Cymbals Eat Guitars Frontman Celebrates 21st Birthday With Wilco and Flaming Lips

Posted on Dec 15th 2009 3:00PM by Emily Tan
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While most people ring in their 21st birthdays downing enough booze to forget that the celebration even happened, Cymbals Eat Guitars lead singer Joseph D'Agostino remembers every moment of his. Who wouldn't if they got to ring in that birthday with Wilco and the Flaming Lips?

Since his band was slated to play Rolling Stone Weekender. D'Agostino may have already known that his band and alternative rockers Wilco would be playing on the same day -- his birthday, Nov. 7. However, he didn't think that it would pan out the way it did. "We played, and then we went to Wilco's set and watched from the side of the stage," D'Agostino tells Spinner. "I was standing next to Billy Bragg before he went on to play 'California Stars' with them and it was magical."

Aside from getting to watch from the sidelines, D'Agostino also received a surprise from Wilco lead guitarist Nels Cline. "I got a picture with him. He's so nice," D'Agostino says. "We talked for 10 minutes then he gave me this record -- this noise, two-guitar, experimental thing that they did. It was landmark for me."

Although Cymbals Eat Guitars didn't open for the Flaming Lips 'til a couple of days after D'Agostino's birthday, the experience was an epic one for him. He says he didn't really get to talk to anyone in the Lips aside from Wayne Coyne but the two conversations they had were really memorable. "Wayne is just so sincere and warm and makes you feel good," D'Agostino says. "I've seen the Lips many times but seeing those two shows, standing in the audience and standing by the side of the stage, with all the participation and the interaction, they're so good. It's something I'll never forget."