The Flaming Lips, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Willie Nelson and a ton of beer; seriously, what more could you want? How about media passes and Dutch behind the camera, once again? Because for all 3 days of the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival last weekend, the Telluride Newb was back in full force. In its 18th year, the last, big festival of the summer was not only the best way to say goodbye to the warm weather, but also the best way to welcome the winter - in more ways than one. During the Grand Tasting, where both local and national microbreweries showcased almost 150 different beers, a freak, frigid, rain storm transformed into a quasi-snow storm, hinting at what's to come in the next few months. Of course, the snow was by no means the star of the show, though the few inches that coated Ajax Peak certainly grabbed the attention of most attendees. No, the true star (besides the beer) was the unbelievable, sensory-overloaded set of The Flaming Lips. Sure, their music does not fall into the blues category, but experiencing them in as intimate a setting as Town Park certainly made their performance out of this world. So, in a nutshell, Blues and Brews kicked ass! Honestly, there was no better way to finish off the high season. Song: "The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)" by The Flaming Lips