For years, Lettuce have been serving up their fresh, additive-free funk on a silver platter, delighting fans of all things groovy, fresh, and soulful. On December 3, the band will deliver their highly anticipated new album, Cook, which features lead single “Gold Tooth,” their cover of the Ken Burke classic “Rising to the Top,” and most recently “Breathe,” a blissed-out track tinged with a retro hip-hop vibe to match.
Today, the band is back with another cut off their upcoming LP, “Keep On,” which is their tribute to Bay Area greats, Tower of Power. Emilio Castillo, the band leader and original member of Tower of Power, has a co-writing credit on the track.
Lettuce has looked up to Tower of Power as legends in the funk, soul, and R&B scene, and they have co-billed a handful of performances & symphony collaboration shows. While speaking on the
origins and inspiration for “Keep On,” drummer Adam Deitch calls it “A lil’ tribute to our heroes Tower of Power.” Vocalist Nigel Hall, for his part, says, “It’s a song written from personal experience
and about not blocking your blessings. I hope the message in this song is conveyed properly to those experiencing similar feelings. Just. Hold. On.” Erick “Jesus” Coomes expresses a similar
sentiment, saying, “Never quit. Always continue trying. Keep up the practice.”
“I’m very proud to be involved with ‘Keep On,'” says Castillo of the track. “I was contacted during the pandemic by Adam Deitch, their amazing drummer, and the idea was to put out a song about dealing with COVID. The song is finally coming out, and it’s a killer funk groove with horns and a soulful vocal.”
Last week, the band announced its partnership with the nonprofit organization Music is a Language to launch a transformative new scholarship in the band’s name. This initiative will fund a full-tuition scholarship for a deserving student to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where the roots of Lettuce first took hold. The campaign to raise funds for the scholarship will begin in earnest at the just announced “House of Lett,” a series of intimate shows hosted by Lettuce in Denver, CO on December 5 + 6. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Cook Track Listing:
01.) Grewt Up
02.) Clav it Your Way
03.) Sesshins 1
04.) 7 Tribes
05.) Rising to the Top
06.) Sesshins 2
07.) Gold Tooth
08.) Breathe
09.) The Matador
10.) Sesshins 3
11.) Cook
12.) Storms Coming
13.) Keep On
14.) Sesshins 4
15.) The Mac
16.) Ghosts of Yest
Pre-order Lettuce’s new album “Cook” online HERE.
Cook isn’t just a nod to Lettuce’s musical heat; it’s an invitation to join the band at the table, where funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop come together in one rich, flavorful dish. The album offers a menu of delights that marks a group exploring new sonic territory. On Cook, Lettuce has expanded its ever-widening musical palette again, following tours with both rap icon GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan and reggae legend Ziggy Marley. Earlier in the year, the band released the live album and concert film Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony. Still, there’s a generous dose of Lettuce’s patented funk, paying tribute to the great James Brown and his JB’s and honoring mentors like Tower of Power and Maceo Parker. For these six lifelong partners, the new songs feel like a nourishing meal that entices all of your senses.
“This record is a little more three-dimensional than our past albums,” says Deitch. “It shows a lot more sides to the band, exploring further depths of production and arrangements.”
The band has also recently announced the launch of Lettuce Red Crush and Orange Crush wine brands in collaboration with Aquila Cellars, along with a recipe book featuring pairings to be included with the vinyl album and available in digital form. The wine was brought to life by Bloom and Zoidis’ wine distribution company, Benny & Zoid Selections, which made it accessible to purchase nationwide online.
“Music and food are very related,” said Deitch. “Use the wrong ingredients in either and you can ruin the sound and the meal.”
“Lettuce has always stood for well-made things in their purest form,” the band shares. “Well-made records, well-made instruments, well-made food—and now, well-made wine. We don’t need filler, additives or any gobbledygook. So, we decided to make a wine that is just that, nothing added or taken away, just as Mother Earth intended it.”
Watch the music video for Lettuce “Keep On” Below!
