Flaming Lips to rock Little 5

Among the list of other performers descending upon Bloomington this weekend, the IU Auditorium and Union Board will present a band that is undoubtedly one of the most eclectic.

The Flaming Lips will perform at 8 p.m. today at the IU Auditorium as the featured artist in Union Board’s annual Little 500 concert. The band is a multiple Grammy Award-winning group and one of the most storied and revered experimental rock groups in contemporary music.

Oklahoma-based Stardeath and White Dwarfs, helmed by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne’s nephew, Dennis Coyne, will open for the band. Tickets are still available and cost $36 for students and $42.50 for the general public.

Maria Talbert, events coordinator for the auditorium, said the performance has generated positive attention and praise from both alumni and students, thanks to the band’s musical reputation and artistic stage presence.

“People are so excited about them coming,” she said. “They’ve made such an impact to this generation in music. They have such a huge fan base, and this is one of the shows that I have received an extraordinary amount of positive responses.”

Known for elaborate stage performances — frontman Coyne often floats above the audience in a clear bubble, for example — the Flaming Lips has defined itself as a fan-oriented group and critical darlings. Heralded by Rolling Stone for its “artfully conceived strangeness,” the Flaming Lips broke out in the early 1990s with its debut album, “In a Priest Driven Ambulance.” The band gained massive popularity thanks to the critical and commercial success of both 1999 “The Soft Bulletin,” and 2002 “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.”

With its reputation of extravagant shows, Talbert said audiences should expect a good time.

“People are going to really enjoy themselves from the moment they get here,” she said. “Seeing them live is definitely an experience.”