Coming off a scorching six-week tour by way of Europe earlier this fall, then buoyed by a high-profile power-hour on the sold-out Suwannee Hulaween pageant in Florida, future-funk-hop pioneers Lettuce stormed the Southeast in mid-November, lookin’ reside on arrival and feelin’ so recent ‘n’ so clear.
The veteran squadron just lately wrapped the eight-show romp by way of the Deep South, touring in support of their eighth studio album, Unify, launched in June 2022. The area was rabid for a dose of the funk; Lettuce had not returned to many of those cities since earlier than the pandemic pause. The short jaunt touched down in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Atlanta earlier than culminating with weekend exhibits in Cell, AL (11/18) and New Orleans, LA (11/19).
The band’s prolonged European tour in September and October introduced the group even nearer as brothers, 4 of whom have been making music collectively for practically three a long time. Thrilling experiences onstage and off served to sharpen the give attention to their shared mission as they rocked rooms massive and small to an ever-swelling fanbase throughout the pond. The fiery performances and constructive vibrations traveled residence with Lettuce, solely to swifty rub off on the stateside engagements that adopted.
The November Southeast dates would provide audiences two LETT units, in any other case referred to as An Night With Lettuce. Earlier than the ultimate weekend, the band dropped large exhibits in Fayetteville, AR and Atlanta, GA; there was a palpable buzz within the air as we pulled into Cell for a Friday night time soiree.
Returning to Soul Kitchen for the primary time since 2017, Lettuce took their spots onstage with bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes assuming a brand new place rear stage left, in between Nigel Corridor’s mountain of keyboards within the heart and drummer Adam Deitch flanked out on the stage left wing. Guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff remained heart entrance, using his trusty Gibson Les Paul axe throughout the weekend. Ryan Zoidis (saxophones, synth) and Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet)—a.okay.a. The Lettuce Horns—have been not perched on a rear riser, having returned to entrance stage proper.
LETT launched into orbit with the rotund “RVA Dance” from Unify, stretching out a bit earlier than beginning up “Last Suppit”, a reworked association of the seminal “Final Suppit”, from 2008’s sophomore LP Rage. A jammed out “Mt. Crushmore”, title observe to the 2016 EP, noticed issues cryptically veer right into a shadowy temper. Nigel took the reins with a spirited run by way of Chilly Blood’s “Able to Dwell”. A primary body spotlight was the ever-rare rendition of “Ghosts of Jupiter” (Rage) that includes a sizzlin’ Latin-tinged phase from Zoidis on clear tenor sax.
Lettuce – “Ghost of Jupiter”, “Preserve That Funk Alive” (Dwell Debut), “Checker Wrecker”, “La Di Da Di” (Slick Rick & Doug E. Recent) – 11/18/22
[Video: FunkItBlog]
The set climaxed with the debut of “Keep That Funk Alive”, Lettuce’s psychedelic crunk collab with Bootsy Collins that was the primary single launched from Unify. Collins handles the lead vocals on the file, however this night time Shmeeans would step as much as the mic to ship the syrupy verses, a lot to the delight of the steamy Soul Kitchen crowd, who chanted alongside the refrain and roared in adoring approval.
After stomping by way of the subtronic “KTFA”, LETT made a tough left for the District, uncorking the go-go bounce of “Checker Wrecker”, from 2020’s Resonate, one other quantity seldom carried out. “Checker” detoured into “Run Joe” from go-go legend Chuck Brown, and D.C. native Nigel noticed match to spit a verse from Doug E. Recent and Slick Rick’s ’80s rap basic “La Di Da Di”.
After a brief intermission, Lettuce returned to the stage for set two with “The Pressure”, the opening observe from 2015’s Crush. A scintillating “Larimar” adopted, the selection lower culled from 2019’s Grammy-nominated Elevate. “Larimar” detoured into early-’80s quiet storm territory, earlier than Bloom leveled the complete room along with his patented mix of character and horn wizardry. “Larimar” ultimately discovered its means into Parliament’s “Let Me Experience”, a clean segue right into a fatback G-funk groove.
The magniloquent bump of “Vamanos”—arguably Unify’s crown jewel—featured Zoidis shamanic sound collages, an array of coloration and texture throughout the improv part, earlier than they flirted with Blondie’s “Rapture” (or was it KRS-ONE’s “Step Into A World”?). The band shifted gears into the acquainted funk of “Squadlive”, full with the old-school bridge heard on 2003 LP Dwell in Tokyo. “Squadlive” featured some slick hip-hop teases like “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, and Marva Whitney’s “It’s Your Factor”, later flipped for EPMD’s iconic late-’80s basic “It’s My Factor”.
A elegant Shmeeans intro unveiled “Breakout”, initially a Soulive music that Lettuce later recorded for Rage. The beloved tune is experiencing considerably of a resurgence with LETT in 2022. “Breakout” swam in Soulquarian vibes, constructing an exquisite, swirling apex earlier than unleashing the haymakers that announce “Calm down” (Rage). As soon as a assured pairing however these days a rarified deal with, “Breakout” > “Calm down” was chock filled with the feels and reverberated deep within the chest cavity.
Corridor took over as grasp of ceremonies for a swaggering “Do It Like You Do”, reconfigured as a J.B.’s-esque banger, full with a incredible segue into James Brown’s basic “Funky Drummer”. LETT introduced it residence with authority: an intro-less drop into “Blast Off” (Rage), the encore a frenzy of livid kinds, every participant throwin’ warmth rocks all the best way to the end line.
The next night, simply two hours to the west, Lettuce would descend on the legendary Tipitina’s in New Orleans, a celebrated membership with a storied historical past within the Crescent Metropolis. The band had not rocked Tip’s since Jazz Fest after darkish—a.okay.a. Fess Jazztival—in 2017, when the band’s lineup appeared a little bit completely different, and the squad had not but totally developed into the shape-shifting cosmonauts they’re in late 2022.
On an uptown Saturday night time within the metropolis that care forgot, the enduring room on Tchoupitoulas was bought out, and famed native artist Frenchy arrange his easel close to the soundboard to reside paint the festivities. The decadent denizens of New Orleans have been appropriately vibed up for the event, and LETT returned to the home that Fess constructed to show this mutha out.
Lettuce – “Lett The World Know”, “Flu” > “Home of Lett” – 11/19/22
[Video: Tipitina’s TV]
Lettuce would once more kick issues off with a Unify observe, this time reaching for “LETT The World Know”, an elastic fatback banger that calls out to Minneapolis mojo and First Ave funk. The de facto star of the tour’s remaining present, Nigel Corridor, held courtroom on lead vocals while wielding blazin’ B3 organ and acrobatic synths. Corridor has known as New Orleans residence for practically a decade, and his current-day vitality and ethos are firmly rooted on this metropolis, its customs, and localized angle. This night at Tipitina’s would flip into an incredible threauxdown in Corridor’s adopted hometown.
A vital cog within the Lettuce wheel for the previous five-plus years, the keyboardist/vocalist is experiencing a private {and professional} renaissance of types. Corridor is happier, more healthy, clear-eyed, and motivated by clear dwelling. With solo releases, an official sample pack, and guest features galore, Nigel has stepped into a brand new realm of prolific collaborations, inventive contributions, and seemingly easy onstage prowess. Whether or not it was digging deep for trademark soulful, emotional vocals or peeling off analog synths with a newfound, unhinged ferocity, Nigel Corridor was working at full energy within the bosom of the Massive Simple.
Batting second at Tip’s was Shmeeans’ “The Flu”, a nascent quantity discovered on 2002 debut LP Outta Right here. Lettuce unfold wings into phantasmal areas earlier than an about-face and clean segue into the four-on-the-floor electro-current that drives “Home of LETT” (Resonate). Since Lettuce’s European escapades, “Home” has been nothing in need of reborn, with numerous variations oscillating between Berlin, Bristol, and Chicago—usually throughout the identical efficiency. Such was the case at Tip’s, the place the boys explored Kind II topography, patiently working minimalist untz riddims into an erotic house-quake, using nuanced percussion, lyrical brass, Coomes’ subaqueous basslines, and assertive, disciplined low-end pulse from the spacecraft’s captain, Adam Deitch.
Nigel as soon as once more took command of the scenario, rolling up a smoked-out rendition of the Mary Jane Ladies‘ 1983 hit “All Evening Lengthy”, later made well-known because the pattern to LL Cool J’s seductive “Across the Approach Woman”. After an almost note-perfect studying of the Rick James-penned panty-dropper, one other tackle “Vamanos” adopted, a deeper, darker, extra sinister meditation in live-band sound design than the model unspooled in Cell an evening earlier.
To shut out a considerably truncated first body, Lettuce invited native legend Nicholas Payton to sit down in on “Pocket Change” (Crush). An esteemed musicologist revered by a number of generations and a mentor to each Corridor and Benny Bloom, the world-class trumpet maestro grabbed his horn and gracefully swag-surfed atop a syncopated, purposeful “Pocket Change” . In simply a few good minutes onstage, Payton reminded everybody within the joint simply precisely what time—and who’s city—it was earlier than exiting the stage with acceptable steez because the band wrapped up the fiery rare-groove exercise.
After a short pause for the trigger, Lettuce returned for the ultimate body of this blazing eight-show run by way of the Southeast. The boys saved some juice for the house stretch and would in some way discover one more gear to stage up for 75 minutes of Grade A Lettucefunk. “Squadlive” kicked off set two with some Godfather-style chicken-scratch stank, hinting at James Brown’s “It’s A New Day”. An aggressive romp by way of “Chief it Up” noticed Shmeeans actually dig in on his Les Paul with hovering leads because the band pushed the tempo and raised the temperature.
On the subject of LETT, the 20-minute phase that adopted was about nearly as good because it will get. Starting with a scorching “New Reel” (Crush), the six phenoms locked into one thing spectacular. Transferring with persistence and precision, razor sharp hits and neck-snapping breaks, “New Reel” was downright deadly Lettuce. In lieu of ending the music, the band deftly transitioned into “Waffles”, an aggressive thunderclap from Unify, as Coomes and Deitch schooled the room in low-end concept.
As “Waffles” levitated into the Tip’s rafters, Lettuce adroitly segued into their tackle Tears For Fears‘ timeless ’80s hit “Everyone Desires to Rule the World”. This explicit model was revealed in a decidedly completely different association, quasi Dilla-fied, with parts of “Waffles” subtly sewn into the sonic alchemy. Three a long time of supernatural connection was on show earlier than our ears, a multi-hued organism mutating and remodeling compositions on the fly. Six souls transferring as one mystic dragon, accessing a collective movement state, probing misplaced civilizations buried centuries beneath the mighty Mississippi. Corridor discovered his solution to a verse from Bobby Caldwell‘s “Open Your Eyes” earlier than the entire staff returned to “Rule the World” and collectively the deep six landed this vessel with a humble verve.
Lettuce – “New Reel”, “Waffles” > “Everyone Desires To Rule The World” (Tears For Fears) > Waffles Remix – 11/19/22
[Video: upful LIFE]
A trifecta of Unify tracks adopted that searing passage: “The Lock”, an angular, mid-tempo funk groove, is a nod to Jeffrey Lockhart—Lettuce’s longtime sensei, mentor, and trainer from the Wally’s days in mid-’90s Boston. The Tip’s model would incorporate Herbie Hancock’s “God Made Me Funky” into the gurgling gumbo of “The Lock”. Corridor known as out to Nicholas Payton, nonetheless chilling sidestage, to rejoin the group, this time on keys. Payton obliged, and the now-septet tore by way of “Every little thing’s Gonna Be Alright”, a Clark Sisters’ rework with pertinent vocals penned by Corridor himself.
“Hawk’s Claw”, a smoked-out psychedelic journey that borrows a little bit of former keyboardist Neal Evans‘s writing fashion (he was affectionately recognized to his bandmates as “The Hawk”), was the set two parting shot. A affected person, brooding lower that ultimately unspooled right into a dusty dancefloor banger with a prismatic, textural jam, “Hawk’s Claw” rinsed a now-throbbing Tipitina’s with a lysergic elixir that arrived proper on time.
Lettuce left the stage for 3 minutes on the most as throngs of throaty ragers stomped and screamed for extra. The Voltron of Funk returned in brief order, launching into the strong combo of “Madison Sq.” > “Trapezoid” > “Madison Sq.”. Fairly presumably the band’s most beloved music, “Madison Sq.” is a bombastic anthem from 2012’s Fly that unveils a novel journey in sound every day trip. This one featured a diabolical detour into subterranean dub tombs.
An ethereal passage segued the primary few notes of “Trapezoid” (Elevate), introduced as Benny Bloom barked on the moon, channeling each Ozzy Osbourne and DMX in a match of pure stoke. The Tip’s “Entice” was delivered noticeably sooner than standard, making for a serpentine seance in contrast to some other “Trapezoid” I can recall. Triumphant brass, abyssal bass, natural 808s, mosaic thump, all the standard suspects made their presence felt, however with a determined uptick in BPM, this “Entice” hit only a wee bit completely different.
LETT paid correct tribute to Mannie Recent and Mantronix earlier than navigating again to a climactic “Madison Sq.” reprise. The grand finale put an emphatic exclamation level on the krewe’s long-awaited return to Tipitina’s Uptown and wrapped a Day-Glo bow on Lettuce’s brief run by way of the Deep South.
Phrases: B.Getz
Setlist: Lettuce | Soul Kitchen | Cell, AL | 11/18/22
Set 1: RVA Dance, Final Suppit (“Last Suppit”), Mt. Crushmore, Able to Dwell, Ghost of Jupiter, Preserve That Funk Alive# > Checker Wrecker [w/ Run Joe (Chuck Brown)]*
Set 2: The Pressure, Larimar, Let Me Experience (Parliament)*, Vámonos, Squadlive, It Takes Two (Rob Base)* / It’s My Factor (Marva Whitney), Break Out, Calm down, Do It Like You Do > Funky Drummer (James Brown)
Encore: Blast Off
Setlist: Lettuce | Tipitina’s | New Orleans, LA | 11/19/22
Set 1: Lett The World Know, Flu > Home of Lett, All Evening Lengthy (Mary Jane Ladies), Vámonos, Pocket Change (with Nicholas Payton on trumpet)
Set 2: Squadlive [w/It’s A New Day (James Brown)] > Chief It Up, The New Reel* > Waffles > Rule The World (Tears For Fears) [Waffles Remix, w/Open Your Eyes (Bobby Caldwell)], The Lock [God Made Me Funky (The Headhunters)]*, Be Alright (with Nicholas Payton on keys), Hawk’s Claw
Encore: Madison Sq. > Trapezoid > Madison Sq.
*Incomplete
#first time performed
