Richmond - Perhaps the most anticipated electronica show in Richmond for the month of February was one that featured Daedelus opening for the one and only Lotus.  We had been waiting for this night for a long time. Lotus has been consistently selling out shows all over the country, and on this night they were capping off a winter tour that included stops in Washington D.C. and Atlanta.  Everyone knew that this night was going to be special.  The band has been pretty up front about the fact that the National is one of their favorite venues to play, and talk about the shows leading up to Richmond made me certain that this was going to be a night to remember.

When I walked into the National I made sure to look up at the stage to see all of the different lights that were set up.  Lights don’t always mean everything, but a great light show is always the perfect complement to great music.  I was excited to see the movers that were hung from the rafters, the light bars that were set up behind the band, and all the individual lights that were carefully placed all over the stage.  I knew from the beginning that this night was going to be exceptional, and I couldn’t wait for the house lights to go down.

The night got underway with the very unique, very talented Daedelus.  I have to say that watching Daedelus perform was one of the most interesting experiences that I have had at a show.  I have seen a lot of shows that featured DJ style openers, but this whole set up was something way different.  He controls the music with an apparatus known only as “the box.”  With robot-like precision, he taps away at the small squares on “the box,” turning sounds into beats, while looping samples throughout the set.  The energy of the crowd was felt almost immediately, and as Daedelus looped his way through his set, the floor at the National was getting more and more packed.  The “wompy” bass from the dubstep infused music had everyone at the show bobbing their heads and slowly getting their bodies moving, preparing for the inevitable.  As the opening set ended, there were feelings both of appreciation and anticipation.  It was Lotus’ turn to occupy the stage, and we were more than ready.

Perhaps I carry a slight bias towards Lotus, but I am okay with that.  Lotus was the catalyst for my appreciation for jam/electronica music, and having the opportunity to cover this show was one of the coolest experiences ever.  As soon as those three distinct guitar sounds started “Blacklight Sunflare”, I knew I was correct in assuming an amazing night.  This was the perfect song to jump start the crowd as a full on dance party ensued less than ten seconds after the band took the stage.  The lights mirrored the music with amazing precision, and as always the sound could not have been more on point.  The acoustics at the National are absolutely amazing, and hearing Lotus reverberate through the building is something that anyone can appreciate, no matter which genre they prefer.  When “Wooly Mammoth” hit the speakers midway through the first set, there were several people that had their nights made at that very moment.  This amazing song is the kind of jam that you close your eyes and let move you.  It doesn’t get played live all that often, and having it in Richmond felt like a gift straight from the band.  The first set ended with an intensely upbeat version of “Wax”, and everyone was given a chance to catch their breath and wonder how it could possibly get any better.

After about 20 minutes, the lights went back down, and the foursome came back out and took their respective places on stage.  The second set picked up right where the first left off with a funk-filled version of “Harps”.  This type of song shows the true range and abilities of all four members of the band.  There are elements of rock, with funk riffs mixed into the electronic melodies of the keyboard.  The crowd picked up where they left off as well.  When the lights are off the glow sticks that adorn almost everyone in attendance looked like LED ocean waves, and when the music is on point, the waves get wilder and wilder.  The second set was filled with personal favorites, from “Invincibility of Youth” to “Plant Your Root”, and as the night went on the force of the entire show was growing exponentially.  The evening reached its peak when the group took “Flower Sermon” and rolled right into one of the greatest covers of “Crazy Train” I have ever heard.  I made my way to the front of the crowd for this song, and it was moments like this one that really put it all into perspective for me.  To take a song like “Crazy Train” and make it their own was proof that these guys are paving the way for the jam scene to do big things.  As “Crazy Train” transitioned back into the ending of “Flower Sermon”, the band thanked the crowd and left the stage.  The lights stayed down, and the fog kept rolling…we knew they would be back.

Lotus took the stage again to play an encore after a brief break that was filled with a venue full of screaming fans that hadn’t gotten quite enough yet.  “In an Outline” started out the two-song encore with a slow tempoed composition that slowly built up until it sent the entire crowd into a frenzy.  The lights were pulsating with insane speed, and the colors seemed to change with every note.  The show came to an end with “Bush Pilot”, and this time the band meant it when they left the stage.  This particular night of music could not have ended in a better way, and the people cheered for the band all the way out the door.

Lotus is truly a musical experience that you should make every effort to be a part of.  They are worth the drive no matter where they are playing, and if you are lucky enough to catch them at one of the many festivals they play, it is sure to be the highlight of your weekend.  The great thing about Lotus is that each of the four members is constantly striving to get better and better.  I am not personally sure how that is possible, but having the opportunity to see this happen is a very exciting prospect.  The fact that the band doesn’t like to be “pigeonholed” into a certain classification of music leaves the creative doors wide open, and there are no limits to the types of music that they are able to put together.  I will be looking forward to my next opportunity to see them live, and can only hope that the Richmond crowd proved that we are worthy of another Lotus show very, very soon.

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By Director and Correspondent: Brandon Samuel

Brandon is a native of the Richmond area, having lived here for the past 15 years.  He attended Longwood University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.  Brandon’s dream has always been to get into the music industry, and he decided that his love for writing and music would be the perfect foot in the door.  Brandon enjoys going to as many show as possible and has a strong desire to see local bands succeed.  Seeing both local and mainstream bands is the best way to truly enjoy their music, and Brandon wants to bring the whole experience of seeing a live show to the loyal readers of Magazine33.