BLURING THE LINES: LOTUS

Hey Doesn't anybody come to Toronto? We like music to.

Lotus is bad ass i will admit. But i dont like this authors indirect dis on STS9. I think that was uncalled for and disrespectful. Lotus may be good, but they are no STS9. The fact that STS9 uses samples is not a detriment to what they do. Every sound coming from their laptops or them twiddling knobs is a direct reflection of what is going on in their creative minds, and is every bit as much or more art as what Lotus does. Lets embrace all the good bands we have, and respect their differences.

I agree with AustinJams. I don't think it needs to go past that but I totally got the STS9 reference and I happen to like both bands. I am from Indiana and you would figure I would be partial to Lotus but STS9 is busting out the hot shit that people like me who dig Tortoise, Prefuse, TTV, etc... well that is my opinion. Everyone has one. "Peace is necessary"

True to the word of AustinJams.

didn't read the article but lotus is sick and is worth giving a listen. I got into them because they will be at Langerado 06 and I can't wait. they cover a wide range of styles and seriously go from glow sticks to twirling in the same show. check them out they deserve it. go to archive.org and get 3-20-05 tracks 4 and 7 give me goose bumps

Austinjams has a point. They're simular, but totally different; each masters in their craft. Can't wait for the new album. Luke's description entices me even more. BTW, the photo above; Luke's gaze is freaky! "Go by our albums...come see us live! Do it!

HARPER

yea, front on sts9. i dare you

I love lotus I saw them in Michigan about four years ago. They rock it! Cant wait to see them again. What up with the West Coast?!?

I hope that wasn't an "indirect dis" of STS9 AustinJams. It certainly would be disrespectful in an article describing a band that was chiefly inspired by Sound Tribe. (check the liner notes of germination, first and only band thanked) I love lotus, but I jokingly refer to them as Sound Tribe Sector 4 1/2 to my Philly phriends. I'm going to let this little faux pas pass and assume that the author was talking about Aaron Magner twisting his little knobs and not my Tribe.

LOTUS kicks supreme ass!

Can't wait for the new album to drop. The last one Nomad has gotten a lot of play.

STS9 destroys anything Lotus has ever or will ever do. The author's back-handed disrespect didn't go unnoticed, and it makes one wonder if he has ever even heard Sector 9. Because if he did, he would realize that Lotus has more in common with Particle or one of the other 10,000 noodley "electronica" clone bands that it does with the intergalactic 5 headed beat behemouth of STS9.

Funny how music fans are sometimes slow to react.. So now, they are finally getting attention. They remind me of oldschool sector 9, thats right before soundtribe was added.
I loved lotus from their first album, and nomad was even better.. They got a deep groove for every tune, they make us wanna dance. STS9 is a different band from the early nineties, but I wont go there. Lotus has the energy, the funk, and the minimal samples, relying instead of computers to generate the sound; you got great bass, perc, drums, guitar and keys. The samples are minimal, and that is the best way to prove you are a good musician, and not a electronic composer. To each his own, I prefer real playing to button pushing anytime.. peace yall.. go lotus!!!!!

i'm with AustinJams!i like Lotus,but i immediately thought this article was a direct jab at STS9,which happens to be all that i've listened to in the past 2-3 months.i dont see a name taking credit for the article so i will assume the bands publicist put it out there....which is unfortunate.

Recently got to check out Lotus for the first time at the sold out Stone Church show. Absolutely unbelievable. These guys are fucking ill. "Lotus may be good, but they are no STS9"...couldn't agree more with this statement, they by no means are STS9, but I mean that in the best way possible. Give Lotus the time that STS9 has had to develop and these boys are going to be blowing the Tribe of sound out of the water.

Umm...I think the author simply said it like it is. The truth is; Lotus is an awesome live experience because one can see instruments and real people playing them! Sure STS9 is a creative group, but after all, it was an article about Lotus wasn't it?

no doubt. if it weren't for sts9, baby 9'ers like lotus wouldn't exist. the only reason they dont have lap-tops or such gear on stage yet is because they dont know how to use it live. shit ain't easy.

Yeah, that whole article was really directed at sector 9, or sound tribe sector 9, or STS9 or whatever they are calling themselves nowadays. Get your panties out of that wad.

I love Lotus... but STS9 is my fav so don't mess with my boys! K...

These comments are hilarious. Reminds me of that movie...umm Warriors or something like that.

It's music y'all. Enjoy it! Both bands are huge fans of one another and have the utmost respect for one another and what they do live and in the studio. Mad props to both band.

I must apologize for my opinion. BUT> the introduction of laptops to bands equipment list takes the SOUL out of the music. Am I the only one? It doesnt seem to me that pushing a button on a laptop to generate a sound takes much talent. Real jambands like the grateful dead, widespread panic, SCI, The Allman Brothers, play with talent. Maybe I am too old for this new generation of electronic music, perhaps I will always prefer OLD school jamming. Dont get mad at me, just because I think laptops are ruining the jamscene. If you like it then good for you. Peace Yall!!!!

I love LOTUS, I saw them smilefest 2003, they smoked!!!

I in no way meant disrepect towards Lotus, i did intend to criticize the author of this article. They actually had to edit my post a little because i had thought Jambase themselves had part in the writing of it. So you really didn't get to read my whole post. So for the record. Jambase did not have anything to do with this article. But the writers comments,

I Quote, "What happened to the performance in live dance music? We aren't talking about a couple of guys twiddling knobs or accessing prerecorded sound files on their laptops – that's not very live, is it?"

This is completely directed at STS9 and basically calls them talentless hacks that dont know how to or are incapabable of live performance. Which is absolutely ludicrous. I tend to agree with Ghettoyeti that whoever wrote this hasnt even ever seen STS9 "perform" which they most certainly come to do every single night. I'll defintly go see Lotus if they ever come to Austin ( Not sure if they have ever come to texas ) But I'll be front row in Amsterdam watching Hunter shred my mind with his "performance" in Warrior and Be Nice. I dont think i'd ever travel across the world to see Lotus. Period. End of discussion.

Lotus totally rocks socks. This article totally bashes STS9, and they also rock socks. What gives?

I like STS9 but every show I've seen has parts that drag. Their music is really good and I think they're very innovative but the energy at their shows can be lacking. Every time I've seen Lotus they tear it apart. In addition to being great musicians they're very cool guys. I would love to see STS9, Bisco, Lotus, Particle and The New Deal all play the same show... that would be a cream dream.

Hey AustinJams, all I have to say about calling STS9 talentless hacks is.. if the shoe fits baby! Laptops are for storing music not "making" it!!!

Its called evolution baby. Can't stop it. Can't beat it. You might try it sometime.

Who was it that helped invent the MIDI with the intention of applying it to his music? Oh yeah, Jerry Garcia. Who was it in the 80's that was playing horns, drums, and god knows what else on his guitar? Oh yeah, that was Jerry, too. As for the specific comments regarding the grateful dead and Jerry Garcia, the man was a technology junkie, and you better believe if his beautiful heart was still beating there would be a damn computer on the stage with him

THANK YOU DANNY MO!!!!

is Luke still in the band??? i saw Lotus on New Years and i don't beleive i saw him rockin on stage?! or did he get a haircut and just looks different? someone let me know!!!