Lotus will spark a party at the Majestic Theatre this Friday and Saturday with their jam-based compositions, inspired by a host of genres.
The band is coming to Madison fresh off the release of their self-titled fourth album. Bassist Jesse Miller said they are ready to bring an electro shakedown to King St.
"Usually they are pretty high energy, pretty dance focused [shows]," said Miller. "If people are ready to dance and get caught up in the energy of the show that is a good thing to expect."
Formed in Indiana in 2001, Lotus has been creating their own brand of instrumental jam music ever since.
Although the product the group delivers is consistently great, different sounds characterize each of the group's live performances.
"Over the course of the tour, I would estimate we will play around 80 different compositions," Miller said.
Providing their audiences with a diverse array of sound, Lotus draws influences from electronic, funk and other genres, creating a distinctly twisted, Lotus sound. This creativity is what has carried them through their decade-long success.
"[We have] a lot of different influences, and [I] wouldn't say there's one particular artist, group or even a particular genre," Miller said. "I think we're drawing from a lot of different places."
With inspiration coming at the group from every direction, Lotus has crafted a unique sound incapable of being accurately described with words: It has to be heard.
"I don't think [our sound is] a very easy thing to just describe without hearing it," Miller said. "It's a pretty unique sound, so I always encourage people to just listen to the music rather than listening to some description that's not going to do it any justice."
On stage, Lotus' singular sound is coupled with live improvisation, establishing a cohesive, jam-based experience complete with synthesizers and electronic effects.
"[Cohesion is] something you kind of acquire after playing together for a long time and realizing when something's moving on," Miller said.
The ability to sense what your bandmates are going to play is essential in transitioning and formulating a cohesive live show that enraptures both fans and the musicians themselves.
However, Lotus can only do so much when it comes to energy. The crowd is just as important to the success of a live show as the band must feed off their enthusiasm.
"A good crowd can really make the show; there's a circular energy from the stage to the audience and back again," Miller said.
With light shows, Lotus adds another dimension sure to keep audience members intrigued and involved in the concert experience.
Wanting to expand on the concept of audience, Lotus hires amateur engineers to record their live shows and make them available online for people to download.
By revolutionizing the concert experience on a digital medium, Lotus ensures both those at the Majestic this weekend and fans who have to catch it later will enjoy their music live. With such a varied sound, it only makes sense to vary up how people take it in.
