THE FLAMING LIPS LIVE AT MANCHESTER’S O2 APOLLO

★★★★★ (5/5)

THE FLAMING LIPS PERFORMING AT MANCHESTER’S O2 APOLLO
PHOTOCREDIT: SABRINA RAMDOYAL

The Flaming Lips, a leading force in psychedelic rock for over four decades, delivered an electrifying performance at the Manchester O2 Apollo. The evening was skilfully divided into two thrilling sets, captivating the packed audience with enchanting visuals and a few surprises along the way. With no opening acts, the band took the spotlight to showcase their global impact and artistic growth.

In the first part of the performance, the band revealed their twenty-year-old classic, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, starting with "Fight Test" that the stage was complemented with inflatable robots touching the ceiling. Smoothly moving into "One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21”, the prose allowed the tale of "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2” to invade the space as a flight of robots filled the air. "In the Morning of the Magicians" highlighted elements of psychedelic rock with smooth musical transitions and dynamic laser displays illuminating the wall, and "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" gave a vibrant psych-rock journey that drew passionate applause from its striking laser effects. While "Are You a Hypnotist??" included a mirror-ball mirror in full effect, birdsong introduced "It's Summertime" marked a significant moment in the performance and "Do You Realise??" enveloped the audience in an inflatable rainbow, thematically expressing love. The first half of the set concluded with "All We Have Is Now," featuring prominent synthesiser vibrations that evoked a sense of melancholy, and "Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)," which culminated with trumpets, lasers, and confetti.

After a short interval for Manchester to collect their mesmerised minds, the second set began with "She Does Not Use Jelly" which was enhanced by a joyful atmosphere filled with balloons and popping confetti. In "Flowers of Neptune 6”, lead vocalist Wayne Coyne dressed in a flower costume, told a story about fireflies, with the crowd responded enthusiastically when he mentioned his psychedelic experiences, leading into the next songs, "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" and "Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung." Urging the audience with participation during "Waitin' for a Superman”, the Oklahoma troupe executed "The Golden Path," a cover from The Chemical Brothers, which featured an inflatable alien and monster, providing a lively dance atmosphere. Notably, "Riding to Work in the Year 2025 (Your Invisible Now)," though written in 1996, showed lasting relevance and impact. The final song, "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)," featured inflatable lips and eyes, bringing the audience as a unit.

The concert concluded with an encore of a touching Daniel Johnston’s classic "True Love Will Find You in the End”, followed by the exhilarating closer "Race for the Prize," which showcased shiny inflatable letters spelling "Fuck Yeah Manchester" marking the event as a stunning display of visuals and powerful renditions, underscoring the band's longevity and their profound bond with the sold-out Manchester O2 Apollo.