MusicChicago
Lettuce brings its six-piece funk ensemble to Garcia’s
Early and late performances gave Chicago two chances to catch the band on August 14.
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Lettuce settled into Garcia's Chicago for two August 14 performances, bringing its blend of funk, soul and jazz to a room where dinner tables and a live stage share the evening. Listings offered both a 7 p.m. show and a 10 p.m. performance, giving the date an early-evening option as well as a late-night one.
The band's strength as a proposition is its instrumental range. Its six-person lineup combines Adam Deitch on drums, Erick Coomes on bass and Adam Smirnoff on guitar with Ryan Zoidis on saxophone, Eric Bloom on trumpet and Nigel Hall on vocals and keyboards. Rhythm, brass and keys all have a place in the ensemble.
At the early show, blue lighting washed over the musicians while two mirror balls hung above the audience. Tables extended toward the stage, making the room feel built around staying for the performance. The setting suited a band whose appeal is spread across several players rather than concentrated in a single lead singer.
Garcia's also offers a dinner menu inspired by Jerry Garcia's life and heritage. For someone putting together an evening in the West Loop, that makes the venue itself part of the plan: food and a concert at the same address, with a choice of showtimes on this occasion.
The August date put Lettuce's ensemble format in a setting small enough to take in the whole band. That combination was the reason to put it on the calendar.