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Show Review: The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala

To start, a bitter rant:
It is nearly impossible to see the opening act of a show in Los Angeles. 
I love seeing openers. Why, you ask? Because I can look back and say things like "I saw +Jhene Aiko before she was on that Drake album, when she opened for Nas and Lauryn Hill," or "Brandy (Norwood) was so cute when she opened for MC Hammer back in the day." 

When we heard about the concert featuring The Flaming Lips and +Tame Impala, we were actually searching for local shows for +White Denim, a pretty effing awesome band out of Austin, TX.  Because LA is so ridiculously spread out and so many people live here that there is too much God-forsaken traffic, it was impossible for us to get to +The Greek Theatre when doors opened at 7 p.m.

We missed White Denim just barely. We could hear them playing as we walked up, but by the time we entered the viewing area they were done. It just so happened they played a show the following night at +Amoeba in Hollywood but, for the same reasons, I couldn't make it. 

I'll catch them the next time around. But - just so you know - I was upset about it. VERY UPSET. 

On to happier things. This was my first visit +The Greek Theatre. One thing I didn't realize is that it's an outdoor venue. Feel free to laugh and make fun of me for being a newbie. I was so cold! Lucky for me, Jersey Mike brought me gloves and let me steal his hoodie because he "wasn't cold at all." 

Having missed White Denim, we sat for just a few minutes and then enjoyed +Tame Impala. 
Via www.losanjealous.com
Those Aussie guys rocked, man! Amazing psychedelic jams that went on and on. There were glitches in their screened light show and we had trouble discerning if the mistakes were planned or not. Either way, it worked. Also, their drummer, Julien Babagallo, made my life with his hair alone. His talent was just a bonus. 

via www.losanjealous.com

. Next up were The Flaming Lips. Because I'm an Okie to the core I've been through my rite of passage by seeing the 'Lips already. They have pretty elaborate sets usually, so I was amazed at how quickly they were ready to roll.

Their intro blew my mind, guys. Being Halloween week, they came out playing the 'Halloween' theme with tons of confetti and huge red balloons. Everyone was wearing a costume, including lead man Wayne Coyne as 'Carrie.' 
via www.neontommy.com
I've listened to newer things from the 'Lips, but not extensively. So I was very surprised to find that I knew most of the songs they played. People worship The Flaming Lips in Oklahoma. The crowd looses their minds. The crowd here in LA seemed too calm for me.
The too-chill crowd was just the first bummer. One minute we were on a Flaming rock trip, jammin' away. The next minute there was a sharp cut to 'Do You Realize?' and a sign off from the band. At first I thought the crowd wasn't hype enough and the 'Lips just got bored and called it quits. It turns out they had to end because it was 11:45 at night and The Greek is located in a residential area. I was super sad face about it, but that's how it had to be. 
I loved being at The Greek. Seeing The Flaming Lips made me homesick, but in a good way. Tame Impala were fantastic. I'm sad we missed White Denim, but they will be back around again once they're done touring overseas (hopefully). They just released a new album, Corsicana Lemonade, so they'll be back. Right? Yeah, they'll be back. They always come back.

Tonight I'm headed to The Fonda Theater to see +The 1975. That's two shows in one week! I may have failed at celebrating Halloween, but I've got my concert game on point.

Warning: leave now if you're adverse to couple cuteness.
 Jersey Mike and I went to The Flaming Lips/Tame Impala show to...
1) watch two amazing bands because we're live music junkies and 2) celebrate (drunkenly) meeting each other one year ago. And what lucky drunken lovebirds are we! Look how adorable we are reppin' our home states:



He's awesome. I love him. That is all.

*

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