Review: The Flaming Lips at The Usher Hall

Wayne Coyne and co bring a triumphant greatest hits set to Scotland‘s capital.

Music - that one constant force that can entertain us and cheer us up in equal measures - has been hitting the headlines for entirely different reasons just now.

There’s a tricolour balaclava reason as to why that’s been. Suddenly everyone’s taken a side and picked up an opinion and they’re not afraid to voice it.

So it was fitting that The Flaming Lips hit Edinburgh as the political and social debate about Kneecap engulfed the news. Not only were The Lips here to perform their album ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’ but they were also in Scotland's capital to remind us that music can be fun and entertaining.

There’s a lot of effort that goes into a Lips show. Before the whole carnival exploded into life the scene was set with deflated props and a massive wall for a screen making it look like some deserted soft play area.

There was nothing empty about the venue. From the longest merchandise queue I can remember to the packed seats watching from high above, the anticipation was at fever point. Security handed out sparkling water to keep the masses cool which is something you don’t get at the Barras.

Then appearing from the shadows, under his famous locks of big hair, lead singer Wayne Coyne appeared to give us a regular countdown to the show starting. If there was ever a rock start to go into space, this was the very one.

The singer explained that they'd be doing the album in it's entirely from start to finish. For those that know the material you might wonder how they'd hold the crowds attention, especially during the instrumental moments.

There was nothing to fear. Never mind battling the robots, a Flaming Lips show battles the senses. Four massive pink robots were inflated on the stage. 'Are You A Hypnotist?' matched the out there of it all with trippy visuals displayed behind Coyne. And the singer put Lady Gaga in the shade with his costumes. One minute he was wearing an outfit where his head popped out of a flower, the next he was draped in a Wonder Woman towel.

It wasn't all about the over the top stage set up. They're where they are thanks to tunes like 'Do You Realize??' which is both inspiring and considerate.

To be honest there was a bit of an issue with the pitch of the vocals at the start and some unwanted feedback but that didn't dampen the mood. Coyne, as enthusiastic as a cheerleader at the Super Bowl, wouldn't allow it. And neither did the audience who responded feverishly to his calls to keep the energy going.

After they blasted their way through their most beloved album, it was time for a breather. One that the audience, the musicians and stage hands Zak and Pete all needed in equal measures. Then they were back, bounding on stage to The Proclaimers anthem '500 Miles' which played perfectly to the crowd.

Coyne might be the only original member of the band and there might be a lot to concentrate on visually with the screen and various props, but there's no denying that they have a talent as grand as their artistic ambition. And while they're know as a psychedelic group they also know how to proper go for it as evident in 'She Don't Use Jelly.' 

It's difficult nowadays not to have politics and music mix. The Flaming Lips managed to strike the balance perfectly with an emotive version of 'The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song.' A sombre cover of Daniel Johnson's 'True Love Will Find You In The End' changed gears before the throbbing 'Race For The Prize' brought matters to a triumphant close.

The crowd left the Usher Hall covered in pastel toned android shaped confetti and smiles as wide as Princess Street.

In these worrying times filled with bad news and conflict, what else can you ask for?