Kind of makes you wish you’d been there, doesn’t it? And our guess is that the nearly 400 people who did show up are happy they did.
The photo on the front page of Friday’s Goshen News tells the story. It captures the essence of a modern rock concert: The lights, the staging, the fan enthusiasm and the ubiquitous cell phone cameras.
Photographer Sam Householder didn’t have to travel far to get his shot. All he had to do was walk down the street to snap photos of a homegrown success story.
Lotus was in town Thursday night, and its concert at The Goshen Theater downtown was a homecoming celebration of sorts.
The band got its start at Goshen College in the late 1990s. Back-in-the-day Lotus was like a funkier Grateful Dead, and you could catch its gigs at The Courthouse Pub. Since then the Lotus sound has veered more electronica, with improvisation still key to the show.
If your musical tastes turn a certain direction — “techno-Dead,” in one fan’s estimation — Lotus is the band to see. These days, though, you’ll be seeing them with a lot more people.
Since its GC beginnings, Lotus has evolved into a formidable touring unit, one that’s built a fanbase on the festival circuit. We’ll put it like this: Lotus has played Bonnaroo. For those who know from festivals, this is a big deal.
As such, it was a big deal for the band to play The Goshen Theater. Lotus didn’t need the gig. Judging from the far-flung fans at the concert — hailing from Auburn, Three Rivers, Chicago, Fort Wayne, Goshen and elsewhere — Lotus can play wherever it likes and make coin.
Lotus opted to play here, though, and for a laudable reason.
Thursday’s concert was a benefit show for The Goshen Theater. The plan was to raise money to keep First Fridays activities there free to the public, and also to upgrade the theater’s sound system.
For those unfamiliar with The Goshen Theater, it’s a historic downtown gem. The theater’s played host to everything from movie screenings to theatrical productions by home-schooled thespians to a concert by Quiet Riot (with special guest Poison). The venue has had a distinguished past, and we thank Lotus for helping it have a better future.
We’re glad Lotus decided to perform here Thursday night. Benefit concert aside, it’s been awhile since the talented combo played Goshen. Since the band’s start years ago at GC, Lotus has worked hard touring and recording. The group has earned its success, and Thursday’s show demonstrates it hasn’t forgotten its roots.
Come back anytime.
Opinion
Related Photos
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The band Lotus performs Thursday night at The Goshen Theater.
Lotus concert was the place to be Thursday
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