The normally packed section of Broadway and York was empty. All the shops were closed and the Yaley's were all tucked away, probably in some libary (get it?) somewhere. However, the usual packed crowd was congregating around both entrances to the famous New Haven nightclub. Despite their best efforts, it was easy to walk past all the pins and trinkets being peddled on the sidewalk, I needed a refreshment. And to get out of the cold
The normally reliable Russo was unfortunately not able to score the free tickets we oh, so desired, but $22 at the door is nothing to shake a stick at. Cash paid, ID checked, wristband on. Beer.
We walked in between bands, and like I said, the masses were outside, and yet it still looked packed. We made our way to the back bar, still too packed. The Rainforest offered much more room and barely anyone at the bar. We got our drinks and stayed there until we ran into more friends and then the music began. We were shoulder to shoulder, but everyone was there to enjoi the show. One girl was enjoying the show so much she thought it would be a good idea to pour her beer out. Allie was able to catch it for her though:
"Think of sardines. That's how tightly packed in the venue we were. (Ok maybe not exactly like sardines, but the girl next to me definitely spilled her beer in my boot.).
Perhaps it was because of our love for being up front on the rail? We tried to muster our way up to the rail but it was so packed, we were about one person back. (Which is why the photos aren't my usual super close view of stage left). Even though we were all packed in, i had a soggy beer boot and there was not a single care in the world once spiritualize dropped, everyone danced. "
Lotus opened up with Spiritualize, the second time we've seen them open with it, the first being All Good 2012 (Any chance Bob or Salty remember that one?). It has quickly become one of my favorite Lotus tracks, which is why I feverishly looked for a record featuring it, but I'll get into that later. Apparently I'm not the only one who feels that this is becoming one of their favorite tracks because, like Allie said, everyone danced. It's a great track to get things started with and ensured that everyone got moving.
A very good Spiritualize was followed by one of the first songs that got me into Lotus. Lucid Awakening lets the guitarists show off his chops. This version really went into a deep jam. In searching for the setlist I found someone's short review in a message board. "(the) jam got really intense yet bounced backed to the blissful flurry that we love." (lotusvibes.com messageboard user: samplekid). It's that "flurry" that really got me into the song, and Lotus.
Following Lucid Awakening was L'Immeuble. This was the first time I had heard this track and it brought the Funk. Yes, with a capital F. There was a guy standing to my right wearing a wool, knee length trenchcoat. He stood beer in one hand while his other hand was left in his pocked the entire time. Barely one minute into this one the jacket was off and he was grooving. His knees damn near hit his forehead. Lotus really got the crowd to shake it. Whether it was the alcohol or the party favors I assume many people were indulging in, this song brought the life out of everyone.
The Funk was followed by two electronic tracks, Dowrn and Isi, which is a cover of 1970s band Neu!. My notes read electonic break and 80s fun song. I haven't seen either of these songs before, nor had I heard either of them on Archive or the YouTube. Please, if anyone finds ANY recording of Lotus playing Isi, please comment or tell me. I remember it being a wonderfully great song, but not at all what it sounded like. Oops. **After writing this I found a recording of the Neu! version**
They went into Space In Between after that which I also hadn't heard or seen before. It really reminded me of an even more awesome version of Incubus' Battlestar Scralatchtica. We also got a new beer for this song ;). At this point the crowd started to claim their land, so to speak. People had a little bit more room to breathe due to all the booty shaking. The next track was one that I first heard (I think) at All Good 2012 also, Lotus' cover of Deadmau5' Ghosts n' Stuff. While the original is a new guilty pleasure of mine, the live band version by Lotus is even better. I've always been more akin to a song performed by a band as opposed to a DJ or producer, if you will.
At this point in the show, we ran into more friends and began combining the show experience with catching up with some people we hadn't seen in a while. Shimmer and Out, and Blacklight Sunflare are two songs we have seen in the past. Blacklight Sunflare was played during our first Lotus show at Bonnaroo in 2010 (No chance Bob remembers that one). Shimmer and Out is another one of Lotus' songs that features that "flurry" type guitar work that samplekid mentioned regarding Lucid Awakening. It was kind of an odd one thrown in the mix though. Shimmer and Out's more jammy feel was bookended by two very electronic based songs.
Tending more towards the electronic side, Lotus continued with Breakbot's Baby I'm Yours. Like several before it, another new song for us. This song combined a funk element with a synth lead that made for an excellent track. It made for good walking music as we made our way across the venue. After relaxing in the Rainforest for a little while we were off towards the entrance side of Toad's.
We once again ran into more people we knew. I kept finding it harder and harder to try and log the show to memory while still talking with all of these people we hadn't seen. Lotus was continuing with Plant Your Root and Contagion, still more tracks I have yet to hear live (to my knowledge). I knew we were getting closer to the end and I knew I wanted to leave with a record. So I made my way to the merch table. As Contagion grew to a close they transitioned into a familiar groove. In the middle of trying to haggle for two records the girl behind the table exclaims, "did they just go back into Spiritualize?". Without a freaking doubt, they did. Lotus returned to their opener before closing out a spectacular single set show.
The band returned for a two song encore featuring two tracks I was familiar with. It was at this point I climbed the stairs to snap a couple photos of the entire crowd. Turquoise, off of their album Hammerstrike, began the encore, while the classic Greet the Mind closed out the show. Greet the Mind features one of my favorite synth leads, with wah guitar and a solid rhythm section that ensured we kept grooving out the door.
Into the cold we were ushered. We found our entire group in record time and headed to the cars to head out. This marks our third Lotus show at Toad's, and judging by the crowd and the band's reaction to us, this won't be the last.
Now normally that would be the end, but I can't disregard one of the most outrageous things I've ever seen. None of us had ever seen something like this near Toad's Place ever, let alone right on York St. Walking up and down York were several guys with walkie talkie's, slightly disconcerting. Low and behold we come across three guys around a tank. Two guys guarding, one guy holding balloons. They had walkie talkies. This was easily a six or seven man operation with the lookouts walking up and down. Crazy bastards. But that's what you get for 1:30am Monday morning in New Haven.
Spiritualize -> Lucid Awakening, L'immeuble -> Dowrn, Isi*, Space in Between -> Ghosts N' Stuff^ -> Shimmer & Out, Blacklight Sunflare, Baby I'm Yours%, Plant Your Root-> Contagion -> Spiritualize
E: Turquoise, Greet the Mind
*Neu!
^ Deadmau5
%Breakbot
(setlist from lotusvibes.com message board user Sean G)
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