The Flaming Lips The W.A.N.D. Red Rocks Amphitheatre 5/26/16

Final encore for this amazing concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. The Flaming Lips were invited to play with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (conducted by André de Ridder). Together they played the "The Soft Bulletin" album in its entirety. The performance was to be recorded for later release. This song was only one of two without the orchestra and chorus, only one of four not on "The Soft Bulletin," and it was the second and last song of the second encore. This was my first concert at Red Rocks. I have wanted to go since I fell in love with Dave Matthews Band's 1997 Red Rocks performance (don't judge ;P). 20 years later, here I am. Yay! I'm disabled, and I don't yet get out as much as I would like, so this really meant a particularly great deal to me. Being part of such a special event for the Flaming Lips, André de Ridder, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, plus being at a world-renowned venue in such a gorgeous environment--this really made it not just a concert, which is special enough, but a genuinely exciting, enthralling, and memorable event. Thank you to The Flaming Lips, especially Wayne Coyne for his warm, welcoming, and infectiously optimistic-yet-realistic demeanor. I really loved spending an evening with you; not every person who is the voice of the band is that caring or that real. It was a heck of a ride given the weather and the uncertainty of live recording, and I thank you so very much for letting us join you all!! I wish I could have gotten a tattoo! Thank you greatly to André de Ridder, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and their chorus. Having fallen in love with this particular music on vinyl and given its original electronic nature, I was unsure just how an orchestra and chorus would change my musical experience. You brought a timelessness, an elegance, and a richness to it. You also reminded me (and I'm sure many others) just how amazing and exciting it can be to listen and watch orchestras play and choruses sing (and conductors conduct ;)). You really brought this music to a new place in its life, you bridged music aficionados, and you created a new piece of art. Thank you for doing this and letting us be a part of it, and thank you for braving the weather! And a final thank you to everyone who works at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre--from the folks helping us park our car to the cheerleaders making sure we didn't pass out or become ill on our way up the never-ending staircase to the security who gently and effectively dealt with patron challenges to the wonderful people who cleaned up our mess--thank you all for an awesome time!!