Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne (pictured in his “man-sized plastic bubble”) may be one of the oddest creative personalities going. Having idolized all manner of story-driven musical narratives, from The Who’s Tommy to Miles Davis’ A Tribute to Jack Johnson, The Lips have carved themselves out a niche in the realm of permanent rock operas. From dropping out of high school and working at a Long John Silver’s in Oklahoma City, Coyne went on to lead his posse to a gig as Beck’s backing band and headline world tours. There’s something about the frontman that defies failure; he has a look in his eye that bespeaks both an indefatigable work ethic and an uncrushable creative spirit.
The last year seems to have been especially cathartic for the band—The Lips released both Embryonic and a cover version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon (co-produced with Coyne’s nephew’s band Stardeath and the White Dwarfs, and featuring cameos by Henry Rollins and Peaches), and playing to an energized audience on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report.
One of the first major acts to sign up to play at the recently revamped Mountain Park, The Lips seem to have solidified what already looks to be a bright future of summer concerts at the new venue, which also features Moe on June 27, Counting Crows on July 21, Willie Nelson on Aug. 8, MGMT on Aug. 11, Gov’t Mule on Aug. 15 and My Morning Jacket on Aug. 25.
July 24, 7 p.m., $37.50, Mountain Park (Mt. Tom), Route 5, Holyoke, (413) 586-8686, www.iheg.com.
