As we approach the Ides of November, the temperature will inevitably keep dropping and make for some breezy, cold nights. Regardless of the temperature this weekend, however, Madison students should find a hot and lively atmosphere inside the Orpheum Theatre, where one of the country's most dance-inducing jam groups, Lotus, will hit the stage this Saturday night.
Originally from Indiana, Lotus have spent the last ten years honing their musical chops and style. While loosely defined as ""electronic jam,"" Lotus' music is far more eclectic than a genre definition can relate. Their first concerts found Lotus working in the realm of jazz- and blues-influenced rock, which they've since come to texture with electronic and progressive influences, making for some danceable grooves. Complimenting lengthy instrumental ventures with trance beats, it would be possible to confuse Lotus with the electronic producer of a similar name (Flying Lotus).
As eclectic as their formula may sound, it's nothing revolutionary. In fact, Lotus is one of many traditional ‘jam' bands to mix electronic elements into their music. Umphrey's McGee and The Disco Biscuits, two of today's biggest jam artists, have made a name for themselves by blending electronic elements with more traditional instrumentation. Just like Bob Dylan once ""went electric,"" Lotus and their contemporaries ""went electronic,"" and in both cases, the audiences benefited.
As could be expected from a jam band, Lotus gained most of their popularity from energetic live performances. While Lotus has a number of crowd-pleasers, the strength of their live performances lies mostly in their ability to improvise. Like famous jam groups Phish and The Grateful Dead, Lotus typically perform two-set shows and promote the sharing of their live recordings among fans.
It is not uncommon for their songs to meander through many different musical ideas, often reaching ten or more minutes in length. It is uncommon, however, to hear Lotus play the same set twice, as their enormous catalog allows them to play completely different material from one night to the next.
Much of their catalog has yet to be—and probably never will be—officially released, but Lotus' several studio works deserve attention as well. Early projects such as 2004's Nomad were indicative of the band's instrumental genius and earned relatively high praise from music critics. The band's latest LP, however, 2008's Hammerstrike, found them incorporating vocals and a much more alternative, post-rock approach to excellent effect.
While they haven't revisited the studio since 2008, more of Lotus' material found it's way to the masses last year with the release of Oil on Glass and Feather on Wood EPs. Consisting of leftovers and remixes from the Hammerstrike sessions, these EPs featured some of the band's most accessible tracks, such as ""Simian"" and ""Marisol."" The success of their studio work should not come as a complete surprise, given the musical chops they display on a nightly basis. Although it is a bit unexpected, considering how many of their jam band contemporaries fall short in the realm of the recording studio.
As challenging as it may be to pinpoint when an artist hits their prime, it seems as though Lotus has done so this year. That's not to say they won't continue to flourish in the future, but in a year that has seen Lotus perform at massive festivals such as Summercamp and Bonnaroo, as well as alongside musical stars such as Max Weinberg, this may be as good a time as ever to see Lotus. Between Lotus' brilliant jams, trance beats, and insane light show, this Saturday's performance promises to offer one hell of a concert experience.
