Review & Photos: STS9 & Lotus Join Forces At The Anthem In Washington D.C.

It’s not often two prominent bands of this caliber come together in the jamtronica scene for a show outside of a festival weekend. Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) and Lotus did just that as they descended upon The Anthem in Washington D.C., for a night filled with music that blended electronic, funk, dance-rock, psychedelia and more.

What can be said about these two bands that hasn’t been shouted from the mountaintops? Both Lotus and STS9 have traversed their own paths, showcasing their singular sounds and forging a deep-rooted community along the way.

Individually, both bands have experienced growth by overcoming adversity through changes in band membership and navigating the challenges of relentless touring. Together, they’ve collectively quenched the thirst of music lovers all over the world who were dehydrated for a unique blend of innovation that taps into EDM, and dangles the attitude of rock, while still traversing musical paths unknown through deep exploration.

The Anthem was the perfect host for a bill of this magnitude. The venue accommodates roughly 6,000 people, and since its opening in the fall 2017, it has quickly garnered a reputation as one of D.C.’s crown jewels for live music. Fans showed up early to catch Lotus’ opening set, which started just after 8 p.m., where the quartet wasted no time opening up with “Wax,” a crowd-favorite that was met with the utmost enthusiasm.

Brothers Jesse Miller and Luke Miller were visibly locked in as drummer Mike Greenfield laid down a rhythmic foundation for guitarist Tim Palmieri to showcase his chops on the axe.

Moving through heavy-hitters like “Spaghetti,” “EBM,” “Reed” and “Electric Orange,” Lotus held the audience in the palm of their hand before throwing a curveball that whiplashed the room into a frenzy of energy as they opted for an A-Trak remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll.”

As Lotus’ set came to a close, the collective complaint was that they couldn’t play longer. As the band took an extended time to thank the packed room, they left an undeniable mark on the evening.

After a quick changeover, STS9 took the stage in the DMV for the first time since their 2017 appearance at Echostage. The eight-year break from performing in the district was keenly felt by fans, who welcomed their return with an especially palpable energy in the room.

Opening with “Sürge” into “Searchlight,” Tribe made the most out of their grand return to our nation’s capital. The collective energy in the room felt like a pressure cooker ready to burst, and the band was just getting started. Dovetailing off their strong start, STS9 opted for fan-favorite “EHM,” which they worked into a sandwich that packed “The Rabble” into the middle of the segment.

STS9 wove together an eclectic musical tapestry throughout the night, paying homage to their roots and shining a bright light into the future. For example, a classic number like “Kamuy,” released in 2000, found a smooth segue into “Balancing,” released in 2022. Together, the two songs convey a more profound meaning; STS9 has not only earned their stripes with songs that still hold up today, but they also blend seamlessly with music released 22 years later. A true testament to not only Tribe’s musical longevity, but also their overall prowess as a band.

Other highlights included “Orbital,” “Open E,” “Shock Doctrine,” and newer tunes like “Life’s A Symphony In Unity,” which made its debut earlier this year in Nashville. When it was all said and done, Tribe tapped “World Go Round” for their final piece to the musical puzzle they spent hours crafting that evening in D.C.

As the final notes rang out over the P.A., the message was clear: both Lotus and STS9 are bands that are firing on all cylinders. Creatively, these two bands sound as good as they ever have, and surely the best is yet to come. Lotus and STS9 both left an undeniable mark on the Washington D.C. music scene.

STS9 Audio

Lotus Setlist

Set: Wax, Spaghetti > Ebm > Reed, Electric Orange > Heads Will Roll* > Flower Sermon > Shimmer And Out

Notes:

• *Yeah Yeah Yeahs (A-Trak Remix)