Related Items Go Here
Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips performs at the Hordern Pavilion, 2 February (Photo Credit: Sandra Welch)
Gallery / Music

Photos: The Flaming Lips – Hordern Pavilion, 2 February

Share

The Flaming Lips brought their psychedelic spectacle to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on February 2. It was exactly what you’d expect: weird, wonderful, and bursting with more colour than a confetti factory explosion.

Armed with their signature blend of cosmic visuals and mind-bending soundscapes, Wayne Coyne and co. turned the venue into a neon dreamscape. Kicking things off with “Race for the Prize,” immediately drenching the crowd in a wave of euphoric nostalgia. Coyne, ever the ringleader of this surreal circus, wielded his giant inflatable hands and megaphone with the kind of joyful chaos that only The Flaming Lips can pull off.

The setlist was a rollercoaster through the band’s kaleidoscopic catalogue. Tracks like “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1” had the crowd belting out every word. While “Do You Realize??” felt like an emotional gut punch wrapped in glitter and an ounce of sunshine. It all felt distinctly like a communal catharsis in a psychedelic church. Or like living in a Simpsons episode.

Visually, the show was an all-out assault on the senses. Massive LED screens flashed trippy animations, balloons rained down like it was the universe’s most joyful apocalypse, and, yes, Coyne rolled out in his iconic space bubble because some traditions are too good to skip.

Deep cuts like “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate” and “Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung” showcased the band’s knack for blending the ethereal with the downright bizarre. The whole thing felt like stepping into an alternate reality where sadness shimmers and joy has a fuzz pedal.

As a final act, Coyne revealed a huge set of balloons saying the words “FUCK YEAH SYDNEY.” I couldn’t help but admire what the Flaming Lips have created. Here they have created an otherworldly experience where you can lose yourself, find yourself, and maybe hug a giant inflatable unicorn along the way.