On a night when the Capital Region felt more like a walk-in freezer than a concert town, Lettuce fired up the burners at Empire Live to cook up for Albany a soul-saving, grease-dripping funk feast.
Fresh off the release of their latest studio album Cook, the Boston-bred groove chefs rolled into town on Wednesday, January 28th with a fully stocked pantry of new songs, razor-sharp beats, and absolutely no intention of letting anyone leave without sweating through their winter layers. From the first note to the last puff of encore smoke, this was a five-star dance party seasoned to perfection.
Formed in 1992, Lettuce has spent more than three decades refining a sound that pulls ingredients from every corner of the musical kitchen. Think classic funk, New Orleans swagger, psychedelic jazz, hip-hop grit, R&B smoothness, and the kind of rock ’n’ roll fire that melts faces on contact. Inspired by legends like James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Meters, the band has become a cornerstone of the funk and jam scenes, earning respect from their peers and often hailed as one of the best live acts in music.
The current Lettuce lineup consists of guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, keyboard wizard Nigel Hall, drummer Adam Deitch, bassist Erick “Maverick” Coomes, saxophonist Ryan Zoidis, and trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom. Operating like a well-oiled machine of Next Level Chef’s who know exactly when to follow the recipe and when to improvise, for jam-hungry Albany fans, this show was more than a meal, it was sustenance for the soul.
The first set rolled out like a tasting menu, showcasing new flavors while nodding to familiar favorites. “Gravy Train” kicked things off thick and greasy, instantly locking the room into a unified bounce. “Yakitori” followed, skewering the crowd with sharp horn lines and sizzling rhythms, while “Storms Comin” leaned into darker, moodier textures without losing the groove.
By the time “Krew” hit, Empire Live had transformed into a full-scale dance cauldron. Fans, many of whom came dressed in chef’s hats, were grinning ear to ear, spinning, stomping, and shaking everything that could legally be shaken. “Love Is Too Strong” closed the opening frame with soulful warmth, a reminder that underneath all the funk, Lettuce cooks with heart.
After a brief break and a not-so-subtle announcement that the band was “taking a pause for the cause” (chef’s kiss to that open invitation), the second set launched into deeper, danker territory. The exploratory jams hit harder, stretched longer, and floated higher as clouds of herbal inspiration wafted through the venue. “Grewt Up” and the clever “Clav It Your Way” showcased Lettuce’s ability to flip from tight, pocket funk to far-out, Type II psychedelia without spilling a drop.
So cool that he was the only guy in the place sitting down, bassist Erick “Maverick” Coomes made your insides vibrate as songs like “Get It Together” and “Insta Classic” kept the burners on high, the crowd bouncing and boogieing like the floor itself was alive. Then came a moment of playful surprise as the band busted out “Fourth Dimension,” a tune they claimed they had forgotten about for a while, earning knowing cheers from longtime heads. Giving way to a full cosmic boil, with Deitch driving the groove like a mad scientist, horns spiraling into the stratosphere, and the crowd dancing like gravity had been turned off. They raged to the finish line with the anthemic “Squadlive,” a celebration of unity, joy, and togetherness so thick you could taste it. Or maybe that was just the weed talking?
For the encore, Lettuce served a cover of Rick James’ cannabis classic “Mary Jane” for dessert. Fronted by Nigel Hall, as the first notes rang out, lighters appeared in every corner of the room and the vibe shifted into full after-hours bliss. Funk faces melted, smiles widened, and fans both new and old collectively exhaled.
The evening with Lettuce hit the spot in every way. Helping Albany get over the hump of record-breaking cold and a foot of fresh snow, the level of talent and chemistry onstage was nothing short of inspiring. It may have been just another night on the road for Lettuce, but for Albany music lovers thirsty for jams, this show was bon appétit. Up Next, the band will head downstate for a Saturday night special at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester and a Sunday night heater at Huntington’s Paramount.
Lettuce | January 28, 2026 | Empire Live | Albany, NY
Set 1: Gravy Train, Yakitori, Storms Comin, Krew, Love Is Too Strong
Set 2: Grewt Up, Clav It Your Way, Get It Together, Insta Classic, Fourth Dimension, Squadlive
Encore: Mary Jane (Rick James cover)
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