American Rock band, Modest Mouse, and Psychedelic group, The Flaming Lips perform a colorful theatrical performance accompanied by Friko
Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas can’t catch a break from good music this season welcoming both Modest Mouse and The Flaming Lips, accompanied by Friko. Opening up the night Friko comes out with a bang playing their unreleased song, “Guess”. Starting off soft and quiet, the audience gets surprised by their sudden build up of instrumentation and vocals. The Chicago native band was born for the spotlight.
Their chord progressions make you feel exactly what they intended to make you feel while writing the songs. They stick to themes of reminiscence while delivering a high-energy performance. They are similar to Big Thief in the way of their themes while having energetic passion in their songs. Their seven song set felt short but definitely caught the attention of the crowd and it’s safe to say, a lot of people went home a fan that night.
Incense is lit on top of one the cabs and the smell permeates through the pit waiting for the arrival of the next band, Modest Mouse. Isaac Brock, lead singer and only consistent member of the band, meets the middle of the stage looking like he came right from his office job. He comes wearing dress pants and a dress jacket with his shirt tucked in, ornamented with a trucker hat printed with, “Por Que No?” curving over a rainbow. Beginning their first song of the night, the iconic guitar progression of “Dramamine” begins to play. Bright colorful lights illuminate behind the band. Modest Mouses studio recorded songs have a vintage tape feel to them and somehow they preserve that same sound live. Dallas got some fan favorites such as “Dashboard”, “Bury Me With It”, and of course “Float On”.
Last but not least for the night, the Flaming Lips minus the lead singer join the stage . The serene intro of “Sleeping On The Roof” begins to play on the keys accompanied by the sound of chirping and buzzing insects. The shadow of lead singer, Wayne Coyne peers from behind the vertical grating on stage. Joining the band, Coyne is greeted by the audience as well as four giant pink robots. The lights on stage are each a different color looking like something from a dream as the robots tower of the crowd.
The soft psychedelic ballad of “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt.1” even has the robots swaying with the audience. Following part one, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2” vibrates through the subs as confetti spits out from the canons near the stage. Coyne joining in, he also starts releasing streamers and confetti into the crowd. The psychedelic funky visual production looks exactly what their music sounds like. The theatrical performance was both audibly and visually pleasing, featuring lights, textiles, colors, and engagement from both the crowd and the artists.
The night concluded with a Black Sabbage cover of “War Pigs” as well as a Chemical Brothers cover of “The Golden Path”. For the last song of the night The Flaming Lips performed a beautiful cover of “What a Wonderful World”.
I am a Touring Concert Photographer based in Dallas. I have a love for physical media such as collaging and mixed media. I personally work with Laredo Two as their photographer and Your Neighbors as their touring photographer! My top three artists are easily The Backseat Lovers, Radiohead and Inhaler! When I'm not shooting, I’am playing animal crossing or playing guitar.
