Photos & Review | Lotus | 12.30 – 31.2016 | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA

… Lotus takes on Stage AE for glorious New Year’s run …

Lotus | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.30 – 31.2016

Photos By: August J

Words by:  Jocelyn Dietrich

The Steel City was chilly and brisk, but oh so warm and inviting to the Lotus vibes flowing through the nights of December 30^th and 31^st. Lotus came back to Pittsburgh, PA for two nights at Stage AE to cap off the three-night run starting in Philly on the 29^th. As per usual, Lotus family and fans alike flocked from near and far to boogie 2016 away.
 
RJD2 opened Night 1 (12/30) at Stage AE with some funky, jazzy, Mad Men beats that got everyone warmed up and stretched out for the next two nights. Lotus seemed to come on very quickly and did not disappoint. Both nights were the right blend of old and new music, as their most recent album (Eat the Light) came out July 15^th of 2016 and has been steadily gaining momentum throughout the scene. The first night was a cozy bunch, half of us recovering from the Philly show and drive, and the other half feeling more excited than ever to see them for the first time since Summerdance (Lotus’ festival at Nelson Ledges Quarry in Ohio, usually held Labor Day Weekend). Both sides mutually stoked and ready to party (because the best remedy for being tired from a Lotus show is to go to another Lotus show). 
 
With a Suitcases opener, a big ol’ Flower Sermon closer, and a Cain and Abel encore, no one stopped dancing.  Sprinkled with the classic tunes Greet the Mind, Harps, and Slow Cookin’ and we had ourselves a good old fashion Lotus New Year’s build up.
 
I’d say some were more excited to spend the 31^st with the openers, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, judging by how quickly the sold out venue filled up from the moment the doors opened.  The wacky bunch head banged their wild hair through a killer, vibrant set – which is not out of the ordinary for these guys. Perfect way to set the stage for the main event…

“Ticket to Lotus on New Year’s Eve- $50, Uber after the show on New Year’s- $60, riding elevators and dancing into 2017 with 5,000+ of your closest friends – PRICELESS.”

 
Lotus opened the second night with bangers like Eats the Light, Blue Giant, and Molluskunk. I didn’t think it was possible for the sequin-clad crowd to get much happier – then the second set happened.  Jump Off, Spaghetti, leading to a Wax midnight countdown (much like Richmond 2014/2015 New Year’s), followed by Bellwether, In the Bliss, and Travel to close the second set. Encore with Cold Facts and Behind Midwest Store Fronts was just the cherry we all needed to top off the night – at least the night at Stage AE.
 
After parties of music and ice cream were all the gossip as we poured out of the venue into the freezing Pittsburgh night. Ticket to Lotus on New Year’s Eve- $50, Uber after the show on New Year’s- $60, riding elevators and dancing into 2017 with 5,000+ of your closest friends – priceless.

She said YES!!

Lotus | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.30.2016

I: Suitcases, Move Too Fast, Destroyer, My Own Personal 3-Letter Word > Sift > Greet the Mind, Fearless

II: Middle Road, Harps, Through the Mirror > Slow Cookin’ > Shimmer and Out > Sid > Flower Sermon > Shimmer and Out

E: Intro to a Cell > Cain & Abel

Lotus | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.31.2016

I: Eats the Light, Blue Giant, Molluskunk, White Light Fadeaway^, It’s All Clear to Me Now > Careless Whisper > Its All Clear to Me Now > Spiritualize > Life on Mars > Spiritualize

II: Jump Off, Spaghetti > Wax*, Blender, Sodium Vapor, Bellwether > In the Bliss > Travel > Bellwether

E: Cold Facts, Behind Midwest Storefronts

^Steve Clemens on extra percussion

*with countdown

Lotus | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.30.2016

Support: RJD2

Lotus | Stage AE | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.31.2016

Support: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong