The Flaming Lips Live at Salt Shed [REVIEW]

The Flaming Lips took Chicago’s Salt Shed by storm on Friday bringing their Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots 20th Anniversary Tour to the stage for two explosive sets to a sold-out crowd. On a stage adorned by two giant pink inflatable robots, Wayne Coyne and company tackled their now classic 2002 album “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” in full before coming back onto the stage to perform songs from across their catalog.

Grand Spectacle was alive and well on Friday from a full laser and light show present to accompany the music to an enclosed Coyne singing many of their numbers from within a giant translucent bubble, flanked by the previously mentioned inflatable Pink Robots that stretched about 20 feet into the air! Some of the biggest moments were highlighted by what seemed like tons of confetti launched into the air across the general admission floor of the Shed, which I’m sure will continue to be found for weeks.

At its core, however, the night was about the music and the 23 songs that the Lips performed with excitement and gusto. There were moments where Coyne could be seen relishing the calls from an incessantly screaming fan from within his bubble, with him proudly proclaiming, “Yes, we need more of that!” (This affirmation only encouraged the young fan to continue even louder.) Later in the second half, feeling the energy from the audience, Coyne remarked, “I think this might be the best show we’ve ever played.” Rapturous applause and cheers followed, almost as if by command.

Finally, after a full second half packed with favorites like “She Don’t Use Jelly” and a cover of Madonna’s “Borderline,” the set came to a close to be followed by a four-song encore that included three songs from 1999’s “The Soft Bulletin,” with the anthemic “Race for the Prize” closing out the evening in wide-screen, cinematic fashion… including (lots of) confetti.

Overall, the show was a phenomenal spectacle that left everyone thoroughly satisfied.

The band will be touring the states through the end of August, be sure to catch their show in your city!