This fall, Lotus releases their highly anticipated studio album, Hammerstrike, and steps out on their most ambitious tour yet. The months ahead will wrap up a huge year of growth for Lotus; a year that has positioned this instrumental post-rock outfit for a breakout 2009.
Hammerstrike (October 14, 2008/SCI Fidelity) finds the band reaching back in order to move forward. Primarily recorded live in one room to analog tape by Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man), the album captures a sound that harkens back to the 70's but never slips into nostalgic retreads. The compositions are focused and melodic, filled out with orchestration including swelling violins and cellos, banjo, wordless choirs, and electronic noises. Though the tracks range from dance floor ready rockers to soaring post-rock instrumentals, the album is held together by a sanguine spirit pervading each track. The big guitars, feedback, and distortion serve an optimistic purpose. It is a decidedly American feel that invokes big skies, open roads, and a zealous yet naïve pursuit of the idea that defeat will never be conceded.
The band will tour this fall in support of Hammerstrike. The complete list of confirmed dates is as follows:
September 24 Mercury New York NY The Debut of Hammerstrike in its Entirety
September 25 Revolution Hall Troy NY
September 26 Higher Ground Burlington VT
September 27 Paradise Rock Club Boston MA
October 6 Canopy Club Urbana IL
October 7 The Blue Note Columbia MO w/ Elastik Soul
October 8 The Old Rock House St. Louis MO w/ The Egg
October 9 Slowdown Omaha NE w/ Somasphere
October 10 Ogden Theater Denver CO w/ BLVD
October 11 Aggie Theatre Ft. Collins CO w/ BLVD
October 14 Orpheum Theater Flagstaff AZ w/ BLVD
October 15 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach CA w/ BLVD
October 16 The Roxy Hollywood CA w/ Region of Darkness, BLVD
October 17 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA
October 18 McDonald Theatre Eugene OR w/ BLVD
October 19 Crystal Ballroom Portland OR w/ BLVD
October 22 The Cabooze Minneapolis MN w/ Family Groove Company
October 23 Majestic Theatre Madison WI w/ Family Groove Company
October 24 Miramar Theatre Milwaukee WI w/ Family Groove Company
October 25 Park West Chicago IL w/ Family Groove Company
October 26 The Intersection Grand Rapids MI w/ Garganta
October 28 Skully's Music-Diner Columbus OH w/ Papadosio
October 29 House of Blues Cleveland OH w/ Papadosio
October 30 Lulu's State College State College PA
October 31 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia PA w/ Grimace Federation
November 1 9:30 Club Washington DC
November 2 The National Richmond VA w/ SeepeopleS
November 5 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte NC w/ SeepeopleS
November 6 Cat's Cradle w/ SeepeopleS
November 7 Orange Peel Asheville NC w/ SeepeopleS
November 8 Georgia Theatre Athens GA w/ SeepeopleS
November 9 Music Farm Charleston SC w/ SeepeopleS
November 11 Freebird Live Jacksonville FL w/ SeepeopleS
November 12 Beta Bar Tallahassee FL w/ SeepeopleS
November 13 Proud Larry's Oxford MS w/ SeepeopleS
November 14 Tipitina's Uptown (Indoors) New Orleans LA w/ SeepeopleS
November 15 Antone's Austin TX w/ SeepeopleS
November 26 Chameleon Club Lancaster PA
November 28 Mr. Small's Theatre Millvale PA
November 29 Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza New York NY
December 30-31 Fox Theatre Boulder CO
Lotus formed at a Mennonite college that had banned on-campus dancing as late as the 1980's, and has been creatively fusing electronic dance music with instrumental post-rock for the past eight years. Armed with a massive light rig and one of the most energetic shows on the circuit, Lotus was a go-to act for late night festival slots this past summer, performing at ROTHBURY, Summerfest, Camp Bisco, and others. Also in 2008, Lotus saw advance sellouts in venues throughout the U.S. including Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, two nights at World Café Live in Philadelphia, two nights at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Higher Ground in Burlington, Kinetic Playground in Chicago. The band's remix album, Copy Paste Repeat: Lotus Remixed was released to critical acclaim, and came on the heels of their double live CD release, Escaping Sargasso Sea.
