Each of the opening acts resonated similar seasonings of bass and live instrumental aspects as Pretty Lights. SoDown featured a sexy saxophone which few could resists boogie-ing down to. Both Manic Focus and Daily Bread brought soul and blues elements to the game, which kept the audience flowing. The most genre-bending of the warm ups was G Jones with his fusion of hip hop, electronic, and heavy dubstep sounds. These delectable appetizers only wet the crowd’s palate.

Pretty Lights is a true artist and creative that expresses his weirdness through his music. Performing both nights with a live band that included drums, keyboard, and what seemed like another mix-table set up. His sets were shared with the audience in a jam-session style that was crafted before us. Smith chatted with his band mates between songs, and spoke to the crowd kindly, and with confidence. This made for an intimate feeling, even though there was an immense crowd pulsing throughout the venue.The visuals are an integral part of the Pretty Lights experience. When the set first started, a video sequence played where Smith hiked up a mountain’s ridge, and hoisted a large crystal to the powerful rays of the sun. There were several crystals on stage, some seemed to be part of the laser light displays that sprinkled the crowd through out the show, and dosed us all in mystical vibes.

The show had a mystique that was palpable. Pretty Lights has fans that are young, old, there from day one, and just discovered him on SoundCloud. All were there to groove, and get down to Smith’s classics, and some fresh mixes that no one could resist.The light show for Pretty Light’s performances are known to be intense, and breathtaking. I was impressed by the streamlined, yet exotic spell-work of the lights even though conditions were not ideal. There was plenty of smoke being produced but there was a lot of wind.

Smith enjoyed himself with fervor behind his set-up. He danced alone, with his band, and seemed to be in the zone for every moment of each night’s performance. The relaxed feel of Pretty Light’s music kept the crowd writhing, and shouting as the rest of the Denver area sparkled on the dark sprawl of the horizon above the stony outcroppings that made the stage.

Pretty Lights was able to once again prove his stellar prowess as a leader of electronic music, endearing himself to music fans, and demonstrating what real humility to the power of music takes. If you haven’t already, you should definitely put Pretty Lights at Red Rocks on your calendar for next year.

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His last album A Color Map of the Sun- you know, the one he spent years recording live musicians, pressed to vinyl, and then produced by combining samples with modular synths and digitizing effects- came out over three years ago (2013), and with declarations along the lines of near completion last December, the hunger for some shiny-new Pretty Lights is reaching hangry-zombie levels. Amazingly, Pretty Lights has released album after album, single after single, free making him not only a gifted musician but also a generous one.

Dubbed ‘the future of electronic’, the sound that comes out of Derek Vincent Smith (Pretty Lights) is a fusion of the meatiest parts of hip hop, funk, punk, rock, rap; all the good stuff is then lovingly marinated and sautéed in a delectable roux of synthy, growling, electro-bass tastiness.

During the hottest month of the summer, Pretty Lights will be performing at the enchanting Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO. August 11th and 12th. I would be prepared for masterful mixes, samples of the dankest variety, and an overall sparkling experience so long there are at least teases of the yet-to-be-released-2017 album. The show will also include G Jones, Manic Focus, SoDown and Daily Bread. Click here to check out tickets, and more information on upcoming shows from Pretty Lights.

Check ’em out below.

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