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Flaming Lips' free show at Oklahoma City Zoo will stand out in fans' memories

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Whether the band was leading the audience through a boisterous singalong of “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” or downshifting into tender, stripped-down performances of “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” and “Waitin' For a Superman,” the Flaming Lips were performing with a level of energy and musical passion that was ultimately more striking that the video loops, lasers and confetti storms. Arguably, the band reached its zenith on “Drug Chart,” a song released last year on a USB drive encased in a “gummy skull.” The band accompanied the song's harrowing lyrics about drug use and disillusionment with some of their most hauntingly beautiful music in years.

‘Do You Realize??'

The Flaming Lips closed the show with “Do You Realize??” and performed the song with uncommon grace and power. Fans are used to Coyne and the band opening the song slowly before playing it much as it was recorded on 2002's “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” then decelerating again. But Coyne seemed to linger on the lyrics and seemed visibly moved while singing “Do you realize/ that you have the most beautiful face?” and the band was sharp, exceptionally engaged. “Do You Realize??” is one of the group's most immediately identifiable songs, but the Flaming Lips played it as if it were a new song they wanted everyone to hear with fresh ears. If this is how the Flaming Lips are approaching the familiar songs that over 10,000 fans wanted to hear on Friday, it only creates anticipation for the new Flaming Lips album that will arrive next year.

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