Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips told us a month ago that his band would incorporate their new album’s bleak mood to the stage, predicting a “left turn” from the “confetti in your face”-theatrics of past tours.
That pivot was put on bizarre display Wednesday night on “Late Night With David Letterman,” when the Oklahoma City psych-rock icons performed the title track from “The Terror,” out April 16.
Standing on a pedestal surrounded by shiny orbs and holding a toy baby, Coyne and company tore through the monotonous, hard-driving track in four minutes and change.
Bassist Michael Ivins took his customary spot in a chair and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd tapped away at an iPad before banging out some heavily distorted chords on the 12-string SG-like guitar around his neck.
Behind the singer stood what appeared to be the skeleton of an outdoor umbrella, which was strewn with white ropes that extended throughout the stage and connected to Coyne Jr.
“That’s a beautiful, beautiful baby,” remarked Letterman after the performance. “Slept right through that.” Watch: