Blue Lotus

Blue Lotus: Across the Canyon and Beyond the Horizon
Posted on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 by Tyler Blue in Crazy Horse Blog

Basking in a steady stream of some of the country’s finest music is a privilege. If you take it for granted, it could easily blend together into a palatable blur of complacency. Fortunately our philosophy here at the Crazy Horse is more akin to an adventurer forging through uncharted territory. We’re grateful for the scenery, but always seeking fantastic realms awaiting around the next bend. We know they’re there. We’ve seen them before and that leaves us yearning for more.

It’s been a few years since someone, I can’t remember who, raved about a band from Eugene, Oregon called Blue Lotus. “The guitarist is a Jerry prodigy,” was the rallying cry that resonates in my memory. The name lodged way in the back of my mind until a few months ago when our ultra-savvy talent buyer mentioned he had them on the schedule. December 18 was circled on the calendar and there was no doubt that magic was afoot. After hearing their CD – “Across the Canyon” – the gravity of the situation became undeniable. Here was a band with the potential to rise above the clouds and form its own constellation in the musical galaxy.

The first thing to captivate me upon hearing Blue Lotus wasn’t the mind-melting guitar playing of Felix Blades. It was the otherworldly voice of Brandelyn Rose. She conveys a haunting sense of intimacy and subtle power of emotional seduction. It’s a voice of wisdom, longing and introspection. The songs themselves are what truly elevate Blue Lotus into elite company; especially in the context of the contemporary jamband scene. They have a storytelling quality, rich in imagery and impact. The songs sound nothing like the Grateful Dead but are cut from a similar Americana cloth, possessing wide-open jamming potential.

Speaking of which, the show kicked off with their most improvisational vehicle -“Drift Away.” Any audience member counting on a casual Friday outing to the local watering hole soon knew this was far more than they had bargained for. The foursome plunged into the deep end, instantly taking a jazz-inflected gymnastic tumble. In addition to her vocal prowess, Rose disarms you with innovative guitar chops. Her out-of-the-box rhythms and jagged, melodic interjections are matched by the stage swagger of a natural born performer. What she brings to the table serves as the ideal counterpoint for the fierce, yet ethereal excursions emanating from Blades’ corner of the stage.

The feeling of familiarity upon hearing more of the songs from “Across the Canyon” was like the soothing comfort of realizing you’re home. “Ballad of Black Bart” brought to life a colorful tale of Oregonian lore. The music and lyrics unfolded in harmonic synchronicity as if each had spawned the other simultaneously. When listening to this unit, it’s remarkable to acknowledge how locked in they are. They share a focused group consciousness as well as an intrepid sense of independence. Bassist Ben Bosse takes a serious, cerebral approach on his five string bass. As with all my favorite bassists, you get the sense that he’s freelancing most of the time while producing honey in the pocket like a bee in the hive. Same with drummer Alex Huber. He sets himself apart with a jazzy flutter where every beat is its own breath of poetry.

One of the coolest things about Blue Lotus is the fact that the three guitarists all play instruments custom made by a luthier in Eugene. They are gorgeous pieces of craftsmanship as well as remarkable embodiments of sonic engineering. Rose, Blades and Bosse all possess signature tones which are largely attributable to these one-of-a-kind guitars. Rose’s axe even has a quartz crystal embedded at the crown with an LED light she can trigger. Just like Roy Hobbs’ bat in “The Natural,” Blades wields his six-string as if it was immaculately conceived through a cosmic phenomenon. The dude is only 20 years old and we should all be so fortunate to listen to him play for years to come.

Anyone who worships at the grail of Steve Kimock and Jerry Garcia can expect their heart to skip a beat when Blades ventures into the sacred vortex. His playing communicates a palpable reverence, egoless conviction and 360-degree vision. How apropos it was that when it was time for a few cover tunes, they leaned toward Jerry Garcia Band classics such as “Don’t Let Go.” In the vein of those grandmasters, Blades has an effortless manner of building his solos with delicate, angelic, crystalline beauty. The sound practically manifests as shimmering light filtering through the heavens. Anyone who covets Kimock’s work with the band Zero from the mid-90s should have extra special interest in what’s going on here.

Just when you think Blades is reaching the ultimate peak of any given jam, somehow he ascends even higher. During one song in the second set – “Upside Down” – his playing bubbled over the brim with an effect so euphoric, it was enough to make me surrender control of my body and mind. A momentary spiritual release representing everything many of us music addicts commit our lives to seeking. The crowd on this night wasn’t large in numbers, but their hearts and ears absorbed every detail. It couldn’t be more obvious that we were in the presence of greatness. Bands like this reinforce the belief that music is the ultimate drug. - Tyler Blue

Click on URL above to read interview - Grateful Web

Included in the roundup are Eugene’s Blue Lotus, playing the Tower Theatre on Tuesday night with DJ Byrne; Portland’s World’s Finest, also playing Tuesday night at Astro Lounge; and Portland’s Yak Attack performing Wednesday night at Volcanic. Grateful Dead tribute group Garcia Birthday Band is slated to perform at Silver Moon Brewery for after-parties following both Phish shows.
The after-parties cater to concert-goers who aren’t quite ready to end their nights after the main event. They can also offer fans who were unable to snag a ticket a chance to join the party, though even the after-parties run the risk of selling out. Presale tickets for the Polyrythmics are already sold out, with only about 20 or 30 set to be released the night of the show, according to Gabe Johnson, who is promoting both Volcanic shows through his company Parallel 44 Presents.
Johnson, who also represents Blue Lotus and World’s Finest through his booking agency In the Pocket Artists, said after-parties are a jam band phenomenon due in large part to the fans. It helps that many of these fans are also tied in to the music industry and are booking these shows — Johnson included.
“Jam band fans are passionate about music, live music and passionate about supporting it and chasing it wherever they can,” Johnson said. “Ironically, a lot of the higher-ups in the live music industry are Phish fans. ... It’s incredible what extent high-powered people in the industry now that are my age, early 40s, started out their careers in a lot of different ways, but started out as Phish heads by nature, and were part of a lot of the early fan base of Phish, Northeastern kids. I’m from Philadelphia, and my girlfriend went to college there. ... I saw (Phish) play at her college and fell in love, and that’s a story that’s common among many of us in our age group.”
The bands booked at these shows are able to take advantage of the situation. Brandelyn Rose, lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Blue Lotus, said one of her band’s first gigs was performing in the parking lot of the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, after Phish performed.
“We played in the night until 4 in the morning for about 2,000 Phish fans and got quite a following from that,” Rose said. “We did the Gorge again and got a huge crowd. Those fans tend to follow us; we have a large Phish and Grateful Dead fan base that has been really kind of pushing us, so it made sense that we would at least play an after-party.”
The show is also an album release party for the band, coinciding with the release of its fifth CD in as many years, “Across the Canyon.” The album combines five studio cuts with three live tracks recorded at various times during the band’s tours last year. Unlike the band’s previous studio album, 2013’s “A Thousand Other Things,” the studio songs on “Across the Canyon” showcase the band’s extended jamming skills.
“We did the studio album previously because we needed to have tracks that were radio friendly,” Rose said. “We had a big uptick in press last year about our band, and all these radio stations were starting to request tracks. We’d give them a track and they’d say, ‘We can’t play this; it’s 12 minutes long.’ It forced us to kind of do something in the studio format, but what we realized is, while fans enjoyed the studio songs, the feedback we got was that people really wanted those jams intact in there.” - Bend Bulletin

As the night goes on, many of the acts subside, and by 10 pm — the Block Party’s official end time — Blue Lotus takes the stage. If you haven’t had a chance to hear these cats jam yet, you’re in for a treat. It’s severely reminiscent of anything the Dead ever made happen, although Brandelyn Rose, who strums rhythm alongside Felix Blades’ lead, doesn’t quite sound like Bob Weir. The group is tight as bondage and trucks on through those jams like Further’s wheels rolling across the nation. This is one group you definitely don’t want to miss; the Grateful Dead comparison is fairly astounding in its uncanniness.
- Eugene Weekly

The Eugene-based band, Blue Lotus, recently recorded an album at Ninkasi Brewing’s in-house studio and will hold a release party at the brewery in late June. They’ve developed a longstanding relationship with the beer maker since playing their first show on Ninkasi’s patio in 2010.
By Anthony St. Clair
For the Oregon Beer Growler
In 2010, guitarist and singer/songwriter Brandelyn Rose was organizing shows with her new band, Blue Lotus, based in Eugene. Their search for interesting venues led to a young brewery.

“Our first show was actually on Ninkasi's patio,” says Rose, but the band’s involvement with the brewery didn’t stop there.

Later, Blue Lotus organized a national tour but needed a trailer. “We didn't have any outside funding,” Rose recollects. “We went to Ninkasi and proposed a sponsorship, and they helped us purchase a trailer. Ninkasi also provided us with beer in trade for advertising.”

Fast-forward to 2015. After four albums and accolades including being named as one of Relix magazine’s "Bands on the Rise" in 2012 and 2013, Blue Lotus wanted to create their first full-length “live” album, with studio support. Ninkasi had recently opened an in-house production and recording studio, inside their new administrative headquarters.

“It just made sense to have them record us,” Rose says.

So it was time to talk to James Book.

The Man Behind the Music
Book came to Ninkasi after 25 years in the music business, much of it on the road. As part of American post-grunge group The Flys — whose 1998 "Got You (Where I Want You)” hit number five on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks — Book toured Europe. “Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was learning a lot about beer.”

After the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2002, Book decided “it was time to leave the party” in Hollywood. Now in Eugene with his family, Ninkasi’s brand and experiential marketing director revolves around imagination and fermentation. “From my experience, music is a lot like craft beer,” Book explains. “Both put an indelible stamp on the psyche. Think of the best things that ever happened to you in your life. Music and beer were probably there.”

The two are also in the midst of disruption. “Like beer, music is finding a revolution,” Book says. “The music business in the ‘90s got really locked down in the corporate world. But brewing and making music are pursuits of the heart that can’t be denied. Lots of today’s breweries are rooted in that.”

The Business Sense of a Brewery Studio
Ninkasi mixes sounds and suds as a combination of passion, personalities, business sense and favorable laws. At its most practical level, Book says, “states such as Oregon allow us to also support for-profit organizations such as bands.”

Along with Ninkasi co-founders Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, and chief financial officer Nigel Francisco, Book has worked on focusing Ninkasi’s sponsorship efforts around things the founders and employees are personally passionate about. “We’re still able to do the things we love and use them as our marketing, whether it’s music, or outdoor sports such as climbing, surfing or fishing,” Book explains. “We sponsor everything from pro kayakers to musicians, the kinds of niche activities that we like to participate in.”

Ninkasi’s musician support takes many forms: co-branding merchandise that bands can sell, supporting tours, designing album covers through Ninkasi’s in-house art department and showcasing bands at the South by Southwest (SXSW) annual festival and conference in Austin, Texas.

“The primary way this year has been helping musicians record or produce albums in Ninkasi’s studio,” Book says. Since opening the studio last year, Ninkasi has worked on recordings and production with 12 artists. “We tailor support for each band individually, since no two bands need the same thing.”

While Ninkasi supports bands, they only work with musicians who have a clear sense of purpose and goals. “We get a lot of bands that say ‘sponsor me,’ but they have no idea what they want from us. That usually stems from them not knowing what they want for themselves, from their own careers,” Book explains. “We aren’t here to design their goals for them, we want to help them reach their own goals.”

Inside the Creative Cave
The studio can be toured by the public but booked only by musicians Ninkasi sponsors. Once inside, you find creative caves, complete with a live room, isolation, a control room, a digital audio workstation called Pro Tools and Class A mic preamps.

Book beams at what’s ahead: installing an API console, what many consider the greatest mixing board. “There have been more gold and platinum records from that board than any other,” Book says.

The studio has capabilities similar to a label: Book produces and presses albums, and Ninkasi’s marketing team facilitates publicity. “While our logo might appear on the back of the record, the album and the intellectual property of the songs are the property of the artist, not us,” Book explains. “We never take revenue from any of the albums that are sold. That all goes to the artist.”

Blue Lotus Blossoming
As Blue Lotus and Book put the finishing touches on the new album, Brandelyn Rose is excited about the band and the brewery’s continued progress.

“I love that we can support Ninkasi,” Rose says. “We have watched each other grow from seedlings to where we are now. I love that James has incorporated his love of music into his work. I think it is brilliant. Who loves to drink beer? Bar goers, music lovers, bands. By sponsoring the music and becoming a part of the music scene, Ninkasi has created a ‘music culture’ around the beer.”

Book’s outlook is similar. “Watching Blue Lotus merge live and studio art forms before my very eyes has been exciting.” Steeped both in the music and brewing businesses, he understands that what really matters is passion, authenticity and doing what you love.

“Any brewery can sponsor bands,” Book points out, “but having a studio at the brewery campus? It’s a way for us to authentically be involved in the artists we support. We make music with them, producing them or just enabling them to make the music they want. Authenticity cannot be replaced in music, beer or any line of business.”

Then it’s time to get back to work. Blue Lotus plans to release their new album, “Across the Canyon,” later this month — with a release party at Ninkasi. - Oregon Beer Growler

If Eugene had a soundtrack, it would, without a doubt, include a song or two from the up-and-coming band Blue Lotus. This local jam group and its eclectic sound can be attributed to six diverse musicians, including 16-year-old guitarist Felix Blades. Blue Lotus is jazzy, bluesy and funky, but when asked how the band classifies its sound, the members are hesitant to respond. “We try not to pigeonhole ourselves into a genre because it’s limiting to a whole bunch of people that would really enjoy our music,” founding member Brandelyn Rose says.

With a combination of raw talent, a love of music and a desire to bring joy to all who listen, Blue Lotus is irrefutably festive.

“All the songs are positive, some people might say weird at times, but it’s wholesome music,” keyboardist Ron Puso says.

“By the end of the night if we have moved one person to feel a little better, then we’ve done our job,” Blades says.

Showcasing the band’s recording chops and containing some radio-friendly tracks, Blue Lotus’ eponymous debut album contains both live and studio recorded material. “It includes all of our key elements,” Blades says of the album.

Blue Lotus possesses a fiery chemistry, and its music is contagious. Be warned: There’s a good chance that going to a Blue Lotus show will have you dancing barefoot, with beer.

- Eugene Weekly

1st Runner up in Relix Magazine's national Jam-off Competition. Featured as a "band on the rise" in Relix Magazine June 2013. - Relix Magazine

This band is so awesome! I highly recommend them to all my friendsBlue Lotus are like a modern interpretation of the Grateful Dead ,their guitarist,Felix Blades,is an unbelievable talent and Brandelyn Rose is a super songwriter w/an amazing voice who some compare to Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders( I think she is also similar to Maria Muldaur).They perform mostly original material w/some choice covers thrown in.They have 2 drummers,bass,keyboard(all great musicians and cool guys) and of course Felix on Lead Guitar & Brandelyn on 2nd Guitar and Lead Vocals.So,to wrap things up,come to the show @ The Emerald of Siam Thai Restaurant and Lounge and take a ride on the Trip that is Blue Lotus...You won't be disappointed - Jay Wilson

"This is a truly great band!" - Ed Kashin KRVM radio 91.9

On Saturday May 31st the Community Center for the Performing Arts and KRVM proudly welcome back Blue Lotus along with special guests Dusu Mali Band. Featured as part of Relix magazine's "bands on the rise" in 2012 and 2013, Blue Lotus was the big winner when we tallied the ballots for this year's WOW Hall awards. Blue Lotus not only won the award for "favorite local band"- they took the title in a landslide! They obviously have alot of fans that love them-so much that they want the world to know just how great a group they are. Lead singer and guitarist Brandelyn Rose received the award for "Favorite Female Performer". What's not to like? She's blonde. She's beautiful. She has a great voice, and she can hold her own on an instrument. If Brandelyn is the band's Bob, it's because Felix Blades is their Jerry. Felix took the award for "Best Instrumentalist" away from such veteran musicians as Chris Wood, Darol Anger,, Karl Denson and Keller Williams. Maybe the award should have been called "favorite" as well but damn, the boy, scratch that, young man can play. Still a teenager, Blades is only going to get better.
Blue Lotus formed in 2010 after singer/songwriter Brandelyn Rose and now 18-year old guitar prodigy Felix Blades met at the Oregon Country Fair. Ben Bosse on bass, Peter Allen on Percussion, Ron Puso on Keyboards and Charlie Davis on Drums now complete the ensemble.
A Blues/rock band incorporating jazz, funk and bluegrass, Blue Lotus has impressed fans with live sets of spaced out intergalactic madness. They have jammed with members of Melvin Seals and JGB and shared the bill with RJD2, Papadosio, Fruition, Scott Law, Afromassive, Sophistafunk, Tony Saunders and many more.
Last June Blue Lotus held a CD Release Party a the WOW Hall for their 12-song studio album A Thousand Other Things. "We needed songs to be radio friendly, so we had to get them down to under six minutes, which was really hard to do," Brandelyn told Eugene Weekly. The band's previous album included both studio tracks and live recordings from a show at the WOW Hall. This year, Blue Lotus is headed out of Oregon, with plans for a two week West Coast tour in the Fall. Tour dates include shows in Washington, Oregon, and California, with plans next year for a tour of Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Idaho. So come see your "Favorite Local Band" now while they're still local. - Bob Fennessey

Catch the Blues-rockers of Blue Lotus 7:30 p.m. Saturday May 31st at the Wow Hall before they head out on tours spanning Oregon, Washington, California and next year Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Idaho with their 2013 Album "A Thousand Other Things". Blue Lotus nabbed "Favorite Local Band" in the 2013 WOW Hall Awards and lead singer and guitarist Brandelyn Rose won "Favorite Female Performer". - Alex Notman

Blue Lotus is excited to announce the release of their latest album titled A Thousand Other Things, which features the band's newest material. The full length studio album was recorded in Eugene at Sprout City Studios. The songs are bluesy, jazzy, and inspirational. Though very different from their live performances, the record takes you on an eclectic yet ecstatic ride through the music of Blue Lotus. From sweeping guitar solos to funky grooves, from moving songs like "Sweet Petunia to Americana style tunes like " On the Road with You"; the band has crafted an LP that provides a beautiful cross section of the Blue Lotus style. The new album will be available at their WOW Hall CD release party, online at iTunes and CD baby as well as in select retail outlets (Friendly Street Market, Skip's CD World and House of Records).
"If you haven't had a chance to hear these cats jam yet, you're in for a treat", reports Andy Valentine of the Eugene Weekly. "It is severely reminiscent of anything the Dead ever made happen, although Brandelyn Rose who strums rhythm alongside Felix Blades' lead, doesn't quite sound like Bob Weir. The group is tight as bondage and trucks on through those jams like Further's wheels rolling across the nation. This is one group you definitely don't want to miss; the Grateful Dead comparison is fairly astounding in it's uncanniness." - Jason Bateman: WOW Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Blue Lotus, a local jam band featuring a teenage guitar prodigy, is releasing its second album today during a free concert at Ninkasi Brewing, 272 Van Buren Street.

Relix magazine highlighted the group in March as an act "on the rise".

The group formed at the Oregon Country Fair last year, and it will be playing that event again this year.

Singer Brandelyn Rose met 16-year old guitarist Felix Blades at the fair, which sparked a friendship and collaboration, the band's biography says.

The rhythm section is Mike Byrd on drums, and Peter Allen on percussion, Ben Bosse on bass and Ron Puso on keyboards.

With "dynamic grooves that keep their audience shaking" the bio says, Blue Lotus is a group that aims to entertain.

The band plays original songs written by Rose and arranged by Blades.

You can listen to an archived live show at www.bluelotuseugene.com.

The self-titled album was recorded at Studio BCD in Eugene. It includes both studio tracks and live recordings from a show at the WOW hall.

"We decided to do a mix of studio and live,: Rose said in an e-mail, "because we are really a live improvisational band, and many of our fans love the live versions as opposed to the shorter, cleaner, studio tracks."

With a 6 p.m. start time, the album release event is timed to coincide with the Whiteaker's Last Friday Art Walk.

The all-ages event continues until 8 p.m.

The band also plays at 3:30 p.m. at the Saturday Market, Eighth Avenue and Oak Street. - The Register Guard

Local jam band Blue Lotus is about to release thier third album, A Thousand Other Things-their concert at the WOW Hall on June 15th will be a CD release party-and singer-rhythm guitarist Brandelyn Rose says the band will be giving listeners something a bit different this time.
"The album has 12 songs, but what's hard for us is we tend to be improvisational," Rose says. "We usually have songs that go anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes long, so for us it was a challenge to try and capture that in a studio album."
Previous releases have included a variety of sounds, with tracks like "On the Road with You" taking borderline honky-tonk country music and introducing it to rock 'n' roll, while "Upside Down" feels more like the traditional epic jam category, with time changes and dizzying guitar solos and drumming. "Mama Freight Train" is unstoppable funk, and once the dance party gets started on the energetic "Dancing Duck" fuhgeddaboudit. Their trademark 12-minute plus jams, however would demand a lot of airtime.
"We needed the songs to be radio-friendly, so we had to get 'em down to under six minutes, which was really hard to do, " Rose says with a laugh. "It was an interesting process for us, trying to rein it in. We had to do really short solos and verses, so it was more focused on the content and musicality than the jams, but I think we still give people a pretty good glimpse of our sound despite the shorter, tighter format."
As for the concert itself, Rose says the show will be four hours long, so make sure you bring your dancing shoes!
Blue Lotus plays 8 p.m. Saturday June 16th, at the WOW Hall; $8 adv.,$10 door. - Brian Palmer: Eugene Weekly

Blue Lotus, a local jam band featuring a teenage guitar prodigy, is releasing its second album today during a free concert at Ninkasi Brewing, 272 Van Buren Street.

Relix magazine highlighted the group in March as an act "on the rise".

The group formed at the Oregon Country Fair last year, and it will be playing that event again this year.

Singer Brandelyn Rose met 16-year old guitarist Felix Blades at the fair, which sparked a friendship and collaboration, the band's biography says.

The rhythm section is Mike Byrd on drums, and Peter Allen on percussion, Ben Bosse on bass and Ron Puso on keyboards.

With "dynamic grooves that keep their audience shaking" the bio says, Blue Lotus is a group that aims to entertain.

The band plays original songs written by Rose and arranged by Blades.

You can listen to an archived live show at www.bluelotuseugene.com.

The self-titled album was recorded at Studio BCD in Eugene. It includes both studio tracks and live recordings from a show at the WOW hall.

"We decided to do a mix of studio and live,: Rose said in an e-mail, "because we are really a live improvisational band, and many of our fans love the live versions as opposed to the shorter, cleaner, studio tracks."

With a 6 p.m. start time, the album release event is timed to coincide with the Whiteaker's Last Friday Art Walk.

The all-ages event continues until 8 p.m.

The band also plays at 3:30 p.m. at the Saturday Market, Eighth Avenue and Oak Street. - The Register Guard

Blue Lotus will be featured in the jam bands "on the rise" section of the March 2012 issue. Their original tune "The Collective" will be included on the compilation CD - Relix Magazine

Then we’re heading over to Ninkasi Brewery Tasting Room to hear the band, Blue Lotus. Relatively new to the music scene this group has some amazing songs with memorable vocal by Brandelyn Rose. I’m looking forward to hearing them perform one of my new favorite songs, The Train. That song has some good rhythms and really makes me want to shake my groove thang. My colleague Laurel Hayles absolutely loves this band. In her review of the band, Laurel says, “first, you have to know that Brandelyn reminds me of Janis Joplin in looks and sounds completely like Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders. Put that together with music that sounds like the Dead, and you have a party wherever they are playing. Couple that with Felix Blades, a 15-year phenomenon on lead guitar, and that just starts the outline of the picture of this group.” This sounds like a lot fun!
- Eugene Daily News

This Eugene-based psychedelic jam band formed in 2011 through a chance encounter at the Oregon Country Fair. Brandelyn Rose and Felix Blades met out in the fields of Veneta. Inspired by such bands as The Grateful Dead, Phish, Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd, Rose and Blades created Blue Lotus. Ben Bosse and Peter Bauer, formerly of The Walnut Collective, joined them. Peter Allen later joined and adds multidimensional percussive rhythms.
With a reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) mixed with Shirley Manson (Garbage) Blue Lotus musically has a jazzy, blues funk sound with Page-like guitar riffs.
Blue Lotus - Glass-Eugene Daily News

With a packed house for a Thursday night, this Eugene band had their work cut out for them. I had a sneak peak/listen from their webpages and knew we were in for a few surprises. First, you have to know that Brandelyn reminds me of Janis Joplin in looks and sounds completely like Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders. Put that together with music that sounds like the Dead, and you have a party wherever they are playing. Couple that with Felix, a 15-year phenomenon on lead guitar, and that just starts the outline of the picture of this group. Ben’s bass was snapping, with Peter B.’s drums and the second Peter on bongos. Matt’s keys (can’t find any info for him online either) were awesome, and Brande’s rhythm guitar was silky smooth. It was a helluva party! Felix’ lead guitar riffs run from weeping to wailing, sweeping and soaring along and taking the audience with him for the ride. As their bio says, “The band’s original tunes are directly inspired by the cosmos and visions from the beyond. All lyrics and music are composed by Rose through a process of meditation and divine inspiration. Rose then collaborates with 15 year old guitar virtuoso Blades to create danceable, dynamic melodies.” It was a lot of fun, as Matt and Felix would bounce back and forth on riffs between the keys and the lead guitar riffs. It’s hard to believe these guys have only been together for about half a year! They have a lot of local shows coming up, including one in September at Ninkasi Brewing – follow them on Facebook and ReverbNation so stay tuned (you know you really wanna!!).
- Laurel Hayes-Club Circuit

Blue Lotus is excited to announce the release of their latest album titled A Thousand Other Things, which features the band's newest material. The full length studio album was recorded in Eugene at Sprout City Studios. The songs are bluesy, jazzy, and inspirational. Though very different from their live performances, the record takes you on an eclectic yet ecstatic ride through the music of Blue Lotus. From sweeping guitar solos to funky grooves, from moving songs like "Sweet Petunia to Americana style tunes like " On the Road with You"; the band has crafted an LP that provides a beautiful cross section of the Blue Lotus style. The new album will be available at their WOW Hall CD release party, online at iTunes and CD baby as well as in select retail outlets (Friendly Street Market, Skip's CD World and House of Records).
"If you haven't had a chance to hear these cats jam yet, you're in for a treat", reports Andy Valentine of the Eugene Weekly. "It is severely reminiscent of anything the Dead ever made happen, although Brandelyn Rose who strums rhythm alongside Felix Blades' lead, doesn't quite sound like Bob Weir. The group is tight as bondage and trucks on through those jams like Further's wheels rolling across the nation. This is one group you definitely don't want to miss; the Grateful Dead comparison is fairly astounding in it's uncanniness." - Jason Bateman

Local jam band Blue Lotus is about to release thier third album, A Thousand Other Things-their concert at the WOW Hall on June 15th will be a CD release party-and singer-rhythm guitarist Brandelyn Rose says the band will be giving listeners something a bit different this time.
"The album has 12 songs, but what's hard for us is we tend to be improvisational," Rose says. "We usually have songs that go anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes long, so for us it was a challenge to try and capture that in a studio album."
Previous releases have included a variety of sounds, with tracks like "On the Road with You" taking borderline honky-tonk country music and introducing it to rock 'n' roll, while "Upside Down" feels more like the traditional epic jam category, with time changes and dizzying guitar solos and drumming. "Mama Freight Train" is unstoppable funk, and once the dance party gets started on the energetic "Dancing Duck" fuhgeddaboudit. Their trademark 12-minute plus jams, however would demand a lot of airtime.
"We needed the songs to be radio-friendly, so we had to get 'em down to under six minutes, which was really hard to do, " Rose says with a laugh. "It was an interesting process for us, trying to rein it in. We had to do really short solos and verses, so it was more focused on the content and musicality than the jams, but I think we still give people a pretty good glimpse of our sound despite the shorter, tighter format."
As for the concert itself, Rose says the show will be four hours long, so make sure you bring your dancing shoes!
Blue Lotus plays 8 p.m. Saturday June 16th, at the WOW Hall; $8 adv.,$10 door. - Brian Palmer

Basking in a steady stream of some of the country’s finest music is a privilege. If you take it for granted, it could easily blend together into a palatable blur of complacency. Fortunately our philosophy here at the Crazy Horse is more akin to an adventurer forging through uncharted territory. We’re grateful for the scenery, but always seeking fantastic realms awaiting around the next bend. We know they’re there. We’ve seen them before and that leaves us yearning for more.It’s been a few years since someone, I can’t remember who, raved about a band from Eugene, Oregon called Blue Lotus. “The guitarist is a Jerry prodigy,” was the rallying cry that resonates in my memory. The name lodged way in the back of my mind until a few months ago when our ultra-savvy talent buyer mentioned he had them on the schedule. December 18 was circled on the calendar and there was no doubt that magic was afoot. After hearing their CD – “Across the Canyon” – the gravity of the situation became undeniable. Here was a band with the potential to rise above the clouds and form its own constellation in the musical galaxy.

The first thing to captivate me upon hearing Blue Lotus wasn’t the mind-melting guitar playing of Felix Blades. It was the otherworldly voice of Brandelyn Rose. She conveys a haunting sense of intimacy and subtle power of emotional seduction. It’s a voice of wisdom, longing and introspection. The songs themselves are what truly elevate Blue Lotus into elite company; especially in the context of the contemporary jamband scene. They have a storytelling quality, rich in imagery and impact. The songs sound nothing like the Grateful Dead but are cut from a similar Americana cloth, possessing wide-open jamming potential.

Speaking of which, the show kicked off with their most improvisational vehicle -“Drift Away.” Any audience member counting on a casual Friday outing to the local watering hole soon knew this was far more than they had bargained for. The foursome plunged into the deep end, instantly taking a jazz-inflected gymnastic tumble. In addition to her vocal prowess, Rose disarms you with innovative guitar chops. Her out-of-the-box rhythms and jagged, melodic interjections are matched by the stage swagger of a natural born performer. What she brings to the table serves as the ideal counterpoint for the fierce, yet ethereal excursions emanating from Blades’ corner of the stage.

The feeling of familiarity upon hearing more of the songs from “Across the Canyon” was like the soothing comfort of realizing you’re home. “Ballad of Black Bart” brought to life a colorful tale of Oregonian lore. The music and lyrics unfolded in harmonic synchronicity as if each had spawned the other simultaneously. When listening to this unit, it’s remarkable to acknowledge how locked in they are. They share a focused group consciousness as well as an intrepid sense of independence. Bassist Ben Bosse takes a serious, cerebral approach on his five string bass. As with all my favorite bassists, you get the sense that he’s freelancing most of the time while producing honey in the pocket like a bee in the hive. Same with drummer Alex Huber. He sets himself apart with a jazzy flutter where every beat is its own breath of poetry.One of the coolest things about Blue Lotus is the fact that the three guitarists all play instruments custom made by a luthier in Eugene. They are gorgeous pieces of craftsmanship as well as remarkable embodiments of sonic engineering. Rose, Blades and Bosse all possess signature tones which are largely attributable to these one-of-a-kind guitars. Rose’s axe even has a quartz crystal embedded at the crown with an LED light she can trigger. Just like Roy Hobbs’ bat in “The Natural,” Blades wields his six-string as if it was immaculately conceived through a cosmic phenomenon. The dude is only 20 years old and we should all be so fortunate to listen to him play for years to come.
Anyone who worships at the grail of Steve Kimock and Jerry Garcia can expect their heart to skip a beat when Blades ventures into the sacred vortex. His playing communicates a palpable reverence, egoless conviction and 360-degree vision. How apropos it was that when it was time for a few cover tunes, they leaned toward Jerry Garcia Band classics such as “Don’t Let Go.” In the vein of those grandmasters, Blades has an effortless manner of building his solos with delicate, angelic, crystalline beauty. The sound practically manifests as shimmering light filtering through the heavens. Anyone who covets Kimock’s work with the band Zero from the mid-90s should have extra special interest in what’s going on here.Just when you think Blades is reaching the ultimate peak of any given jam, somehow he ascends even higher. During one song in the second set – “Upside Down” – his playing bubbled over the brim with an effect so euphoric, it was enough to make me surrender control of my body and mind. A momentary spiritual release representing everything many of us music addicts commit our lives to seeking. The crowd on this night wasn’t large in numbers, but their hearts and ears absorbed every detail. It couldn’t be more obvious that we were in the presence of greatness. Bands like this reinforce the belief that music is the ultimate drug. - Tyler Blue