Comments on: The XRT/Bud Light BIG Holiday Concert

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:16:21 +0000

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

By: SL

SL — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:06:04 +0000

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.

By: zgwarnki

zgwarnki — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:46:02 +0000

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!

By: A.J. Brinegar

A.J. Brinegar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:02:57 +0000

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

By: A.J. Brinegar

A.J. Brinegar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:32:54 +0000

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.

By: Help the Lower 9th Ward

Help the Lower 9th Ward — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:53:28 +0000

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.

By: MD

MD — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:54:43 +0000

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.

By: tw

tw — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:52:24 +0000

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.

By: tw

tw — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:50:09 +0000

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.

By: Neal Karlpan

Neal Karlpan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:29:29 +0000

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.