Behind The Scenes Of LaMP’s Rising Popularity In Jam Music

Diffuser sat down for an exlusive interview with guitarist Scott Metzger to discuss LaMP, a power trio featuring Russ Lawton (drums), Ray Paczkowski (keys), and Scott Metzger (guitar) that is packing clubs and gaining momentum at each stop. Scott is a staple in the jam scene and one of the busiest touring musicians in the game with his variety of projects. The full interview is here, and the LaMP vibe is continuing to catch fire.

A Closer Look at Scott Metzger, Russ Lawton, and Ray Paczkowski

Scott describes in the interview that he will do more than 115 gigs this year, and many know him as the guitarist from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, who plays high-tempo Grateful Dead, packs venues, has a loyal following of jam enthusiasts, and plays a robust touring schedule. It was a JRAD show where I first encountered Scott’s vibe and guitar magic, which led me to dig deeper. Metzger is described by The Village Voice as “…an ace guitarist of a thousand styles,” which is demonstrated by the unique sounds of each project.  In addition to LaMP and JRAD, Metzger is also playing gigs with John Medeski of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, along with Club d’Elf, a psychadelic dub jazz group from Boston.

Drummer Russ Lawton, best known for his work with the Trey Anastasio Band, has performed, co-written, and worked with Trey for more than 20 years. In addition to LaMP, Russ plays with Ray Paczkowski in the Vermont funk duo Soul Monde and has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Mike Gordon and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.

Keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, also known for his work with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio for TAB, is no stranger to the scene. Ray has also played in a jazz trio called Vorcza, Soul Monde with Russ, and LaMP, among others. Ray is a staple in the Burlington music scene and an incredibly talented keyboardist whose clavinet and organ are on full display at a LaMP show.

LaMP Roots

It was December of 2018 at Nectar’s in Burlington, VT, where Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, and Ray Paczkowski came together for the first time to make magic for a packed house. As Scott describes in the interview, when playing with Russ and Ray in Burlington, people come out. He states, “It’s like playing with the mayor!” It was obvious the crowd was witnessing a special synergy that led them to form LaMP and later record their debut EP.

As was the case for many, the pandemic put live shows on pause, so a few years later, LaMP started getting after it again, in between their busy touring schedules.

LaMP Tour

In 2025, LaMP tour was ramping up, and I was able to catch them at Garcia’s at the legendary Capitol Theatre, where they blew the roof off the place on a weeknight. Again, it was clear we were witnessing a real-time breakthrough for the fans. Their tight chemistry showcased each of their unique talents, and Scott’s improvisations leveled up the vibe throughout each set.  At first, I was getting some MMW vibes, then it was clear they have a sound all of their own, and they play deep in the pocket, and as Scott described play “at a high level.”

LaMP tour will start back up May 15th in Rhode Island, then will run through June 24th, where they will play at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. The full tour schedule can be found here. In addition, their album One of Us is available here.

Catch the vibe, see a show, and witness this power trio as they gain velocity at every stop.