Photo Gallery | Flaming Lips perform in Hattiesburg as part of their 'record breaking' tour

The air was still crisp and cool with morning dew as people strolled around downtown Hattiesburg. Just by looking around you could tell something was different; it was 7 a.m. and the city was bustling. Businesses that were usually closed at the early morning hour were opened and people were flowing in and out of there as if it was the noon lunch rush. People were even consuming alcohol and that’s one way to start the day; with terrible decisions.

Turning the corner onto Front St. you could see the road blocked off and people standing there waiting and watching the concert that took place inside Benny’s Boom Boom Room. The entire downtown area seemed to be focused on the music group, The Flaming Lips’ attempt at breaking the world record for most concerts performed within a 24-hour period in different cities. Flaming Lips were not alone. Other music acts included; Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Gary Clark Jr., Hunter Hayes, Givers, Neon Indian, and Jackson Browne who accompanied The Flaming Lips on stage at the Hattiesburg leg of the tour.

Roadies, security, and crew crowded the streets racing in and out of the Boom Boom Room in an almost firemen like fashion, trying to set up the next act and make sure things ran smoothly. Tour buses also lined Front St. with people wondering who was going to step off. Suddenly Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips and Jackson Browne stepped off one bus and everyone cheered, applauded, and took iPhone photos, most of which will end up on Instagram. They quickly entered the Boom Boom Room and though they played a few tunes, they still wowed the crowd.

Leaving the venue, Browne and Coyne seemed more relax. One of the most touching and memorable moments for people standing outside was an older woman who approached Browne with a Jackson Browne record, which he promptly signed. After he gave the record back her knees buckled and she cried out with joy that she had been waiting all of her life for that moment. Coyne and Browne lingered around a bit longer to talk with fans and the press. They were nothing but class acts and very appreciative of their fans.

The tour buses then pulled out and headed to Biloxi as their next venture. Soon after they left, the Boom Boom Room crowd bellowed out of the venue pouring with sweat and weary faces yet satisfied and happy to be a part of this monumental tour.