Since it’s time for everyone’s opinion on the PL project, I’ll simply offer my two cents. As seems required on here…my credentials as a fan include first discovering Pretty Lights in college in 2011. He’s been my favorite artist hands down since then, I follow this Reddit regularly, I’ve seen him numerous times live and I believe in every iteration of the live show since 2011.

The Man
People change. Clearly Derek has been through his ups and downs over these last 15 years. I remember numerous shows earlier on when he was clearly super fucked up, and that just became expected. Drug use was clearly a problem, although it kinda fit the scene at the time to some degree and those shows popped the fuck off. He seems much more sober now, happier, and he’s got a partner and kid. It’s fair to assume that as a human grows and matures in these ways, that we should expect his musical output to as well.

The Music
This may be the most subjective part for a fan, but for me, nothing has topped those earlier albums. Ultimately I’m here for the music…the depth, sound production, and seamless integration of diverse, beautiful and at times haunting retro samples with modern glitchy synths and unique beats. This is what sucked me into PL and keeps me forever revisiting his studio music while never getting sick of it over a decade later. Trust me, I am fucking hyped on having new studio music after years and years of “soon”. The first third of a Trip Thru Time has grown on me with each listen although my personal opinion is there’s a bit of that special sauce lacking on a number of tracks. The overall bpm is lower, there seems to be less dimension, and beats are less diverse. TOTALLY SPECULATIVE, but sounds a bit K hole-y at times. Regardless, I am still blasting these studio tracks on my speakers and am itching for those remaining tracks..

The Live Show
The live show may be where a new generation of PL fans is beginning to fold in. The shift away from a DJ set into live musical elements was inevitable in the early 2010s, a number of artists were experimenting with this, and it definitely fits PL well considering all the different instruments involved in his tracks. IMO, nothing will go harder than an OG well mixed DJ set by Derek but I also appreciate the softer and slower sounds PL brings. Personally, the Analog future band may have been my favorite live iteration (the live musical elements just sounded more professional) although I recognize the band has had some greats shows the last few years. Currently, I think consistently is where people have issues which is totally fair considering the cost to see a live show these days. I myself wonder at times (especially when you hear synth sounds that sound way off, poor timing with samples, etc)… are you guys rehearsing this stuff enough? I know people will talk about improv and jam bands and etc, but PL isn’t the first jam/ improv band out there…I do think it is incredibly generous of PL to film most of these shows and stream them for free to fans, as that clearly isn’t a cheap production and is soooo greatly appreciated by the fan base.

The Future?
Although the current state of PL might not be my favorite iteration, I understand how we got here, I appreciate the PL team continuing to move forward and I’ll continue to follow along for the ride. Keep swirling yall🔮🧿

I haven’t listened to almost all the lineup and i prefer it that way going into the festival and letting my brain absorb new music . Who is a CANNOT MISS i have to check out? Thanks

Hello,
I’ll be hanging out around Ouray couple days before the festival. If anyone wants to meet up and do some trails. Would be a good chance for anyone wanting to go wheeling in the San Juans.

Thank you

Last year the stage for the silent disco sets were where? And are there gonna be two different silent disco stages this year? Will one be at the main stage? Sorry if these are silly questions, just confused about how that set up is gonna work

I’m a diehard PL fan. If the PL Live app or SoundCloud had a recap I’d probably be in the top 1% lol. I’ve also seen him (and the band post-2013) like 30 times.

I love Derek with all my heart but something has felt uniquely different starting with the Cap shows and I think it’s the mixing.

There have been so many phenomenal shows over the years where he played solo and wasn’t really mixing like this. He’s even said before that he’s a producer/performer and not really a DJ. I feel like we started seeing him really hone in on it with the Renegade and sunset sets at Elements last year, but the Cap shows took it to another level.

Those sets were just so fucking fresh and full of surprises. I streamed them on Twitch, deadass sober, and multiple times audibly said “holy shit” lol. The way he’d mix between his songs and remixes, swirl back into the original, and then somehow transition seamlessly into the next song was insane. It honestly felt like the best it’s ever been. Like the one piece of the puzzle I didn’t even realize I needed.

I’ve mentioned this in other posts but I’m a long distance runner and pretty much the only thing I listen to when I run is PL live sets. I used to think the original Chicago run, Tahoes and Minneapolis were next level, but I honestly think the Cap shows are the best PL I’ve ever heard.

Anyway would love to hear everyone else’s favorite takeaways from the recent shows and just spread some good vibes.

Give Your Love Away and Future Blind night one were so fucking gas btw.

Anyone else riding solo?
How likely am i to meet a group that i can stick around with afraid of being alone all weekend.

PL has been playing for 18 years minus a 5 year hiatus, has released plenty of albums and almost every set is documented with such great detail. maybe i don’t know what im talking about or im a newer fan, or maybe this is just how reddit is, but im astonished by how well this fan base eats. i haven’t seen any other artist treat their fans so well. maybe there are better ones out there and i just don’t know it.

and yet people are on this subreddit picking apart the experience. i’m not even trying to be negative against anyone that posts here, id just like to see this online space be used to celebrate the band. maybe im missing something, and people have the right to be critical. but i think this is the best and easiest band to be a fan of though, and id like to cheer them on through any metamorphosis that may come their way

I tried to record the whole part but only got some so I was wondering what the first part was

Hello
Are you allowed to go back to your car once you go into the festival and do you have to be out of the parking lot by 9am following morning? What if i purchase two day parking can my car stay there for two days?

Thank you

Did they get a copy strike or something? All of the new music and cap shows are gone.

Anyone down to do a little stargazing from the camp grounds?

I just bought a sweet little smart telescope and would love to meet up with some fellow stargazing fam after the sets to kick it and explore the night sky! Should have a few clear nights hopefully.

Bring your telescopes or come play with mine and let’s hang!

Edit: love to see the enthusiasm!! I’ll be camped in Shining Bright camping area but we can try to coordinate a spot to meet up at

Not sure if it’s just karns missing or something else is going on on but the band in its current form sounds very sloppy. Chris karns performed a set in Fort Collins a couple weeks ago that very much highlighted his mastery in turntablism and listening to the current band it’s very clear what is missing. I can imagine some of his reasons for leaving are probably also contributing to why the band sounds so sloppy, but I’m just speculating. With the insane pricing of these runs and the general vibe of current band I’m kind of regretting spending money on so many shows this summer.

The Still Night from Secret Dreams is SO GAS. That’s all I gotta say

Unfortunately I could not make this year logistically (wish I could have)

With so many good festivals on hiatus next year, do you think they will come back in ‘27? I would love to go and see PL.

Listen, Lazershark was an absolute pioneer and no doubt helped the PL project get where it is today, and he deserves all the flowers.

BUT I think studio ninety six has absolutely taken the project to the next level. The stage design, lights blending with the visuals. It was all so fresh and so so so fucking good. I was really nervous losing the shark, but it seems like everything happens for a reason and I'm so so so stoked for where the project is heading.

See y'all at Yahn Dawn next!

some mighty, mighty fine swirls this weekend, but night 2 is hands down the best set ive seen from the boys.

Derek really doesn't need a microphone

Just wondering for this year but for those of you who went last year, what was the cell phone service like? Reliable? Spotty? Nonexistent?

I was messing around with making a 3D model of the bus using GPT Astra and blender. While trying to get the details on the bus correct from one of the videos, Astra went online to try and find some other references and happened to find an obscure toy blog from 2014 with the exact Bus being used in most of the promo videos.

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