North 2 Shore And ElmThree Presents: LaMP 21+ Event presale codes

LaMP pairs Vermont stalwarts Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski with New York guitarist Scott Metzger, landing squarely in gritty, organ-driven funk. Their sound leans instrumental and groove-first, with clavinet stabs, synth-bass from Ray Paczkowski's left hand, and Scott Metzger's crisp lines riding Russ Lawton's deep backbeat. Ray Paczkowski often covers bass entirely on keys, freeing the guitar to roam without the mix getting muddy, a trick he honed with Trey Anastasio Band.

Three players, one huge pocket

Expect a set built on long vamps that open into improvisation, with likely nods to Cissy Strut and People Say by The Meters, plus fusion staple Stratus by Billy Cobham. The room usually fills with players and groove nerds up front clocking Russ Lawton's hi-hat bark, while crate-diggers grin when a chewy clav tone snaps into place.

Songs that stretch, never sag

The name simply stacks their surnames, and early gigs grew out of off-night Burlington jams when tour calendars finally aligned. You might also hear compact originals built on one-chord workouts that flip feels midstream, giving Scott Metzger space to thread bluesy phrases into modal swirls. Please note that any setlist and production details here are informed guesses based on recent shows and could change night to night.

The Scene: Easygoing Heads, Sharp Ears

The scene skews friendly and focused, with folks in worn-in venue tees and a few vintage The Meters shirts trading nods when a deep-cut groove lands.

A club night with record-nerd flavor

Expect crisp claps on two and four, little cheers for ghost-note fills, and a wave of whoops when Ray Paczkowski kicks from organ to synth-bass mid-jam. Fashion leans practical: beat-up sneakers, flannels tied at the waist, and soft hoodies from Burlington or Brooklyn rooms where this music lives. Merch often means screen-printed posters, a tidy selection of shirts, and the occasional drumhead or setlist getting inked after the show.

Shared language: the groove

Between sets you will hear gear talk about drawbars, drum tunings, or which delay made that dubby bloom under Scott Metzger's lines. People tend to listen hard during the quiet breakdowns, then exhale together when Russ Lawton brings the backbeat roaring back. Post-show chatter is about sections and feels, not star gossip, with friends comparing which jam flipped from shuffle to straight and how tight the resets felt.

How the Trio Sounds When It Breathes

Live, LaMP keeps vocals out of the way so the music breathes, letting melodies come from Scott Metzger's touch and Ray Paczkowski's keys. Russ Lawton anchors everything with a low-tuned snare and a hi-hat that snaps, often laying just behind the beat so the pocket feels wide.

Pocket first, colors second

Arrangements usually start tight, open into solos, then return to a crisp tag, with subtle drops where the drums thin out and the keys carry the pulse. Ray Paczkowski splits duties between organ, clavinet, and synth-bass, sometimes pedaling left-hand bass while shaping right-hand swells so it feels like there are four players. A small but telling habit is how Scott Metzger rolls off his tone for a horn-like lead on slow burns, then clicks a clean boost to cut through when the keys get gritty.

Small choices, big feel

The band likes to tilt grooves from straight funk into dubby echoes, using guitar delay tails and organ filter sweeps to make breakdowns feel like breath held and released. Lighting tends to be warm ambers and cool blues that frame hands and faces rather than chase cues, keeping your ear on the interplay.

Kindred Grooves for LaMP Fans

Fans of Lettuce will appreciate the tight funk frameworks, horn-like guitar phrasing, and a rhythm approach that breathes without dragging.

Groove cousins, different passports

The New Mastersounds share the organ-forward chatter, clean tones, and a club-tested dance pulse that values pocket over flash. If the slow-bloom melodies and dubby patience of Khruangbin pull you in, LaMP's patient builds and crisp textures land in that same zone.

Why these bands click live

Followers of Joe Russo's Almost Dead often cross over thanks to Scott Metzger's elastic phrasing and the shared love of long-form improv that still lands on strong themes. Add the Trey Anastasio Band connection via Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski, and you have a Venn diagram where danceable grooves meet jam-scene instincts without needing vocals.