This has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for 2020, the pair of shows were postponed until last year when, days before, they were postponed once again. But finally, the Oklahoma City band returned to Vancouver for those two shows at the Commodore. It was also a long time coming for me, since the last time I saw them perform was a free show in Toronto for NXNE in 2012 and I was antsy to see their live show again.

A palpable anticipation grew in the room as the set time drew near, a two-minute warning going over the speakers before the 8:30-sharp start time, and soon The Flaming Lips were out to start the show. Singer Wayne Coyne climbed into his personal inflatable sphere, and throughout the night he shot off confetti sticks, put on a Wonder Woman onesie over his suit, and just hyped up the crowd in general, barely letting the room be quiet even for a moment between songs, putting out an incredible energy.

And that energy was easily reciprocated; standing in front of a giant light board that displayed psychedelic graphics, as well as the lyrics to every song, one word (or sometimes one syllable) at a time, the band started with “A Cosmic Autumn Rebellion”, the lights strobing and confetti blasting out of the cannons side stage — which would be fired off frequently during the show.

Alongside the lights and confetti, there were a few props, the first being a giant inflatable rainbow framing the stage for gorgeous “Do You Realize??”, which had tears streaming down at least one person’s face, if not more. Especially after Coyne dedicated the song to a person named Greg, who wasn’t even expected to be at the original 2020 show, but beat his health problems long enough to be there both nights this year. This led to the crowd spontaneously erupting in “Greg! Greg! Greg!” chants on several occasions.
That wasn’t the only inflatable prop of the night though, as a huge pink robot towered in front of the stage, looming over the crowd for another favourite, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1”.

But all the lights, lasers, confetti, and even bubble-machines wouldn’t have meant much if it wasn’t for the band’s often uplifting & heartwarming songs to go with them. The set spanned their vast career, from the quirky “At the Movies on Quaaludes” from the new album American Head, to “Your Bats” off Embryonic, the classic “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton” from The Soft Bulletin, and even a cover of Madonna’s “Borderline”.

After a big sing along to “She Don't Use Jelly” the set came to a close with Steven Drozd on vocals for “Pompeii am Götterdämmerung”, as they made the crowd work for the encore. But they came back hard, with Wayne climbing into his sphere again, warning everyone before another giant inflatable ball — filled with confetti & balloons — hit the crowd to throw around for “Worm Mountain”. After the deep cut b-side, “Sunship Balloons”, the band wrapped up the night with another one of my favourites, the dual-drummers nailing “Race for the Prize”, and one more surprise, Wayne holding up some inflatable letters spelling out a large FUCK YEAH VANCOUVER.

I don’t think it’s a hot take to say that The Flaming Lips have one of the best live shows going, and I doubt anyone that was at the Commodore over the last two nights would argue otherwise. Even with the occasional heavy subject matter, all their songs are brimming with positivity & joy, and their live show just amplifies that, thanks in no small part to Wayne Coyne himself. It’s hard not to grin from ear-to-ear at the show, or even thinking about it afterward.

Oddly enough, it was my first time seeing them at an indoor venue — after twice at Malkin Bowl and Young & Dundas Square — but they were no less magical. The show went for two hours, and I was ready for them to keep going until the sunrise.

setlist
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
Will You Return / When You Come Down
Do You Realize??
How??
Why Does It End?
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
At the Movies on Quaaludes
Be Free, A Way
Borderline [Madonna cover]
Your Bats
Love Yer Brain
Dinosaurs on the Mountain
A Spoonful Weighs A Ton
She Don't Use Jelly
Pompeii am Götterdämmerung
(encore)
Worm Mountain
Sunship Balloons
Race for the Prize