As some readers may have read in a previous Clock article, LIFT Festival was at Whaleback Mountain in Enfield, New Hampshire March 16 & 17. The turnout was smaller than expected, in that one could easily gain front row access despite the lineup of bands and DJs who have played at many sold out venues and festivals.
The weather on Friday was chilly, with a steady misty rain, which reminded many festival goers of the infamous “Camp Bisco mud” from one of this past summer’s largest East coast events. However, this wasn’t enough weather to hold back an energetic crowd from sloshing around until the night ended with a bass-heavy, laser light ensemble put on by Conspirator.
On Saturday afternoon, Lettuce brought the funk with Erick Jesus Coomes taking the bass line for a walk, saxophones wailing to his right. The sun was bright, and the music loud, as the crowd flooded to the stage. Hula hoops were in full-effect, along with old hippies selling homemade Grateful Dead posters-typical to many other music festivals of this nature.
After the Lettuce set I stood with bassist Coomes for a few questions. Last summer, I saw Coomes take the stage with Lettuce, playing in front of sold out Camp Bisco (approx.. 25,000 people). LIFT Fest was only a fraction of the size, but Coomes didn’t let that get him down. With a huge smile after a killer set, Coomes said, “These people are so stoked and [he’s] so stoked, people are snowboarding down the mountain, and the mountain looks nice.”
In fact, he seemed more excited as the conversation went further to say that he’s, “grateful for every last one of the people in [his] audience all the time. The fact that anyone wants to listen to [him] play music is a major, major blessing.”
A half-hour after Lettuce finished Break Science took the stage. Adam Deitch, drummer for Break Science and producer of many other projects, only had a thirty-minute rest after drumming for Lettuce before he was set to take the stage drumming with his musical counterpart Borahm Lee.
Break Science had the crowd dancing hard for an hour, which helped keep everyone warm as the afternoon began to cool. Deitch has played/produced with big names like Pretty Lights, Wu Tang Clan, 50-Cent, Redman, The Fugees, Talib Kweli and many more. Even with his popularity, he was still down to earth. In response to LIFT Fest, he said, “[They] love playin’ small festivals. Small ones are intimate. [They] see everyone’s face; [he] looks at everyone in the crowd.” Even though he, “love[s] [Pretty Lights’] tracks,” and they’re still “boys,” he still likes Break Science because “it’s his music.” Deitch recommends to, “follow your creative spirit. Whatever you do creatively, trust it. Just do it.”
For anyone interested in checking out Lettuce or Break Science, check local festival/venue schedules from the East coast to the Midwest. For specific dates with all artists under the same record label as Lettuce and Break Science, visit: www.royalfamilyrecords.com.