I had heard rumors about this band… I have listened to them for years (Vaseline was in the prime of my middle school-MTV watching years) and have heard they put on an amazing spectacle but had never seen them live until last night in Poughkeepsie. This rumor turned out to be completely true. The show was at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and they transformed a drab empty space into a vivid party; giant balloons, confetti cannons, giant bug costumes and hundreds of laser pointers distributed to the crowd accompanied by joyous music made the evening a truly special experience.
But I had heard another rumor about this band that had somewhat tainted my relationship with them: that frontman Wayne Coyne was a hardcore-conservative Republican. We all have to make our own choices in life and if you choose to believe things that I disagree with I can get past that and still be your friend if you are a nice person. I, for example, believed Wayne Coyne was a extreme Righty. It turns out I was wrong. In fact, from what I heard him say and sing last night, he is one of the most progressive and empathic rock stars out there, making the evening a sermon on the importance of love and peace and enjoying this moment right here right now, constantly riling the crowd and reminding them to get excited and have fun because this is it…
Sometimes things we think we know are right and sometimes they are wrong. Life is a quest for The Truth and last night I confirmed a little bit more of The Good in it.