Lotus launched their pay-what-you-will tour this week at the Roxy on Hollywood's famed Sunset Strip. "I guess the idea was somewhat inspired by [Radiohead's] 'In Rainbows' release," bassist Jesse Miller tells Spinner. "But doing this type of payment method for a show is quite different in that we are dealing with a limited number of tickets."

Miller admits that the band is nervous about the outcome of these shows and they haven't ruled out the possibility that they will lose money on the run. That said, Lotus sold out the Independent in San Francisco on Wednesday and fans seemed willing to pay a reasonable price. "For better or for worse, it puts all the power in the hands of the fans," says Miller. "In a day and age where virtually any album can be easily downloaded for free, this model emphasizes the cold hard fact that performing original music depends financially on the direct support of music fans."

While music lovers hit by the recession could easily take the cheap route and buy tickets that are less than the service charge, fans who pay at least $15 will be rewarded with free (as in, officially free) downloads of Lotus' two new EPs, 'Feather on Wood' and 'Oil on Glass.'

The EPs are also being bundled with the fixed-priced tickets that will follow this part of the tour. While both EPs have their own distinct vibe -- Miller describes 'Feather on Wood' as being "guitar-driven, post-rock" while 'Oil on Glass' he says is "up-tempo, darker and dance oriented" -- much of the material for both EPs came from sessions for the band's last album, 'Hammerstrike.'

Following both segments of this tour, Lotus will close out 2009 with a New Year's Eve show alongside MSTRKFT at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. No word on ticket prices just yet but you can bet that it won't be pay-what-you-will for that one.