“Never miss a Sunday show.” This has long been word of the wise from many Phish fans when it comes to experiencing a run of shows. On top of that, the date 12/30 has always been a legendary night for the band. Walking into Madison Square Garden that Sunday night I expected to hear an entertaining show and hoped for some longer extended jams. After all, the opening two nights had overall solid set lists, but there was definitely room for more experimental jamming and improvisation.

Lotus announces the second leg of the 2013 tour today in support of the forthcoming album, Build, out February 19, 2013 on SCI Fidelity Records.

The first time it happened, in December of 2001, I was in a room roughly the size of The Fox Theatre in Boulder. I stood ten feet from the edge of the stage while my girlfriend and her sorority sister shared a stale rum ‘n’ coke beneath the east wall jungle mural. Ekoostik Hookah, an Ohio-based jamband, launched into the eurhythmic, tom-driven section of their epic piece, Ecstasy.

Three years ago, my grandma was diagnosed with cancer, fighting through the chemo with a smile on her face and light in her heart. Through her, the story and the power of the Lotus flower began to show itself to me. Deep beneath the dark, the Lotus begins its struggle.  Beckoning towards the surface of the glassy pond, Lotus does not stop until the sunshine meets her.

With an arsenal of banjos, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, upright bass, and thundering drums, Rose’s Pawn Shop will kick off 2013 with two key performances in the Mountain West including Salt Lake City on January 12^th and Bosie on January 13^th. Hot to trot on the Americana circuit, Rose’s Pawn Shop is clearly a band to watch in 2013 with a number of festival and theater performances already slated for the coming year.