A Point & Shoot Challenge With The Flaming Lips

Four of my favorite bands are touring this year and since that kind of good fortune happens rarely, I decided it was a good enough reason as any to not miss any of their shows! Last night I saw the third of four – The Flaming Lips at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

Unaware of the band’s liberal policy about photography at their shows, I left my DSLR at home and brought along my little 5 megapixel point & shoot. At first, I was a little disappointed to learn I could have brought the Canon,  but after I started shooting I was  so glad I didn’t  – my “little camera” gets the job done and, weighing in at less than eight ounces, it is SO much more show-goer friendly! We arrived at the venue a little early to secure a good spot so I had a lot of time for people watching/documenting. The Flaming Lips are quite a creative band and as you can see from these shots, draw an equally creative crowd!

My favorite shot of the entire night is the one pictured above. Taken during the finale on a maxed out memory card, this shot completely captures the visual essence of a Flaming Lips show. Confetti, lights, streamers, balloons and many, many energetic fans with their hands in the air-it’s all there!   Ah, what a blast it is to see this band live…

 

This might now be my all time favorite All Stars shot.

Costumes are standard fare at Lips shows… even my son Asher got in the spirit with his astronaut suit. People kept asking to have their picture taken with him : )

This guy waiting in front of us was sketching Asher and other costumed fans. I sneaked up behind him and documented his drawing.

The funky orange machine on the right side is a confetti canon. Wherever they go, The Flaming Lips always make  a huge mess!

      

I like the point & shoot because it’s less conspicuous to shoot with than my DSLR . I can frame shots featuring the strangers around me without them knowing for sure that that it’s them I’m photographing!

     The Lips’ drummer spent at least twenty minutes signing autographs for fans.

He’s wearing  his costume from the Lips’ annual “March Of One Thousand Flaming Skeletons” Halloween parade in Oklahoma City.

Yoshimi PINK.

     

Show time! Lead singer Wayne Coyne often arrives onstage by way of a huge clear inflatable ball, in which he rolls around on top of  the hands of the crowd. Sorry, no pictures of this crazy phenomenon- I captured that on video : )

The concert is officially underway once the confetti canons have blasted and there are a hundred huge balloons bouncing above the crowd. The Flaming Lips don’t throw concerts- they throw parties!

Lead singer riding the back of a giant stuffed gorilla? Must be a Lips show!

 

This shot was literally captured one moment before the balloon burst, showering the crowd with confetti and streamers.

 

It’s the band’s tradition to play a recorded version of Taps at every show in protest of the war in Iraq. The crowd is asked to participate in a peaceful demonstration while it’s played – a very poignant moment in the show.

Peace!