(Photo lifted from Brooklyn Vegan) So most of my weekend was a wash. The allergies, sickness or whatever it should be labeled is totally kicking my ass, but there was an extremely high point that came at the (oversized) hands of Wayne Coyne and the rest of The Flaming Lips. Saturday night was their second and last show at Webster Hall and even some extreme sinus pain couldn't keep me away - though it nearly did.

The shift started with me laid up in severe pain that took about an hour to fully dissipate. Thanks to some tea from Paul and Gigs quest to keep my mind off it, I managed to pick my nuts up and place them back in my sack. By the time the Pink Mountaintops hit the stage I was in game mode. They were unbelievable. The eight or so band members chugged along like a classic rock (think good classic, not Boston classic) coal engine whose fire would dwindle and nearly go out only to be fueled by more tambourines and delicate dirty guitar. As you know, the Pink Mountaintops share members with Black Mountain, but they don't exude the same slacker stoner vibe of the sister band.

Once they finished the door got pretty crazy so I had to stay put and do my job. The Flaming Lips took the stage to a massive crowd roar and a waterfall of balloons from the V.I.P. section. With all the Santa’s and Furries on stage it was a Sesame Street Live on acid. As they struck the first notes to their third song, which just so happened to be a cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Gigs and I darted upstairs to sing along and fist pump from the back of the crowd. From the front door I could make out a version of "Yoshimi" and a couple other tracks, but there was a conscious effort in place to not listen as to avoid any disappointment.

Thankfully the door slowed down considerably and I was able to catch the last six or so songs. I joined Christye at the front of the balcony and managed to catch some amazing action like "They Don't Use Jelly" and "Do You Realize". I also had a mild freak out when they played the new single "The W.A.N.D." The hook in that song completely blows me away. Wayne and company went off like fire crackers, (Brooklyn Vegan has the visuals). It is a real joy to watch someone who loves to perform. We get so wrapped up in these dark bands who barely show any emotion when they are sharing their art. Fuck that noise. They need to get some streamer guns and confetti machines - that should change their attitude. By the time they came out for their encore the crowd was so worked up you could barely I could barely hear Christye's call for Wayne's babies. Ok, maybe it wasn't that extreme, but a kid can dream. They finished their set with a spot on cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" that had my fist once again in the air wishing they'd never stop. As the dust (read: confetti) cleared, a horde of smiling hippysters (TM: The Real NG) emptied onto 11th Street with a single question - when will the circus come back to town?