SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- This city might not seem like the place for a Flaming Lips show, but tell that to the sold out crowd of fans who came to see this band of “freaks” Sept. 24 at Sunset Station.

After more than two decades of performing, the Flaming Lips have not lost any momentum ... they've only gained more.The Lips took the stage greeted by a deafening roar from the crowd that was soon hushed by the many long-time fans in attendance. Soon the sound of muffled whispers created an eerie atmosphere of anticipation.

I asked a guy next to me why everyone was quiet. “They're waiting,” he said. What for? “Something,” he replied.

His enigmatic answer became clear when the band started playing. With the first ear-bending chords, confetti exploded from tubes set up on both sides of the stage – and just kept coming. Through the smoky haze that blanketed the venue – I could make out several large transparent beach balls lazily floating above the crowd as people punched them up into the air. The show started with a bang.

The Flaming Lips are known for filling their shows with video as well as audio stimulation, and this one was no different.

The giant monitor on the stage displayed psychedelic visuals one moment, then a fisheye lens close up of lead singer Wayne Coyne's face taken from the perspective of a camera mounted on his microphone.

The Flaming Lips love their audience, and by dishing out songs from their multi-era catalog, they did not disappoint. The audience got amped when the group went into a track from one of their most popular albums, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. In fact, the show climaxed with Yoshimi tune “Do You Realize?” a performance that charged a visibly tired audience to sing and dance along with the band one last time.

After more than two decades of performing, the Flaming Lips have not lost any momentum. Watching the show, it seems they've only gained more. The constantly evolving crew seemed more energized than ever. But in the end, the experience of a Flaming Lips show often defies conventional description – it's something you really just need to see for yourself.
[Flaming Lips Official Site, Wikipedia, Sunset Station]