LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS — Lettuce Brings the Heat to a Freezing Night a Jannus Live on the ‘Cook World Tour’

by Kaitlyn Miller • February 28, 2026

On February 5, a rare cold snap swept through St. Petersburg, bringing howling winds and temperatures us Floridians aren’t exactly built for. But inside the courtyard of Jannus Live, Lettuce turned a frigid night into a full-blown funk revival, stopping in Florida on their Cook World Tour and delivering a performance that felt warm, locked-in, and unmistakably alive from the first note.

Lettuce’s stop in St. Petersburg carried added momentum as part of the band’s Cook World Tour, supporting their latest release on their own Lettuce Records imprint. The tour feels intentionally rooted in that independence—celebrating not just new material, but the band’s continued evolution on their own terms. That sense of ownership translated to the stage, where the performance felt less like a routine tour date and more like an extension of the album’s spirit: confident, collaborative, and deeply committed to the groove that’s defined Lettuce for decades.

With no opener or buildup, Lettuce took the stage and immediately transformed the venue into a furnace of funk. The bundled-up crowd pressed closer to the stage, bracing against the wind but clearly ready for what they knew was coming. For longtime followers and regulars in the crowd, the night felt less like just another stop and more like a ritual – the kind where the cold fades the moment the groove locks in.

One of the night’s defining early moments arrived during the second song, which opened with an attention-commanding bongo solo that snapped the audience into motion despite the elements. The energy spilled into a playful mashup the band jokingly dubbed “Chief It Up and Turn It Loose” blending their track “Chief” with James Brown’s “Give It Up or Turn It A Loose.” The fusion set the tone for the night: tight, rhythmic, and driven by a deep respect for funk’s lineage.

Lettuce then shifted gears with a slowed-down, groove-heavy take on The Crusaders “Keep That Same Old Energy,” showcasing the band’s dynamic range and ability to stretch the mood without losing the pocket. The horns stayed crisp, the rhythm section locked in with precision, and the percussion cut cleanly through the open-air venue even harder than the wind.

The weather became part of the story as the set progressed. At one point during the second set, the trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom addressed the crowd with a grin: “We didn’t know how many people would show up tonight, but you all showed up in jackets! You guys look great – well most of you!” The crowd laughed, with multiple scattered pockets of fans wrapped in knee-length fur, leopard-print or tie-dye coats, and light-up beanies, fully embracing the spectacle of bundling up and showing out.

That connection carried the rest of the night. Fans shuffled for warmth between songs, but never stopped boogying, feeding energy back towards the stage as Lettuce responded with tight transitions, electrifying solos, and grooves that refused to let the temperature define the experience.

On a night when conditions could have easily dulled the atmosphere, Lettuce did what they’ve consistently done for years: show up, lock in, and turn a concert into a shared moment. For fans who make it a point to catch them every time they come to town, the Jannus Live stop was another reminder why – no matter the weather, Lettuce delivers the kind of show that keeps people coming back.

Lettuce Live Review by Kaitlyn Miller.
Lettuce Live Photos by @gtdmouse.