I do not consider myself a music aficionado. I neither concern myself with the technicalities of why a band is “good” or “bad,” nor do I follow current music trends. (For example, I have never seen the Grammys, or any other awards show.)
Music is for the ears rather than the eyes, so I do not care who makes it— I’m just a guy who enjoys good music. So, I hope you can bear a music review written by a guy who knows nothing, but is open to everything.
I absolutely despise New Year’s resolutions but, in 2012, I promised myself that I would broaden my horizons, taking every possible opportunity to experience something new. Having listened to hip-hop my entire life, I have missed out on music from other genres. So, I jumped at the chance to see Lotus at The Pageant on Feb. 18, because a friend of a friend said they were incredible— possibly the best show they had ever seen.
Formed in 1999, Lotus, an electronic jam band, graced St. Louis with their stage presence. Playing a wide variety of music, Lotus consists of five talented artists: Mike Rempel (guitar,) Jesse Miller (bass and sampler,) Mike Greenfield (drums,) Luke Miller (guitar and keyboard) and Chuck Morris (percussion.)
Having released nine albums, with the latest being the self-titled “Lotus,” the group has seen generally positive reviews throughout their career. Still, the band encourages fans to share Lotus’ music, even allowing audience members to record their live shows. Lotus also sells audio copies of their live shows, which is their main attraction.
Prior to seeing Lotus, all I knew about them was that they made “super cool music,” and had a “freaking ridiculously awesome light show.” I went, and was thoroughly surprised by how much I enjoyed the concert. The jam band really jammed!
Lotus took me on a crash course of psychedelic funk pop through their ethereal, lava lamp and melodic dance songs. Lotus appealed to my hip-hop background, too. Their consistent tempo kept me interested, while their live improvisation kept me wanting more. Miller showcased his guitar skills while using the sampler to create repetitive, almost chant-like sounds.
They offered a nice mix of slow and fast songs, but local fans must be more familiar with the up-tempo tracks, because the faster songs got more voice recognition from the crowd than other, mellower songs. I also found it pretty refreshing that Lotus is a solely instrumental band. Their instruments spoke for themselves.
Hip-hop concerts generally attract the same crowds, so I was really excited to experience a new group of people. The crowd— a motley crew of hippies, hipsters and music-lovers swayed, nodded and jumped around, as they enjoyed a good ol’ time listening to Lotus’ funky tracks. Everyone dressed differently. From Britney Spears-esque plaid skirts and knee-high boots to tie-dye shirts, each individual had a distinctive personality, and wore it on their sleeves that night.
This psycho-funk-electronica-hop concert completely blew my mind. I was bopping to the beats like an animal from Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” video, and was mesmerized by the colorful light show. Lotus concerts are neither for the elderly or faint at heart, due to the bright lights that will have your hearts and fists pumping. Lotus has something for every music lover to enjoy.
Whether you’re interested in jazz, trance, pop or hip-hop, Lotus has something for you.
