Funk band Lettuce played Artpark in Lewiston, NY this past Wednesday to a smaller than usual crowd. Threatening weather kept the attendance low. It didn’t matter for the ones who did show up. They were treated to a night of long jams and happy grooves.
Originally from Boston, Lettuce has made a career on the road for almost 30 years. Constant touring has built a loyal fan base that follows the band on the road. A constantly changing setlist offers a different show in every city. Lettuce has had quite a few members over the years but founding members Erick Coombs (bass), Adam Deitch (drums), Adam Smirnoff, (guitar) and Ryan Zoidis (sax) remain the heart of the band. They were accompanied by Eric Bloom (trumpet) and Nigel Hall (keyboard). Interesting thing is with lettuce is that no one person is the focal point. They all take turns in the spotlight. Playing together seems effortless for them. Their playing intertwines with one another. Whether it be a slow jam or up tempo funk number, the band is tight and the music has a strong connection to their fans. Some tunes carried on like a loose jam, others rocked with funky passion. The songs continually rolled rolled into one another. The band threw in a James Brown tune and a snippet of “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell and the Drells to mix it up a bit. If there was one word to describe this night, it has to be “FUN.” I along with the others in attendance were treated to a enjoyable evening of jam band music.
Setlist:
The New Reel
Royal Highness
In The Middle (James Brown cover)
Silence is Golden
Squadive
Fly
The Lock
Phyllis
Lettsanity
Encore:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
We would like to thank Dave Wedekindt from Artpark for helping getting the credentials to review the show.
