Our founder Kunj Shah had a nice little chat with Erick “Danger” Coomes, aka Jesus, aka Lord of the Strings, aka the funky bassist of Lettuce. He divulges on the killer Winter Tour they just wrapped up as well as what upcoming events he’s super stoked on, including The Fort with Umphrey’s McGee and Red Rocks with The Motet. Read more about what’s going on in the always amazing life of Jesus Coomes here!
Photo by Brandon Xuereb
L4LM: You just wrapped up a massive winter tour, how did that go?
Jesus: It was phenomenal. It was beyond my expectations, it was just awesome. We’re getting somewhere musically and I’m having so much fun playing every night, it’s incredible.
L4LM: What were some of the highlights, which cities really kicked ass, where were the crowds poppin’?
Jesus: We had a bunch of really good shows. Aspen was a really nice show, Detroit was a great show. LA was the best, we hit LA harder than we’ve ever hit it in my whole life. I live here and we hardly ever play here. We actually sold out the El Rey, which is a cool venue and a classic LA theatre. I’ve seen Dilla play the El Rey, I’ve seen a lot of really great shows there, so to be able to play it and have people come out and support us was awesome. Everyone turned up and it was a great party and a really good time. I think that’s a rare thing too, people talk about LA nightlife and it’s hit or miss. But when it hits, it’s so good, you can have the greatest night ever in LA and I think that’s what we did.
*10 Things You Didn’t Know About Jesus From Lettuce*
L4LM: What was it like having Break Science on tour with you guys? What was the vibe like having an electronic band open up for Lettuce?
Jesus: That was a major blessing, it just completely adds to our party. Borahm is family, so it was great to be able to bring one more person on to the crew that we really love and have known well for years. We really link with them musically too. I’m a big Break Science supporter and fan, so you’ll see me in the front row of those shows rocking out! So to be able to have that and bring the party vibe even harder was great.
Jesus raging Break Science with an inflatable bass on Jam Cruise. Photo by Chad Smith
L4LM: So L4LM was there from the inception of the forthcoming album, we even had the opportunity to get a glimpse of your writing process in the studio in New Orleans before fall tour which was really something. How has the new material been shaping up the more it gets played live, and what has the crowd reaction been?
Jesus: It’s been great. The reaction from the crowd is like…there’s no words to even express the way it feels to play some ill music and see their faces light up and see people just start jamming. There’s no way to express that. But I think in terms of the new material and how that’s playing into it, we know the material pretty well now so it’s just a matter of creating the setlist. So I think when Shmeeans and Zoidis and Deitch and I create the setlist, now we have a lot more to work with. So it’s really cool, we can bookend the show in a hip-hop way, like the other night in Detroit we put “Double Header” at the start and then our hip-hop medley in the end. It’s not gonna be called that…the thing is we don’t have definite names for all the songs yet, we’re just focused on the music, so focused on the music. But when you bookend the show you can make it really hip-hop, or really psychedelic, or super old-soul motown, or more James Brown.
Photo by Brandon Xuereb
L4LM: Have you been doing different variations of each song, testing them out?
Jesus: Oh yeah! We’ve been freaking them out, totally expanding on them and being able to go freestyle heavy.
L4LM: What’s your favorite new track?
Jesus: Lett Zeppelin. Between that and Phyllis.
L4LM: So you’re set to play this 19th century fort in April that normally hosts Civil War re-enactments. Are you psyched to take the funk army to battle with Umphrey’s, and what can we expect in such a cool, different venue?
Jesus: It sounds like a trip, I can’t wait! It’s gonna be really fun for sure. I like old places. We’ll bring new energy into a really old place. Joel and I have been texting and I’m pretty excited about it, I can’t wait. I’m glad we finally get to play with Umph’s cause they’re our boys.
L4LM: Awesome. So you’ve also got the Red Rocks date coming up with The Motet. Are you stoked to be returning to one of the most spectacular venues in the country as a headliner?
Jesus: It’s all I think about all the time. Every day. I can’t wait to go back. I can see it filling up with people in my mind, walking in and on the steps. I can’t wait. We’re gonna go super hard on it and make it a really fun night for sure.
Jesus raging Red Rocks with our founder, Kunj Shah
L4LM: What’s been your experience playing that venue and what have been some of your best Colorado experiences in general?
Jesus: Playing Red Rocks changes life for sure…in case that ever happens to you you’ll be able to know what I’m talking about. Then being able to take that new you and go up into the mountains and go for a hike….I spent a few days up in Carbondale and around different areas hiking and going to hot springs, and it’s just a beautiful feeling like you’re one with nature. And I think that’s really important. I love that place so much. Denver’s great, Boulder, everywhere.
L4LM: So you’ve got a bit of a break from touring at the moment, what have you been up to in your downtime?
Jesus: I’m making some tracks right now actually, sitting here working on a new project which has yet to be named. I’m working on my computer in Ableton, and my brother Tycoon is gonna come over and help on the drums. We’re making some dance music. For people to dance to!
Photo by Patrick Hughes
L4LM: Nice! So have you been living for live music lately? Seeing any good shows?
Jesus: Totally. Umphrey’s is coming next week, so I’m gonna go see them. I’ve only been home in LA for two days but I’ve already been out once and saw this little jam session thing. Yeah, I totally Live for Live Music all the time, that’s my motto!
L4LM: What’s on your playlist right now? What’s motivating you these days?
Jesus: Aw man, everything’s motivating me man! It’s hard to say…I listen to a lot of DJs, that’s for sure. I’ve always listened to a lot of electronic music, but definitely going on Holy Ship helped me discover more new cool shit. There was so much good music and different genres within EDM, it definitely opened my eyes to some new cool stuff. Rudimental was great on there, Odesza in the Theater, Flume, Disclosure. We’ve got the Break Science Live Band coming up at Aura Music Festival, I’m starting to go over the material for that. Borahm just sent me an e-mail full of stuff I have to learn.
L4LM: Are you going to be playing an actual bass or are you going to be playing an inflatable guitar like on jam cruise?
Jesus: I will be playing both! That particular inflatable guitar has an incredible tone. Anyway, I’m about to go check out Diplo and Skrillex, they’re playing down in LA right now and it’s free and they’re having a skate competition right there. I’m just sitting by the beach in Long Beach, so I figure I’ll drive over there and check out the party down there. What day is it? Thursday? Friday? Wednesday? Who knows! It’s time to start the weekend.
*Lettuce Members Share Real Time Experiences From The Road (Fall Tour)*
L4LM: Enjoy that! So anything crazy happen on tour? Everyone was safe this time around, no injuries?
Jesus: No injuries, Adam was working hard, everyone kept healthy and in good spirits the whole way through. It was a great tour dude. We had a lot of pu-erh tea and smoothies and actually checked out a lot of fine dining on this one too. It’s getting more and more comfortable to bring the funk around. Cause the funk is funky…when I say comfortable I still mean rough and rugged, but more comfortable. It’s a wonderful life we get to do, waking up in a new city every day and playing music for those people. We sold out places we’ve never even been! That just made us feel so good to get out of that bus after that travel and people already know all about the show and can’t wait. And with that energy to get the day started, by the time you actually get on stage you’re just feeling it. So we just really got to vibe out and get to know each city and then get on stage and be blessed by them.
-Kunj Shah
Cover photo by Joshua Timmermans