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Music

Oh, yeah, and the Lips play music, too

By Times staff writer
Published April 12, 2007

By law, any description of the Flaming Lips' soaring, alternative space-rock must include the word "psychedelic." If you need a little help understanding what to expect when the band plays Jannus Landing on Saturday, here's a guide.

WHY THEY ROCK: If you've never seen one of their live shows, you're in for a treat. Props, balloons, confetti, bubbles, fake blood, giant stuffed bunny costumes, singer Wayne Coyne in a human-sized hamster ball and an all-around atmosphere of joy emanate from the stage. Oh, and Santa Claus.

WHY THEY (JUST MAYBE) DON'T: The band announced last month that its trippy 2002 concept album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is being made into a Broadway musical penned by The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. Somewhere, Stephen Sondheim is scratching his head.

SIGNS OF OBSESSIVE FANDOM: Celebrities, including Justin Timberlake, Elijah Wood, Juliette Lewis and Blue's Clues' Steve Burns, have donned furry animal costumes to join the Lips onstage.

HOW THEY SOUND LIVE: "The show was one more example of how the band combines theatrical performance with continual innovation in rock 'n' roll to create something orchestral, raucous, wickedly psychedelic and, ultimately, something beautiful." (Austin360.com, Sept. 17, 2006)

PULL OUT YOUR LIGHTER DURING . . . : Do You Realize?, a stunning rumination on the loss of a loved one.

WHAT TO WEAR: Do you have an animal costume? Wear that. You won't stand out.

The Flaming Lips play at 8 p.m. Saturday at Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $36.50 advance, $40 day of show. (727) 896-2276; www. jannuslandingconcerts.com.

[Last modified April 11, 2007, 11:11:39]