Genre-defying funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop-psychedelic-jam-art-rock-experimental-avant-garde music titans Lettuce have officially revealed the details for their sixth studio album, Elevate, set for release on Friday, June 14th (Regime Music Group). New single "Krewe," a western-meets-'60s Ethiopian funk song, is available now; PRESS HERE to listen and receive an instant download with any album pre-order. Check out the first look of "Krewe" via BrooklynVegan, who noted, "['Krewe'] is a very catchy slice of instrumental funk; you can hear both the psychedelic influence and the hip hop influence coming through on this one."
Produced by Lettuce and recorded at Colorado Sound Studio outside of Denver with legendary engineer Russ Elevado (D'Angelo, The Roots, Erykah Badu), Elevate marks the band's first new original music in three years and is a dynamic showcase of their ever-changing and all-inclusive musical palette. The six-member collective - Grammy-nominated drummer and percussionist Adam Deitch, guitarist Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff, bassist Erick "Jesus" Coomes, Grammy Award-winning keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ryan Zoidis and Grammy Award-winning trumpet player Eric "Benny" Bloom - maintains its eclectic, free-wheeling approach while embracing a progressive and futuristic vibe, with elements of Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead, Eno and Miles Davis, thanks to their love of improvisational music and arts. Much of the warm, analog feel running throughout the album can be attributed to Zoidis' new toy, a vintage Korg X-911 synth.
Lettuce explores its funk roots in the Tower of Power-like punch of "Ready to Live" (a cover of a song by Cold Blood's Lydia Pense), the Prince-like swagger of "Royal Highness" and the OG blues-soul of "Love Is Too Strong," which sees a vocal cameo from Marcus King. Expanded trip-hop sounds create a space age audio-scape on tracks like "Trapezoid," "Gang 10" and "Purple Cabbage." Their take on the Tears For Fears hit "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" features Hall on vocals, and Smirnoff nods to Carlos Santana and Trey Anastasio on the Latin-flavored and playfully named "Shmink Dabby." Full track listing is below.
Get to know the members of Lettuce with behind-the-scenes vignettes filmed during the recording process of Elevate. The six-part series called "The Krewe - A Lettuce Documentary Series" will debut next week via the band's Youtube page with an in-depth interview with bassist Erick "Jesus" Coomes; PRESS HERE to watch the trailer.
The road warriors will bring their blissful rhythms and sonic grooves to an extensive 2019 tour that continues April 20th with a headline show at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY with special guest famed jazz guitarist John Scofield, followed by a stop in The Big Easy on May 2nd for a Jazz Fest show called RAGE!FEST at The Joy Theater in New Orleans that will feature special guest Oteil Burbridge and support from The Soul Rebels. Lettuce will officially celebrate the release of Elevate at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Saturday, June 15th with their 4th annual Rage Rocks show featuring two full sets from Lettuce, one of which will be a Jerry Garcia Band cover set, along with support from TAUK and The Soul Rebels. See below for the band's full list of upcoming tour dates for the year, including headlining and festival dates, and visit www.lettucefunk.com for all ticketing details, including VIP information to Elevate the experience. The VIP upgrade includes meet & greet and photo with the band, invitation to attend soundcheck, early venue entry and crowd-free merchandise shopping, signed set list, and Elevate Merch Pack (signed poster, sunglasses, bandana and koozie), in addition to hanging out and spinning vinyl with Lettuce at the VIP Pre-Rage.
PRESS HERE to watch a recent performance from Lettuce on PBS' Bluegrass Underground, taped deep within the subterranean amphitheater of The Caverns in the majestic Cumberland Mountains near Pelham, TN.
A powerhouse collective made up of world-class master musicians, Lettuce are known for their incendiary live shows, extensive touring, die-hard fans, and massive two-decade-plus career. They are also some of the most highly sought-after musicians in the industry with roots that run deep into the worlds of hip-hop, pop, and beyond working and performing alongside the likes of Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, Justin Timberlake, The Fugees, Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Britney Spears, DJ Quik, Gary Clark Jr., Skrillex, The Game, Talib Kweli, Anthony Hamilton, Solange, Chaka Khan, Redman & Method Man, Robin Thicke, Preservation Hall, Dave Matthews Band, Gov't Mule, Bob Weir, John Mayer, Aaron Neville, and more.
It's been more than 25 years since the formation of Lettuce, a democratic ensemble in which there is no leader, but a complete unit that functions as a single entity with plenty of moving parts. The magic continues to grow with the band's new album, Elevate.
ELEVATE TRACK LISTING
1. Trapezoid
2. Royal Highness
3. Krewe
4. Shmink Dabby
5. Everybody Wants to Rule The World
6. Gang Ten
7. Ready To Live
8. Larimar
9. Love Is Too Strong
10. Purple Cabbage
11. Trapezoid Dub
LETTUCE TOUR DATES:
April 20 Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theater
May 2 New Orleans, LA @ The Joy Theater
May 31 Ozark, AR @ Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain
June 1 Kalamazoo, MI @ Bells Eccentric Cafe
June 15 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 27 Rothbury, MI @ Electric Forest
July 11 Rochester, NY @ Party In the City
July 12 Snowshoe, WV @ 4848 Festival
July 14 Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
July 16 Plymouth, NH @ The Flying Monkey
July 19 Westerly, RI @ Paddy's Beach Club
July 20 Jay, VT @ Jeezum Crow Festival
July 23 Nantucket, MA @ The Chicken Box
July 24 Nantucket, MA @ The Chicken Box
July 25 Beverly, MA @ The Cabot
July 26 Portland, ME @ State Theatre
July 27 Scranton, PA @ The Peach Music Festival
August 9 Fort Collins, CO @ Bohemian Nights at New West Fest
August 11 Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival
September 12 Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station
September 13 Pelham, TN @ The Caverns
September 14 Clemmons, NC @ The Big Pour
September 15 Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
September 21 Westbury, NY @ The Space at Westbury
November 6 Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
November 7 Kansas City, MO @ Truman
November 8 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
November 9 Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
November 10 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
November 14 Columbus, OH @ The Bluestone
November 16 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
November 17 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
November 20 Utica, NY @ The Stanley Theater
November 22 Washington, DC @ The Anthem
November 23 Rocky Mount, VA @ Harvester Center
