to describe it. The weather was just phenomenal. The music fantastic. The stage and the show were so vibrant with colors. The balloons and confetti floating through the blue sky…

…a gorgeous sight.

And the message Wayne Coyne and the music kept repeating was all about love and making the most out of life and the moments you are in.

I just love shows that resonate with me well after they are over.

Well done, Flaming Lips.

 

Also, I’ve decided my favorite thing is being outside at a concert and clapping and singing along with a large group of people. There is nothing better.

 The ground post show.