XRT holiday show: FAYNTASTIC!! Had never seen any of the bands live before. Fan of the Lips, had heard and liked Phoenix and Pete Yorn on XRT only. NTO played to a sparse crowd, but everyone on the way probably heard them cuz they were LOUD. Took ‘em a while to adjust to the size or something but when they did a Hendrix-like number, things settled down and we really enjoyed them. Pete Yorn: wasn’t expecting such a big band. Great high-energy no nonsense set. They probably made a lot of fans. Phoenix, of course were without their drummer, so played a short acoustic set that did well to showcase the songs we have heard on xrt. I didn’t know they were from Paris, France. The Flaming Lips: Wayne Coyne (and maybe other band members) was on stage the whole time the highway-orange-clad road crew set up the stage, interacting with the crowd. The show started with a video nude woman dancing playing at the back of the stage. The camera slowly zoomed into her birth canal from which the band emerged one by one followed by Wayne enclosed in an inflated ball rolling down a ramp onto and off the stage right on to the crowd. Probably went about thirty feet out into the crowd. First song was Race For the Prize, one of my favorites. There were huge balloons shot out over the crowd and confetti by the ton. Streamers ended up hanging from all the light fixtures. Balloons were still aloft throughout the show. There was a group of men dressed as sheep(?) and women dressed as lambs, tastefully but scantily clad dancing in place from start to finish. I know at least some of these folks were picked out of the audience because a couple were right in front of us when we first came in. I know I’m not saying much about the music. I think I heard a new album is coming out, but as far as I could tell all except for one or two were familiar to me, so they weren’t trying to sell the new disc with this show. The first encore was I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas, which Wayne sang seated in a sofa while an assistant showered him with fake snow. Then they played my favorite song of the Lips, or at least the one that when I heard it made me go buy their music for the first time: Do You Realize?. My wife and I loved the show, thanks to XRT for some free tickets, which brings up the only disappointing thing about the show. Why are there tickets to be given away? I hate to realize that this band cannot sell out an arena at such a reasonable price. OK, nuff said

After finally experiencing “The Flaming Lips” live this past Friday, it’s easy to see why they top so many “Must See Live” lists. Coyne’s energy is amazing, and the band’s creativity undeniable. Truly an engaging performance, from beginning to end.

Two complaints, however — though more so about the venue/setup. The music playing overhead between bands was painfully loud. I actually put in earplugs for what the DJ was playing overhead between sets and took them OUT for the actual live performances. I had a similar complaint during Wilco’s recent UIC show. Please tone down the overhead jams between shows.

Secondly, the Allstate Arena is a pain to get to by train; a pain to park at ($20 just for lousy, unorganized outdoor parking?!); and unusually cold. I didn’t finally warm up until the encore.

Thank you XRT! You have always forced me to stretch myself musically–and Friday night was no exception. Flaming Lips was absolutely fabulous. I had never seen them before but will buy tickets to see them any time they are near Chicago–just one of those experiences you can’t explain except to say we were amazed and smiling throughout the entire show. As for Phoenix, I want to thank them for honoring their commitment and showing up rather than cancelling due to the family emergency that forced their drummer to head back to France. I’m sure they were disappointed that they couldn’t rock the arena as planned, but they will be back again–and we will be in the audience. Great night all around-fun between sets and great XRT vibe as always.

The show was freakin “MAGICAL” in every way. NTO, Pete Yorn, Phoenix, The Flaming Lips. Wow. What a great lineup. I cannot get over how brilliant the Flaming Lips were with their over-the-top effects. Absolutely fabulous and weirdly cosmic. And the sound was perfect. I could not stop smiling or laughing! Thank you!
Thanks to everybody at XRT for bringing this together-you guys rule. And Lin you’re my superhero! Loved it. Absolutely magical…:)

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;~) ;~) ;~)

Fantastic night!

I agree completely with Nantsy. That concert was probably one of the best days IN MY LIFE. The Flaming Lips were absolutely phenomenal in every way POSSIBLE. It’s a few days after the show and I still can’t get over how amazing it was. The music, the people, the lights, the show, everything was simply awesome. I could go on for pages about the concert and that STILL wouldn’t describe the intensity of it! XD

Am I the only one who thinks the Flaming Turds blew? It was the first time I saw them and will most definitely be my last. The show was more about balloons and special effects than the music. But I guess that’s what you have to do when you really aren’t good musicians. I mean, where were the guitar solos? Was I also the only one a little put off by the lead singer constantly referring to the audience as mother f*ckers? The show was a complete disappointment.

Thanks to XRT for 4 bands at a reasonable price. I was surprised with how good of a set Pete Yorn put on. I was expecting a low key set, but the band really rocked. His performance changed my preconceived notions. However, I was upset about Phoenix, as I was really looking forward to seeing them live. I was in line at the ATM for the 2 or 3 songs they played and got back just in time to see them walk off the stage. I did think the Flaming Lips set was somewhat unfocused. I’m guessing that many of their newer fans were only expecting songs from Yoshimi and At War With the Mystics. Most didn’t realize the psychedelic punk rock band from the first 15 years of their career. It’s hard not to leave with a smile on your face and a vivid image of a naked go go girl dancing in your head.

You have to love a Flaming Lips show — so much energy and fun! From surfing the crowd in a big blow up bubble to all the balloon type balls being thrown out along with all the confetti that whirls in the air through out the show and the fans on stage in costume, while some were on the floor on a sofa … that darn Fire Marshall…. and don’t forget the music – fantastic! If you don’t have fun at a Flaming Lips concert — you must be Scrooge!

I enjoyed the flaming lips and was pleasantly surprised by their show. I’m not too familiar with them so that was great. However, I was extremely disappointed with Phoenix. I bought tickets to this event to see them. I did nit appreciate a measley three song set. Such a dissapointment. Everyone I know who got tickets to the Aragon show said it was one of the best shows they had seen period. I
would have preferred that they just cancelled and xrt bring them back at a time where they could play a show deserving of the xrt fans. This way I would have beenable to sell my tickets and not be so pissed off at the lame set. I really think that xrt needs to being them back and honor the BHC tickets at that event. I’ve been such a fan of xrt and have been to lots of xrt shows – they have always done a great job in the past, but this show was simply not up to par. Say what you will about how great the Flaming Lips were, but xrt did not deliver on Phoenix….there was actual booing in my section after they left the stage.

I got these tickets as soon as they hit ticketmaster. My daughter and her boyfriend were pumped because they were going to need a stress reliever for finals beginning the following Monday at WIU and I thought that this would be a nice early Christmas present. I had never seen The Flaming Lips before but had heard of the energy that they created with their crowd. It was paralleled with a Jimmy Buffett concert. A birthday party atmosphere if you will. It was so much more than that (I can’t stand Buffett but oh well). My daughter got to dance on stage (the skinny shy blonde with the tattoo on her hip) and her boyfriend got to be King Butterfly! It can’t get much better than that! Seeing a concert like this from the front lines! She said that Wayne Coyne was one of the nicest people that she’s ever met! Seeing her so excited about being a part of this was the best Christmas present ever!

I completely agree with Megan. I bought tickets to the show to see Phoenix. If you cannot perform your full show, regardless of the reason, just cancel. Phoenix should come back to Chicago to play an XRT show to make up for that lame set. Pete Yorn and The Lips were good but I was greatly dissapointed with Phoenix.

Thanks to WXRT. I saw the The Flamimg Lips for the first time . They rocked the house . An awesome show . Cant beleive Ive missed their shows all these years. Keep rockin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t read if you’re only interested in happy reviews.

Pete Yorn has grown as a performer since saw him at the 4th of July show (apparently in 2003 per the “live from the vault” records.
Feeling gyped in regard to Phoenix. They were the band I was most excited about seeing. Would have preferred the option of a refund, or at the very least an apology from XRT. The announcer, when his microphone worked, presented the whole thing as if nobody would care. Slimy. No reference to what happened in on-air commentary.
Slimy. Yes, there were boos in every section.

The Lips apparently went on at their normal time despite the short Phoenix set. It seemed like about an hour of dead time, total momentum killer. Seemed to be taking their sweet time setting up, and finally starting once setup complete.

I never need to see the Flaming Lips again. Exact same performance as Pitchfork down to every grating note, except the horribly long and totally worthless Christmas song.
Doesn’t Wayne have anyone in his life that can honestly tell him what poor musical judgment he has, and from whom he might take suggestions?
The ending of the encore piece was painful, and completely without the slightest feeling or spontaneity.
Just like at Pitchfork, could have all been canned.

Otherwise, the sound was very much not good– on the main floor the bass was so loud and poorly defined that you couldn’t tell that a bassline was a series of distinct pitches– I’m sorry if the show undersold but you have to bite the bullet and pay for qualified technicians.

i LOVE all 3 bands. Pete Yorn TORE IT UP. Great performance. The tambourine guy was hilarious. I have to give a HUGE “REALLY?!?!!” to phoenix tho. They are who I was most excited for. I saw them up front and and close at Park West last summer, and they were AMAZING! So much energy, and played for so long. Um…this time…not even TEN MINUTES?! and they were HEADLINERS?! just because you dont have a DRUMMER (who isn’t even part of the BAND mind you) doesn’t mean you can play a DECENT set. They could’ve EASILY played longer, so many people were there JUST to see them. They ALREADY had their stuff set up, they obviously had the time to play, what stopped them?! Was there a helicopter outside waiting for them? THEN JUST CANCEL AND RESCHEDULE. What was nice tho, was that you could tell that the crowd REALLY wanted to boo..they started to…but didn’t. I loved one of the Flips fans throwing their mask directly AT phoenix when they walked off…that was hilarious.

and Wow, the flaming lips KNOW how to put on an entertaining show. I’ve only seen them at a small outdoor gig, and this was incredible. The amount of time and effort they put in keeping the fans alert was impressive. he really got the crowd going. Lots of fun. As silly as it sounds, all the balloons and confetti really made the show exciting. I couldn’t stop smiling, Even from the upper deck! I could’ve done without staring at the naked woman on the screen behind them tho…and his frequent “cool” usage of the f word. When are musicians gonna realize that saying the F word does NOT make you a rock star?!

All in all, a good show. Glad I won tickets from xrt, cause I would not have paid $50 to see those bands at a HUGE venue like that…next time make it at the aragon!!!

neal-
Totally agree about xrt not apologizing for phoenix. even on the radio the next day the djs were talking about how sorry they felt for phoenix and what a great set they did and how grateful we all should be that they even graced us with their 9 minute performance. Feels like a slap in the face to the fans. Especially the ones who had to sit up in the 2nd tier to see the show. Since I was so up high, I didn’t get to hear the boos…doesn’t surprise me tho! And who doesn’t have a drum machine or a replacement drummer?! it’s not like they have complicated songs that NO other drummer could’ve sufficed!! I’ll go see them again, but only if it’s at a SMALLer venue.

FL is about the experience much like Buffet, the Dead, Waters, Floyd. You needed to immerse yourself in the music and the experience – hard to do if your in the balcony. Their set was totally beyond what I expected. It makes me want to explore their music more than the five or six songs I know. Pete Yorn was phenomenal. I expected less from him because he was the early performer. I was completely surprised. Phoenix left me wanting more! I appreciate that they stuck it out and gave everyone something completely special. The acoustic set was beyond belief. Those who booed should have left and let the rest of us savor the beauty of “the acoustic set”. Anyone who has a problem with it should just turn on one of those crap stations that give you the repetitive, sanitized, formulated music. The only bad part was NTO. I didn’t expect much and they didn’t provide it. All in all, I would say it was the second best XRT concert behind Zevon at the Park West in 95. Now there was another magical acoustic set.

Thanks for the backup.
To be fair Phoenix was the only set with really good sound; and the middle song they played was beautiful– does anyone remember the name of the song?
I really think XRT owes it to the fans to get Phoenix back here for a FREE XRT concert.
I have Phoenix Interruptus and will probably pay just to see them next time they come back (but not at a ridculous suburban hangar like the Allstate Arena) but I shouldn’t have to.

Oh yeah– what was up with Frank E Lee going on about how cheap admission was? What an insult to what I’m sure are many fans who would very rarely pay 50 or 60 bucks to attend one night of music.

Admittedly I went to the concert to see The Flaming Lips — that Peter Yorn and Phoenix were opening was icing on the proverbial cake (since I enjoy them as well). I was disappointed by the short Phoenix set but understanding of how last minute family emergencies can complicate matters. I enjoyed the few acoustic songs they did and wish the drummer well.

That said, I was — again — there primarily for the Flaming Lips, who I enjoyed immensely. But the others commenting here make an interesting point: there were plenty of people in the audience who were there to see PHOENIX. Not everyone who likes one band is bound to enjoy the other, and there were people in my section who left, never to return, 1-2 songs into the Flaming Lips. From the disappointed looks on their faces, I suspect they were there for Phoenix.

In which case: I can’t help but wonder if perhaps there should have been an option for people leaving early to get a partial refund for their tickets… or at least discounted tickets for a future Phoenix show.

On a side note… Allstate needs to seriously reconsider their stairway arrangement and/or lighting. Where their concrete steps meet the metal stairs (at least on the border between sections 101 and 102), the first metal stair is half the width of all those preceding it. In the dark, no one is expecting that and no fewer than 5 people fell down the remaining flight of stairs as a result. Staff kept bringing in people to “mop” (it’s true beer was all over the place after the falls), but the moisture wasn’t the problem (the floor started off dry at the beginning of most falls). It was that step. Very dangerous.

I can’t believe the support for the Flaming Lips!! This was my 1st time seeing all 3 bands, didn’t know much about any of them but had heard good things. Yorn wasn’t great but didn’t anyone notice him crucify the 1st verse of Hungry Heart? Phoenix had the most potential. Flaming Lips have a great optical show but the music leaves alot to be desired. We left after 30 mins of them, will NEVER see them again.

Hey,

these 2 guys are “Walkin’ To New Orleans” — to raise more money for the Hurricane Katrina victims. Please give them your support.

http://www.nolawalk.com/

Thank you.

I have to agree with previous post. The lips sound great on there studio albums for the exception of those early punk albums. They are one esoteric band . I love them.

I have to agree with previous post. The lips sound great on there studio albums for the exception of those early punk albums. They are one esoteric band . I love them

Dragged my 17 year old son who HATES live music to this show for which I won tix. Pete Yorn was insufferable for both of us and he almost made us leave. Phoenix was sad, stripped down and very beautiful. Could only stay for opening song by FL but at least the boy got to see why you can’t just sit at home with headphones on and get the same experience as being there in person. Chalk one up for another teaching moment!

If this was the first WXRT Holiday Concert, I can hardly wait for the future Holiday Concerts. I won’t re-state all the details from the concert as they have been well posted. I felt sorry for NTO because the Arena was near empty, the sound pressure levels were waaaaay too high, the amps were clipping and I thought my ears were gonna bleed. Yea, I admit, I’m in my 40’s, but if the sound levels hurt, it ain’t fun. I want to be going to these concerts well into my 70’s and I want to be able to hear them. Anyway, the Pete Yorn set was musically fine, but somewhat bland. The Phoenix set was understandably shortened, but very enjoyable. I have never seen the Flaming Lips before, but wow. Wow. If you open up a dictionary and look for the definition of a wild, crazy, high energy, fantastic concert, the Lips have their picture in there. I was a minimal Lips fan before and now a dedicated one. What a great evening. One of the best parts was I dragged my 15 year old son to the show. He thought he was going to be the only teenager in a sea of ‘old people.’ I think he enjoyed his first concert.

Yes the antics are special, but what drives the Flaming Lips is the amazing rhythm section!!