The Shins Turn Vegas Into 'Wonderland'

Two years ago, when the Shins performed at the inaugural Vegoose, they dressed up for the Halloween-themed festival as nuns. Enjoying an ice-cream in the artist lounge, hours before their set, drummer Jesse Sandoval tells Spinner that he noticed "a lot of people in the audience dressed up as nuns this year." He wouldn't ruin the surprise as to what new costume the Shins had in store, but now that the show is over, we kinda wish he did -- the band's matching black gowns with checkerboard patches, facepaint, and odd headgear confused most in the audience.

The going theory was that it somehow related to characters from 'Alice and Wonderland' but we're pretty sure it's a more obscure reference than that. Even conversations on the side of the stage had people scratching their heads and shrugging. No matter, the Shins played one of the best sets of the weekend, performing rearranged versions of some of their hits, as well as a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Breathe.' Seeing the Shins live is almost too painful of an experience, because every song reminds you of the toughest moments in your last, failed relationship -- but seeing them perform in weird, confusing Halloween costumes certainly helps. Especially when they forego their usual witty stage banter between songs like 'Girl Sailor' and 'Kissing the Lipless' for costume-related glossolalia.