By Chris Paul
originally published: 07/07/2025
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, Rising Sun Productions presented 3 bands, Texas-based, Ghost Note, California-based Circles Around the Sun, and Colorado/Pennsylvania-based Lotus.
Ghost Note is a project centered around Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Woth, both members of their better-known band Snarky Puppy. Circles Around the Sun was formed in 2015 and is known for their compositions used as intermission music for the Dead’s “Fare Thee Well” concerts that year. Lotus is an electronica jamband that continues to build momentum and their fanbase nationally since their formation in 1998-99 at Goshen College in Goshen, IN. Rising Suns Productions is also the company that runs the Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA (near Philadelphia) and this night’s concert was the maiden show for their summer Concert Under the Stars series in Heuser Park in King of Prussia, PA.
The venue for this show was a beautiful concert field providing plenty of space for concertgoers, a variety of tasty food truck vendors and beverage selections, well-curated merchandise vendors, and a child friendly environment offering a general admissions ticket for children 2-12 and free entry to children under 2. Feeback heard about the event praised this show as a “next generation” show for the Philadelphia, PA based Lotus fanbase and overall jam music scene.
Leaving NJ for the show, I was worried about the weather for the event since NJ was consumed by thunderstorms that evening that altered many plans for the Independence Day weekend kick-off. Thankfully, despite one very ominous thunder cloud that loomed during my arrival, we were blessed with no rain throughout the night and a beautiful sunset prior to the beginning of Lotus’ set.
Lotus opened its extended set for the night with “Phantom Tooth” from the 2021 album “Citrus”. From the 1st note Jesse Miller (bass/sampler/modular synth and Lotus founding member) cut the groove deep with his thump. Lotus is an instrumental band only using live and recorded vocal tracks for a small number of their songs. PT is an instrumental and intuitively Jesse’s brother Luke Miller (guitar/keyboards and founding member of Lotus) elevated the flow of this opener setting the stage for Tim Palmieri (guitar) leads that flash bright like bursts of light.
The back and forward dynamic of Jesse and Tim builds while anchored on the foundation provided by Mike Greenfield (drums). The band quickly shook off any early set cobwebs, set their sound on stage, and this vessel was lifted off. Straight into “Sunrain”, a Lotus staple first released on the “Escaping Sargasso Sea” album (2007). This song cascades like a waterfall with iridescent streaks of light filtered through it. Following was “Electric Orange” from the most recent Lotus release (2024) “How to Dream in Color”. This is one of the Lotus tracks that does feature live vocal tracks with Tim spitting his “Gickickickickickickowww” through the mic and live production filters of Lotus. This was certainly when the dance party began.
Before the show, the venue entertained the crowd with a stilt walker along with a fully dressed disco kangaroo. Yes, a full mirror-ball suited marsupial ala Daft Punk that joined Lotus on stage complete with glow sticks. Better than an actual disco ball, this party pouched crowd favorite sparkled. Next came “Sid”, featured on many live albums released by the band over the years. The song reveals the darker rock driven side of Lotus through the grinds of Jesse (who also wrote this song, along with all of Lotus’ songs with his brother Luke). Tim also added to this rock n roll vibe as the end of “Sid” winds up the tension track towards the segway into “Spiritualize”. This 2004 release from the “Nomad” album is Lotus gospel. Sweeping rhythm blended with the currents of Tim’s high electric leads, as digitized vocal samples evoke love, white light, and clean air. Mike ramps it up and he and Jesse lock the groove into full Tron. This is also the first live “Spiritualize” I have heard since the passing of Lotus percussionist Chuck Morris tragically in 2023. His loss devastated the band and its following and the beat fills throughout the song exemplify Greenie’s effort on drums and blended percussions to honor Chuck. I recently interviewed Tim and he discussed Chuck’s loss and the commitment to keep Chuck’s spirit alive. This is also the 1st “Spiritualize” I was able to hear without shedding tears of grief. Hearing the vibrancy behind this song confirms to me that healing is happening and Chuck’s memory resonated inside us all.
Next up was “How Do I Come Down” also from 2024’s “How to Dream in Color”. This song features produced vocal tracks originally recorded by long-time collaborator Gabe Otto. This song personifies the dance-centric vibe Lotus has achieved especially recently. This live-produced hybrid is uniquely fun and reveals the warp speed direction the band’s gravity pulls toward. Lotus then gifted the crowd “Behind Midwest Storefront” from 2008’s “Hammerstrike” album. This song had not been played live since the beginning of 2025 and is a great example of the storytelling Lotus achieves.
This was followed by the standout of the set, “And I Don’t”. This song debuted at last year’s Summerdance Music Festival, annually hosted by the band at Nelson’s Ledges Quarry Park in Garrettsville, OH. Lotus breaks out their bag of tricks with this one, sharp digitized vocal tracks, razor edge cuts and beats, whoomp, and house music groove that smacks the grin right across your face. In his interview Tim referenced a new Lotus album release for early 2026. One can hope that this epic song will find a home on it.
Fittingly ending the night was a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime”. This song featured original David Byrne vocals layered within Lotus’ original spin. As Bryne declares “here comes the twist” linear induction launch catapults the groove. Tim delves into his rock ‘n roll roots for a masterful solo and the particles of time, space and live music crescendo louder than any fireworks. What a joy it is to be alive and free, celebrating the start of a holiday weekend!
Lotus 7/3/25 Heuser Park in King of Prussia, PAOne set:
Phantom Tooth, Sunrain, Electric Orange, Sid> Spiritualize, How Do I Come Down, Behind Midwest Storefronts, And I Don’t> Once In a Lifetime (Talking Head Cover)
More information about Lotus, their music, and on-going summer 2025 tour is available at https://www.lotusvibes.com.
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