FOTOBOM: NORTH BY NORTHEAST (NXNE)

I know a girl who thinks of ghosts
She’ll make ya breakfast
She’ll make ya toast
But she don’t use butter
She don’t use cheese
She don’t use jelly
Or any of these

She uses vaseline.

“This unspeakable thing that happened at their show today, I think that it can’t help but affect all of our moods tonight,” Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips said Saturday night, before the band played “Knives Out” with shuddering sincerity for those affected by the Radiohead tragedy at Toronto’s Downsview Park earlier that day. The stage collapsed right before the show, killing Scott Johnson, Radiohead’s drum tech.

The crowd of more than 20,000 gathered at Yonge Dundas was so big you couldn’t move, filled with Radiohead and Flaming Lips fans alike, and everyone stood still, sans confetti, and quietly listened as Wayne Coyne sang the haunting song.

“All of our thoughts and all of our collective good kharma goes directly to them, and that will be a lot from you guys,” Coyne said.

“We love Radiohead, and we hope they will be able to continue on--and continue to be inspirational.”

The moment was felt all the more considering the magical, whimsical show surrounding it. Characteristically 0f the Lips, they made thousands and thousands of kids smile that night … explosions of confetti, giant rainbow balloons bouncing, dance parties breaking out on all of the side streets where kids couldn’t even see the stage, people sitting up on porches and rooftops all around the square. I mean, the band was introduced by literally being birthed onto the stage from an open-legged, naked woman on the screen.

It was, in short, epic.

Some other standout shows for DigBoston from the fest were Peachcake, an electronic music ensemble with hilarious front man Stefan Pruett. These guys will change the way you see dance music with their mega-energetic live show. I give a billion points to anyone who hands me a confetti exploder gun while smiling crazily at me through fuzzy goggles before dancing into the crowd. They’re from Phoenix, Arizona, kids. Next step: world domination.

Also of note were BADBADNOTGOOD (read about the show here), who create an infectious blend of hip-hop beats, bass and top-notch piano riffs, making covers better than originals right on the spot. Of Montreal was one sexy show; two words (?): “Plastis Wafers.” Lyrics: “I want you to be my pleasure puss I wanna know what it’s like to be inside you.” Thinking “umm what?” but saying “Oooh-la-la” as Kevin Barnes instructed as pigs have a threesome with this sexy Snow White blow-up doll woman on stage was quite fun for me. And tambourines, love the tambourine guy.

Check back for the full story of all of these bands tomorrow in Part II of the Reporting Live series from NXNE. For now, here’s a taste of some photos to get you pumped, including: (DJs) MembersOnly, Justin Miller & Justin Strauss // of Montreal, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, Peachcake, Bad Religion, Odonis Odonis, yet another parking ticket and gross poutine from Wendy’s…