Electronic heavyweight Derek Vincent Smith better known as the sole creator of Pretty Lights, struck Brisbane with his force on Saturday night (16 January).
After having my soul sucked at my day job earlier that day, Colorado producer Pretty Lights brought me back to life with a sweaty, visually alluring, and captivating skankfest.
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Starting at midnight, Pretty Lights smashed out two hours and forty minutes of pure joy. His eclectic samples, glitch hip hop, bass-heavy beats (and more dub than I had first anticipated, but thoroughly enjoyed) created an astounding atmosphere that had this incredible level of love and energy.
Image © Emelia EbejerWhile the night was a blur of pulsating sonic bubbles, bass booms and reverberating synths, Pretty Light's transitions between songs was not exactly seamless, but the crowd didn't seem to mind one bit. Everyone was bass-drunk with each other and with what was being thrown at us sonically, including a bunch of new Pretty Lights tracks.
Huge crowd hits included his Steve Miller Band's 'Fly Like An Eagle' remix, and the sneaky Tame Impala drop hidden among the gems. 'Around The Block' had us hip hopping and thumping around like a pack of maniacs, with Pretty Lights hunched over his sound desk puffing down a huge blunt.
Image © Keara FordeEnding the show on his monster hit, the ethereal and sublime 'Finally Moving' was expected. His scratchy rendition featuring Etta James’ vocals kick-started a crowd singalong and had us skanking in arms, tears in eyes and hearts pumping out of our chests.
The impressive and visually stimulating backdrop created a unique layer to the entire experience creating a safe zone for some. The video projections created by the man on stage himself was really quite spectacular and enhanced the mood with its effervescent displays of beautifully vibrant imagery.
The visual experience, mixed with the musical superiority that is Pretty Lights amalgamation of psych funk, hip hop, dub and electronic-influenced stoner jams, plus the overwhelming comradely between patrons, made for a truly unique experience.
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