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SATURDAY
It must have taken one crafty A&R person at Warner Bros. to slip Zaireeka, the Flaming Lips’ 1997 four-CDs-to-be-played-simultaneously experiment in octophonic sound past the major-label money lords. For not only is it unwieldy (other than a Stereophile subscriber, who has four CD players?), it’s not even close to the whimsical “She Don’t Use Jelly,” the Oklahoma band’s breakthrough hit. There are wonderful songs lurking within Zaireekadizzying, textured, Beach Boys-meet-Pink Floyd odysseysbut it’s up to the listener to construct them. It will also be up to the listener to help the Lips pull off their latest group-participation composition. Based on 1996’s “The Parking Lot Experiment,” and brought home by Zaireeka, “The Boombox Experiment” calls for 40 folks to press play simultaneously on Lips-provided stereos. If you’ve always wanted to be in a band, join the Flaming Lips for a night at 9:30 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1831 14th St. NW. $9. (202) 667-7960. (Christopher Porter)