Singing Back-up with the Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips are an American rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.

Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles", "Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)" and "Yeah, I Know It's a Drag... But Wastin' Pigs Is Still Radical". They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and frontman Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die".

Looking out at Red Rocks Amphitheater

Wayne in an LED suit during rehearsal

Anne keeping warm back stage (it was freezing!)

Buddy selfie

The LED suit in action

LED Rain and Rainbow emerging

Rainbow

It was so cold that Courtney, the harpist, couldn't play

Camping in the San Rafael Swell with Paul and Lauren

Mike had been talking about taking about taking me to this magical place in Utah, and we finally went. Our friends Paul and Lauren and Lauren's dog Bluebell came with us.

Map of the San Rafael Swell

                          

The desert was covered with bright orange flowers.  Some were Indian Paintbrush, some were Cowboy's Delight.  Gorgeous.

Driving into our first campground

The beautiful desert as the sun goes down

Enjoying breakfast

A cool tree nearby

Expansive desert with sage

Slightly pinkish sand

Majestic

Cathedral Rock

Lauren 

Perspective

Paul and Lauren

Enormous walls

Water and wind erosion

If you haven't been to the San Rafael Swell, GO!  It rocks Moab.

First Mate Kate