The Flaming Lips creatively combat coronavirus with long-awaited Space Bubble Concerts

The Flaming Lips creatively combat coronavirus with long-awaited Space Bubble Concerts… featuring giant balloons that read ‘F*** you COVID19’

The Flaming Lips are not the kind of band that lets a global pandemic get in the way of putting on a great show.

On Friday and Saturday, the psychedelic rock band performed the Space Bubble Concerts in their hometown of Oklahoma City.

The band’s frontman, Wayne Coyne, has been known for stepping into a plastic ball and walking into the crowd for years, but the circumstances of the pandemic inspired him to design a show that expanded on his idea.

Great concert: On Friday and Saturday, The Flaming Lips put on what was called the Space Bubble Concerts and on the second day they unveiled a balloon display reading  ‘F*** you COVID19’

All of the attendees were given their own plastic bubble to climb into; each one was designed to hold up to three people.

Each of the band members was stationed in their own as well; the idea was meant to keep both the attendees and band members safe as well as make the show all the more memorable.

In addition to the bubbles, the concerts featured confetti, multiple strobe lights and a visual display that appeared on a screen above the stage for the duration of the show. 

Safe show: All of the band members and attendees were given their own plastic balls to perform and enjoy the show in safety

Safe show: All of the band members and attendees were given their own plastic balls to perform and enjoy the show in safety

Blunt statements: During each of the shows, the band brought out different worded balloon displays for their fans

Blunt statements: During each of the shows, the band brought out different worded balloon displays for their fans

Saturday’s concert also featured the unveiling of a worded balloon display that read: ‘F*** you COVID19.’ 

The previous night’s event also featured an arrangement reading: ‘F*** yeah Oklahoma City.’ 

After the second show ended, the 60-year-old singer posted a video to his Instagram account showing his son Bloom watching the craziness unfold. 

The Flaming Lips had previously put on smaller bubble-utilizing shows, and in June, they introduced their idea to the masses during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where they performed their 1999 track Race For The Prize.

In October, the band was featured in an edition of the NPR Tiny Desk Concert series where they also played in plastic balls, albeit in a much smaller performance space.

Not the first time: Coyne has previously entered into crowds using a plastic bubble for years, and they have become a staple of the band's shows; he is seen interacting with audience members in at the Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival in 2019

Not the first time: Coyne has previously entered into crowds using a plastic bubble for years, and they have become a staple of the band’s shows; he is seen interacting with audience members in at the Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival in 2019

High profile: The Flaming Lips played their first bubble concert in June, and a video from the show was broadcast on an episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

High profile: The Flaming Lips played their first bubble concert in June, and a video from the show was broadcast on an episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert 

In December, Coyne spoke to UPROXX about how the band has been enjoying the new types of performances that they have been putting on and noted that if the pandemic did not end soon, more bubble shows would occur.

The singer said: ‘There have been a lot of details to figure out, and what if this thing ends in a couple of weeks? But if it keeps going, we keep going.’

The songwriter also elaborated on how he and his bandmates have come to embrace the changes brought on by the pandemic and noted that he was starting to appreciate the simplicity that has entered his life. 

‘Most of us have found a joy now in never having to decide. It’s a little adjustment to get used to there not being anything to do — just cooking at home, watching TV. You don’t realize how valuable that kind of routine is,’ he opined. 

More to come: In an interview, Coyne stated that the band would be open to putting on more bubble shows for however long the pandemic lasts, noting that 'if it keeps going, we keep going'; he is seen performing in 2017

More to come: In an interview, Coyne stated that the band would be open to putting on more bubble shows for however long the pandemic lasts, noting that ‘if it keeps going, we keep going’; he is seen performing in 2017