Arts and Culture
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I first heard Lotus in a car in North Carolina during my senior year of college. A friend had left a burned CD in my player from when he had borrowed my car. After a listened, I called him.
“Who is on that CD in my car?”
“Lotus.”
“Who?”
“Lotus.
“I really like them. I mean I really like them.”
I know what a profound conversation that sounds like to most of you, but my point is this…four years ago Lotus was virtually unknown. If you were to log onto their website now, you’d find an ever-growing list of shows, music festivals and famous venues they’ve graced in the last year alone. The Vic was their chosen haunt this past Saturday night and, at under $20 a ticket, why not?
The thing was, I hadn’t really listened to them since college. As I walked into the theater on Saturday, I quickly found that college-aged seems to be their main demographic, mostly because they themselves look so damn young. I believe the average age of the audience was 19 (after talking to many such young kids, all hopped up on their drugs and alcohol, decorated head to toe in glow and sequins – yes even the boys), which is great – I used to be one of those kids.
Their music has evolved over the years. My first encounter with Lotus was slower tempo, but not cliché hotel lounge type music, more like what I imagine an exhale would sound like if it could be translated to music. Of course, they may have sped things up for the show, which was one hell of a dance party. Showcasing their newest album Hammerstrike, Lotus molds their songs much like Particle, but less keys and much more guitar (rocking guitar, actually). Long builds swell and accumulate over a few songs, but in true interval form, they slow things down and let their rock sensibilities take hold for a reprieve from the fast-tempo dance craze, which, let’s admit it, can get old after 40 straight minutes. Where some bands can fail to create a full sound (i.e. their opener – can I get a bass line?), Lotus does a good job of covering all their bases. And the most important aspect of any show: the crowd was loving them. The rapport was immediate and they wasted little time with the formalities of performer-audience conversation (“Hey Chicago! We love you Chicago! Blah Blah Blah Chicago!”) to the clear delight of everyone.
For anyone who missed it, you can see Lotus at the Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan this 4th of July weekend, in addition to a slew of other incredible acts. Bring your glow sticks.
