Joy! Joy! Joy! This is exact reaction I get at every Flaming Lips that I have been to. They are pleasure domes for the mind, the heart and the soul. Recently The Flaming Lips returned to Australia for a special performance at the Sydney Opera House. It was made extra special as they played their classic album 'The Soft Bulletin' in full, 20 years after the release of this spectacular record. So it turned out to be a very special night for everyone lucky to be there.

I was wondering if an Opera House show would be different from a normal Flaming Lips show. Would it be more restrained given the surroundings. Well apart from no dancing animals the answer was no. From the opening strains of 'Race for the Prize' confetti and balloons rained down on an entranced audience. Smiles burst out everywhere. As lead man Wayne Coyne asked people to stand and make noise we were all soon on our feet. Which is where we stayed. 'The Soft Bulletin' is such a brilliant album. It flows beautifully, soft and tender and hard and rocking. It was all so special. The stunning 'What Is the Light? was momentous. 'Waitin' for a Superman' was serene and beautiful. 'The Gash' rocked the house. As the music played balloons were bounced through out the audience. Wayne Coyne even came into the crowd in his inflatable bubble momentarily. We even received an encore of their 'greatest hits', leaving everyone totally satisfied. If you have never attended a Flaming Lips show once in your life I recommend you remedy that situation.

Set List
Also sprach Zarathustra
Race for the Prize
A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
The Spark That Bled
The Spiderbite Song
Buggin'
What Is the Light?
The Observer
Waitin' for a Superman
Suddenly Everything Has Changed
The Gash
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Sleeping on the Roof

She Don't Use Jelly
True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston cover)
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1

Do You Realize??