Lotus continued its ongoing salute to fallen bandmate Chuck Morris and his son Charley on Saturday at The Capitol Theatre with the last in a string of benefit concerts. The guest-filled show raised money for the Morris family, who recently suffered the loss of Chuck and Charley while on a kayaking trip in Arkansas, and featured appearances from members of Dopapod, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Twiddle, and other close friends of the band.
Jamtronic underlings Space Bacon opened Saturday’s show, which arrived following tribute concerts in Denver and Pennsylvania over the last month. The stage was a rotating door of guests, with Eli Winderman stepping in on keys early and often throughout the show. Also stepping in off the Dopapod bench was guitarist Rob Compa, who along with PPPP’s Jeremy Schon, assisted Lotus’ Tim Palmieri in the string section.
Helping fill out the rhythm section was Adrian Tramontano, the current interim drummer for Twiddle, who took over Chuck’s place on percussion on Saturday. Over on drums, Lotus’ original drummer Steve Clemens frequently filled in behind the kit, subbing out for the man who replaced him back in 2009, Mike Greenfield.
Saturday’s show signaled the last of four planned Lotus benefit concerts for Chuck and Charley Morris. The shows have brought friends and admirers from across the live music spectrum to pay tribute to the longtime Lotus percussionist, who first went missing with his 20-year-old son back on March 16th on Beaver Lake. A 24-day search ensued for the two until their bodies were recovered on April 10th. Lotus subsequently postponed a West Coast spring tour, as well as an appearance at Resonate Suwannee where, in the band’s place, the festival staged a memorial drum circle.
Lotus is currently scheduled to return to the road on May 26th for a set at Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL. Festival dates follow throughout the summer with stops at Sonic Bloom, High Sierra, Elements, and the band’s own Summerdance, as well as a voyage next year aboard James Cruise 20. Tickets and a full list of tour dates are available on the band’s website.
A full-show stream of Lotus’ benefit for Chuck and Charley Morris at The Capitol Theatre is available below along with images from photographer Andrew Blackstein. Fans can donate directly to the Morris family here.
Lotus, Eli Winderman, Steve Clemens, Adrian Tramontano – “Sift” [Pro-Shot] – 5/6/23
Lotus, Steve Clemens – “Neon Tubes” [Pro-Shot] – 5/6/23
Lotus, Rob Compa, Steve Clemens, Adrian Tramontano – “Sunrain” [Pro-Shot] – 5/6/23
Lotus – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY – 5/6/23 – Full Show
Setlist: Lotus | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 5/6/23
Set One: Hammerstrike, Sift (Eli Winderman, Steve Clemens, Adrian Tramontano), Neon Tubes Pt. 1 (Steve) > modular jam > Neon Tubes Pt. 2, Catacombs (Adrian, Jeremy Schon), Time Dilates (Rob Compa, Jamie Doyle), 128 (Compa, Adrian)
Set Two: Pluck (Eli, Adrian) > Spiritualize (Eli, Adrian), Did Fatt (Steve) > Mink & Shoes > Livingston Storm (Schon), Drums (Adrian, Jamie, Steve), Bellwether (Schon, Steve, Adrian)
Encore: Sunrain (Compa, Steve, Adrian)
