Lotus / Higher Learning–Buckhead Theatre–Atlanta, GA–March 30, 2014

Photography and Review by:

Lucas Armstrong #lukebox17 www.lucasarmstrong.com

Lotus returned to Atlanta Georgia and played the Buckhead Theatre on Saturday March 30, 2014. The venue is in Buckhead, a sort of uptown Atlanta where bars and nightlife take over as the daily commuters return home after work.

Opening the night, a local group called Higher Learning jammed a rockin’ set. Keeping it tight, dark and funky, Higher Learning is a talented group from Atlanta; I suggest checking them out @higherlearningATL and higherlearning.com. They definitely psyched up the crowd and prepped everyone for the almost indescribable sounds of Lotus.

I’ve been watching Lotus live since 2005. The first time I saw them they performed at a small bar called the Main Pub in Manchester CT.(https://archive.org/details/lotus2005-10-04.flac16f ) It was a small show maybe 50-60 people. Lotus performed on the floor while we stood eye level with them. They had their white van and trailer out front and were loading and unloading their own gear. I knew that night they were special, and since then they’ve played shows all over the world selling out shows at venues like Red Rocks in Colorado.

Lotus took the stage and the crowd roared; this sold out show was ready to rock. Opening the evening with a newer song “What Did I Do Wrong?”, they addressed the crowd and jammed a set full of colorful jamtronic melodies that took its fans to outer space and back. First set highlights included “Bubonic” into “Cut Dick” and then “Sid” into “Golden Ghost” into one of the most outrageous versions of “Flower Sermon” I’ve ever experienced. This set ended intense with “Behind Midwest Storefronts”.

The second set was exciting and uplifting, playing songs like “Expired Slang -> Tip of the Tongue” and “Wooly Mammoth”. The great thing about Lotus is you get that live band show with some peppered in electronic style music. If you want a word to genre Lotus by, try Jamtronica. I believe what we have here is truly the future of music. If you’re looking for a unique experience and a great live band rave style situation I suggest getting out and seeing Lotus on their spring tour. Check them out on facebook or at lotusvibes.com These songs have many starts, stops, ups and downs. The fans ate it up as Lotus brought this from a party to a rave. Towards the end of the night Lotus broke out a Deadmau5 song called “Ghosts N’ Stuff” sandwiched between a long version of “Sunrain”. Then encoring with “Umbillical Moonrise” and “Greet the Mind” put an exclamation point at the end of the fabulous musical evening.

Setlist 2014.3.29 Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA

What Did I Do Wrong?, Bubonic Tonic ->, Cut Dick, Sid ->, Golden Ghost ->, Flower Sermon, Behind Midwest Storefronts,

Expired Slang ->, Tip of the Tongue, Wooly Mammoth, 128, IACTMN->, Sunrain ->, Ghosts N’ Stuff* ->, Sunrain

E: Umbillical Moonrise, Greet the Mind

*Deadmau5