The Flaming Lips played the first of two sold out shows at the Commodore Ballroom, on February 28, 2023. It was a night of only the Flaming Lips, as there was no opener.
The shooting experience was one of the most fun I’ve had in the pit. Not only did we get to shoot the first six, as opposed to the first three, but we had to contend with a blow up rainbow the inflated inside the pit and expanded up and over the stage. After that we were ushered to the sides of the pit as a giant blow up robot, that reached the Commodore ceiling. It was definitely an experience. And it might’ve just been the brightest show I’ve ever shot, no…it definitely was.
Speaking of lighting, the show itself was thoroughly thought out, with lasers, and and extra stage lights, that lit up the stage, and crowd. It was an arena type show in an intimate setting. Confetti canons flanked the stage, and multiple times they shot out confetti, raining down multi coloured rectangles of paper, with the crowd reaching to the sky, trying to snatch a piece.
After the third song, Wayne Coyne stopped to talk about how they had to postpone a previous show, and that he received a note from someone named Gregg, who had Cancer, and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to see the show then. Coyne talked about how it was fortuitous that they had to postpone, because Gregg, now was indeed at the show, giving the story a happy ending. The crowd erupting with chants of “Gregg!” That chant showed up multiple times throughout the two hour set.
It was a fun show, one I’d definitely put in to shoot again. And by the crowd and those who I talked to, they too would go again.
Enough preamble. I hope you like the shots.
"GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG!"
GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG! GREGG!
Keep screaming! come on!
“Keep screaming! come on!”
"...THIS PART I THINK SHE WAS TRIPPING A BIT TOO HARD...
...SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STORY. i'M SURE MOST OF IT, IF YOU'RE ON ACID IS TRUE."
THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE MISSED AT SHOWS. yOU CAN ALWAYS LISTEN TO MUSIC. iT'S NOT ABOUT THE MUSIC, IT'S YOU GET TO BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOU GET TO BE LOUD.
“THAT’S WHAT EVERYONE MISSED AT SHOWS. yOU CAN ALWAYS LISTEN TO MUSIC. iT’S NOT ABOUT THE MUSIC, IT’S YOU GET TO BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOU GET TO BE LOUD.”
THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE MISSED AT SHOWS. yOU CAN ALWAYS LISTEN TO MUSIC. iT'S NOT ABOUT THE MUSIC, IT'S YOU GET TO BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOU GET TO BE LOUD.
"Thank you, I love you, thank you, I love you all. With every I love you, you say, we feel it we appreciate it."
I always feel a little bit embarrassed just standing here singing.
“I always feel a little bit embarrassed just standing here singing.”
...This bird is fucking cool.
“…This bird is fucking cool.”
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— Jade Dempsey