After just over a month of having moved to Dallas from Denton, I can honestly say I have been having a blast. No hating on the good times I found in Denton, but I have always stumbled on some amazing things to do here, almost every night of the week. Dallas is not as dead as everyone makes it out to be. We may not have mass transit, nice weather, an ocean, a chinatown, or a living-breathing-downtown-streets crowded with people and markets, BUT there is a strong undercurrent filled with some talented good-hearted people here.

Last night I checked out the launch of Road Agent‘s Ambush series of shotgun summer shows. Every Friday night, throughout the summer they will be showcasing a new artist’s work.

While enjoying the art there, the buzz was building for what was dubbed the “Flaming Lips Party” at Conduit Gallery. Eventually the crowd that was at Road Agent dispersed, and reconviened at Conduit. When we arrived, we were greeted with a parking lot filled with hula hooping girls in bikini’s, dancing inflateable mascots, snow cones, and Chris from Good Records DJ-ing the madness !? It was quite the way to set the tone of the rest of the night.

Inside, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips was sitting in a chair at the front of a long line of people who were all waiting for their chance to chat with him. When they finally made it to the front of the line, it was quite the Mall Santa scene. Instead of and elf helper, Wayne had Captain America. Polaroids were taken by Wayne himself with those who waited to see him. The polaroid was then signed and given to the patient fans.

After it got dark, out came the fire-eating lady, who showed everyone how to set their breasts on fire. Then Wayne stepped outside and into a big inflateable plastic ball. He proceeded to walk through the parking lot and into the street. It was amazing how a simple plastic ball transformed the scene into a mass exodus of people now chasing and clapping this prophet in a giant hamster ball.

Bizzare.

That’s definately the word to sum up the night. I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful summer’s night dream.