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.
The first Lotus concert I ever attended was in Pittsburgh at Mr. Smalls four years ago. I began a journey. I was pulling myself out from underneath the dark, and I was being pulled by light. I was in a dark place at the time and wasn’t sure exactly what I had experienced. It felt as if, by the end of the show my soul had begun to release a lot of weight. Lotus took me on a spiritual journey that night and it continues, and deepens and increases in meaning and intention.
In every crowd at a Lotus show, there are people openly expressing their immediate gratitude and love for a band that had changed their lives for the better. I have heard countless stories of fan’s journeys at shows. From a father passing away, to an abusive relationship, to an escape from an abusive ego, tears stream down their faces as they breathe in the music and exhale peace of mind and gratitude for Jesse, Luke, Mike Greenfield, Rempel and Chuck. A single metaphorical common thread of sound, tying knots of people together, all experiencing and learning at different levels simultaneously. It’s beautiful.
The December 30th, 2012 show at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland left nothing for the imagination. Kicking off the evening with Kodiak into Nematode (a Lotus family favorite) alerted the crowd to the immediate degree of the show. Rempel’s love for yoga and meditation flows through every note of his guitar and into every centered being in the audience. Their sexy, sophisticated, and organic grooves painted perfect smiles on everyone in the crowd. Everybody was hugging everybody; nobody is not family at a Lotus concert. The synchronicity between lead twins Jesse and Luke, who pour their hearts out into composing every song, was breathtaking. Jesse’s brow shows the dedication of a man who lives, eats and breathes music. I think it goes without saying that it has been refreshing to have Chuck back, and see all the brothers at work. Formerly a doctor of the heart at John’s Hopkins, Mike Greenfield’s connection to the central life beat, is apparent and methodically keeps the crowd pulsing together as one.
When someone asks me to describe Lotus’ music and the word electronic comes out of my mouth most people roll their eyes and think of shapeless beats. However, their compositions have a heart and soul unlike any other instrumental electronic jam band of our generation. After ending the first set with Hammerstrike, Lotus took off into Massif from their new album “Build” to begin an ethereal road-trip down familiar highways. Bellwether soared into the classic tear-jerker Umbilical Moonset and back into Bellwether manifesting a cerebral monologue of hypnotic colors, sounds, memories and vibrations. The encore of Invincibility of Youth was nothing short of epic. There was only light in the room. Bright shining souls, centered and ready to spread what they just learned to the outside world.
Their brand new album “Build” will be released on February 19, 2013. You can listen to the new song “Massif” on Lotus’ SoundCloud. If you’re ready for a spiritual journey of a lifetime be sure to check out a date or two or ten on Lotus’ 2013 tour. Starting in Burlington the band will travel across the US through Cleveland, Dallas, Asheville, and Atlanta promising to play the best show they can every single night.
Check out more 
