Very few bands have successfully incorporated as many genres and directions into their groovy, improvisation-heavy Jam Band presentation as Lotus. For the past 16 years, the Philadelphia-based quintet has carved out a niche within the admittedly open and accepting Jam community with a fascinating combination of late ’90s Pop Rock, gadgety Electronica, noodly Fusion, raise-the-roof Funk, reflective Chillwave and positive Hip Hop.
Lotus’ last studio outing, 2014’s Gilded Age, was essentially a half-hour EP of relatively brief, organic tracks accompanied by four slightly lengthier remixes.
The band’s just released live recording, Unoriginals - Live 2015 (available digitally on the Lotus Bandcamp site as a name-your-price download), is heavier on the Funk/Fusion/Electronic end of the spectrum, befitting Lotus’ engaging sweat-and-swagger stage profile.
Lotus plays Tuesday at Madison Theater. Tickets/more info here.