An over-the-top set from Oklahoma psych-rock kings the Flaming Lips should provide the perfect closer to a day of beer swilling and live music at Dallas' Untapped. Led by the endlessly creative and unpredictable frontman Wayne Coyne, the Lips offer a crowd-pleasing combo of crazy visuals and off-kilter alt-rock jams. Here's a quick look at the band's legacy in anticipation of its appearance at the beer-centric fest.
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Lips, incorporated: What on earth would make a Flaming Lips setlist at this point? Since the formation of the group in the early '80s there've been 17 full-length studio albums and countless other EPs, collaborations, cover projects and singles. But take a look at what stands as the Lips' most beloved work as a band and you can start to narrow down some possibilities. First chart hit "She Don't Use Jelly," from 1993's Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, is probably a sure thing. And Coyne and the guys will certainly take trips back to the lush, career-defining sounds of The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and At War with the Mystics.
Outside-the-box releases: Through the years, Coyne and the Lips have become more experimental with formats, from Zaireeka's four CDs that play simultaneously to an edible gummy skull with a USB drive of digital tracks. But the projects that have gotten the most attention have been covers collections. In 2010 the band joined Stardeath and White Dwarves with Henry Rollins and Peaches on an album-length version of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. 2014's With a Little Help from My Fwends found the Lips producing another tribute LP, this time for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The guest list featured Dr. Dog (also playing Untapped), Tegan and Sara, My Morning Jacket and, most notably, Miley Cyrus.
Strange booth-fellows: Coyne and Cyrus got along so swimmingly working on the Beatles tribute that they ended up making more music together. Much of it ended up on Cyrus' surprise release this summer, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. While the Lips will be touring with the pop singer soon, it's doubtful that she will make a cameo with the band at Untapped. But stranger things have happened. The Lips' involvement with pop stars is no surprise considering the wide range of past collaborators. On the 2012 record The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends alone, the guys were joined by a crazy cast including Yoko Ono, Erykah Badu, Bon Iver, Biz Markie, Jim James and Kesha.
Look at them: Visuals are as important as music in the Lips' career. Apart from a memorable collection of trippy short-form videos, Coyne and company have also given us a sci-fi film (2008's Christmas on Mars) and taken part in a fascinating documentary about the band (2005's The Fearless Freaks). But what should be of most interest to those seeing the Lips play Untapped are the concert toys in Wayne Coyne's arsenal. Their psych-rock has often become bigger than life in a live setting thanks to endless confetti, colored balloons, insane costumed characters and mind-melting video projections. Oh, and there's that big plastic bubble that Coyne often gets inside in order to crowd-surf in style. No matter what they bring out at their Dallas gig, we're betting it'll be an eyeful.
