Flaming Lips are planning socially distanced gigs using their trademark plastic bubbles
Socially distanced gigs, as discombobulating as they are, are wholly necessary right now. Not only for our sanity, but also in an attempt to keep careers and livelihoods alive of affected parties during this pandemic. And any kind of innovation that sees a progression from sitting at a table when you'd rather be flailing and wailing will of course be welcomed. That's precisely what The Flaming Lips are attempting to do in their hometown Oklahoma City.
In a time where physical connectivity is seldom, Wayne Coyne intends to utilise his trademark plastic bubble in an ingenious way to get people back into shows that resemble the kind of show we're used to and are desperately craving. Albeit inside a plastic bubble.
They already did the same for a live appearance on Colbert back in June (see below) whilst promoting their latest album American Head, but are now planning a similar style show on a much larger scale.
Coyne said: “I mean, it seems absurd, but we at first were just doing it as not a joke, but just as a kind of funny thing, and now it’s becoming kind of serious and real. I think that’s kind of the dilemma we’re all in is that are we waiting for it to go back to normal or are we starting to plot, ‘What’s the future look like?’ What is the future of live music?”
Plastic bubbles are synonymous with the cosmic veterans; every Flaming Lips show these days, Coyne bounds and bobbles on top of the crowd, although I can't envisage your experience being quite as raucous. It might not be the future of live music, but any kind of ideas to get us back into arenas, we'll embrace with open arms.
American Head is out now via Bella Union.