By: Penny Piper
Before I get into what happened Saturday night, I want to make sure everyone really understands who LaMP is. LaMP is Russ Lawton on drums and Ray Paczkowski on Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, and Hohner Clarinet, the core of Soul Monde, Joined by the one and only Scott Metzger on guitar. This is a supergroup, full stop. These are the best of the best. Musical royalty. The kind of players who don’t need to prove anything because their entire careers already did that for them.
You also have to understand that LaMP in an instrumental band. No lyrics, no front person stepping up to explain what’s happening. They communicate with each other almost telepathically, and somehow they communicate just as clearly with the audience using nothing but the sound from their souls. The feeling they pull out of you are massive. They make you move without asking permission. Every song feels like a journey and you don’t always know where it’s going, but you trust them completely to take you there.
Every time I’ve seen LaMP in the past, it’s been one long set with a supporting band. Not this night. At Lark Hall on 1/23/26, we got two full sets of LaMP, and it felt like a gift. The show was sold out and from the first notes it turned into a full on dance party. The entire floor was packed. You had younger folks who are just starting to understand what it means to be in the presence of greatness, shoulder to shoulder with those of us who’ve been following these guys around since the 90’s. Different generations, same look on everyone’s face. That look that says, “Yeah… this is it.”
The music itself was an intriguing mix. We were treated to Soule Monde material, original compositions from their albums, LaMP and One of Us, Their newest album released in 2025. One of my personal favorites, Elsie’s River, an Abdullah Ibrahim cover that always hits strait in the chest. Watching them play, I found myself holding my heart, eyes closed, just letting the music move through me. Surrounded by my people, all of us sharing this unspoken understanding and appreciation for what we were witnessing. These aren’t just songs. These are masterful compositions being delivered by players who make their instruments speak. Three incredibly powerful musicians, playing with deep intentions and intelligence, crafting a show that’s both captivating and completely awe-inspiring. I honestly don’t know how they do it. I find myself wondering what it takes, how many hours of practice, how many years of dedication you need to be able to communicate like that without saying a word.
One of my favorite moments of the night came during The Nail, when Scotty casually dropped the riff from Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin. You could feel the room snap to attention instantly. Little moments like that remind you how much fun they’re having up there. It was cold that night, really cold. They encored a song that Ray called Jimmie, to warm us up and give us us tropical vibes. Immediately, I knew “Jimmie” was referring to Jimmie Buffet and I was transported to Key West, sitting on Eric Clapton’s bar stool at Captain Tony’s, listening to songs about mangos and dropping my quarter in the Grouper’s mouth out front.
What stood out just as much as the playing, though, was the gratitude coming from the band. The love pouring out of the crowd was real and they felt it. They talked about it. They thanked us again and again, and Ray made a point to say how taken back they were by the response. Honestly, Lark Hall really does love LaMP and we made sure they knew it.
I also have to talk about the venue itself. Lark Hall, owned by Jennifer and Justin Miller, is one of the most beautiful spaces you’ll ever step into. Downstairs you have The Eleven, a full bar and performance space, and upstairs is Lark Hall itself. Every inch of the building is gorgeous. You can’t help but stop and look at every show poster lining the lobby walls. The staff deserves real recognition. This is an incredible group of people who work their asses off to make nights like this happen. We see you. We appreciate you.
You can feel the momentum building around this band with every show. More people, more music, more love. Nights like this feel special. Being that close, in such an intimate room, with masters of their craft feels rare. It honestly feels like ti won’t be long before nights like this one are memories, replaced by crowds of thousands instead of hundreds. If you haven’t been lit up by LaMP yet, make it a point to check them out. Trust me.
Setlist:
Set 1– Bernard (Soule Monde), Some Days, Mimi Digs It (Soule Monde), Pork n’ Slaw, Clips O, Too Close, Jasper’s World, Tango (Soule Monde)
Set 2- Cosmo, Nice Girl ‘Walks Loud’, Out of Curiosity, Nail (Soule Monde), The Jody Grind (Soule Monde), Frenzy, Clipse Dog, Allah Uya (Soule Monde), Elisie’s River (Abdullah Ibrahim)
Encore- Jimmie
Photo Gallery:
