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LOTUS ANNOUNCES WINTER 2009 TOUR
 Lotus |
Lotus hits the road this winter for a run of shows in the country's southeastern states. The tour comes on the heels of a huge year for Lotus, one that offered widespread exposure for their new album Hammerstrike and massive growth for the band.
The band's 2008 successes, including a coveted cover story in Pollstar Magazine and sold out shows from coast to coast, haven't distracted these humble musicians with Mennonite roots. As their relentless tour schedule proves, Lotus is ready to work.
Lotus' most recent album, Hammerstrike (released in October 2008), 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 hearkens 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 naive pursuit of the idea that defeat will never be conceded.
What critics have been saying about Lotus:
"Lotus continue to expand upon its post-everything rock/electronic/jazz/free-form pastiche." - Big Shot Magazine
"...intent on creating a new genre (few try that these days)...it is rock, and smart disco, funk and soul, piano pop, world music, and modern alienation stuff and jazz fusion you can dance to all wrapped up in cellophane." - Big Takeover
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. Small's Theatre in Pittsburgh, two nights at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, two nights at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Higher Ground in Burlington, and Kinetic Playground in Chicago. The band's remix album, Copy Paste Repeat: Lotus Remixed was released in spring of 08 to critical acclaim.
Lotus Winter Tour Dates:
February 13 - Recher Theatre, Towson, MD
February 14 - Recher Theatre, Towson, MD
February 15 - The Lantern Blacksburg, Blacksburg, VA
February 17 - V Club, Huntington, WV
February 18 - THE DAME, Lexington, KY
February 19 - Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
February 20 - The Valarium, Knoxville, TN
February 21 - Masquerade - Heaven Room, Atlanta, GA
March 6 - Langerado Music Festival, Miami, FL
March 24 - Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
March 25 - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
March 26 - Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
March 27 - Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
March 28 - Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
March 31 - Vogue Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
April 1 - The Crofoot, Pontiac, MI
April 2 - The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
April 3 - Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI
April 4 - Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
April 5 - The Intersection, Grand Rapids, IL
April 7 - Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
April 8 - The Westcott Theater, Syracuse, NY
April 9 - The Chameleon, Lancaster, PA
April 10 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
April 11 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
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