CONCERT RECAP: Pretty Lights Illumination Tour @ Mardi Gras World -10/6/12

Saturday’s review comes to you from the warped mind of new contributor RYAN SMELLEY. Expect to see a lot more from this rad cat in the future:

Ohh, Ohh Sometimes I get a good feeling…
That was the feeling of thousands that made their way to Mardi Gras World Saturday evening on a near perfect fall night. Three days later and I still have that feeling, which means the fun was definitely had by many. Pretty Lights’ Illumination Tour arrived to the New Orleans riverfront, and illumination is exactly what was done to the eyes and ears of anyone within a mile of the show. With Beverly Skillz, DJ Supervision, AraabMUZIK and 12th Planet gathering the growing crowds eyes and ears bass drop by bass drop, the energy felt by the time Derek Vincent Smith (aka Pretty Lights) arrived on stage was prodigious. With all the on-stage effects saved for the main act, what unfolded for the remainder of the night was truly stunning.

As the first smooth synth line was thrown at the crowd, the open night sky was transformed in to an orgy of lasers, LEDs, strobes, and a stage that was in the shape of a downtown skyline, garnished with bridge and all. And the bass, yeah it was definitely there too, the kind that gets into your blood and stays there deep into the night, whether you like it or not. What sets Pretty Lights apart from other electronic artists is his eclectic sound. Sampling sounds, riffs, and vocals, from the likes of Notorious BIG, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Radiohead has been nothing new to a Pretty Lights show before, but during the middle of his set he debuted a new one to the delight of the attendees with an eloquent and heartfelt track recorded with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which was recorded right here in New Orleans this past year. The beginning of the show was filled with huge tracks from his Passing By Behind Your Eyes album as “Sunday School” was remixed in a way I’d never heard before. “Hot Like Dimes” and “Keep Em Bouncin” kept the crowd bouncing for sure but it wasn’t until “PL vs Radiohead vs Nirvana vs NIN” that got the inebriated crowd into a full on trip hop, dub stepping frenzy. Glowsticks poured down from the sky from then on as the hit parade came with “Hot Like Sauce”, “Finally Moving”, and “I Know The Truth” back to back to back.

Smith closed the show with “We Must Go On” with the self-produced video playing alongside, bringing the crowd back down to a simmer. It was the perfect calming and nurturing the audience needed as the mob of neon and Charles Barkley jerseys made their way out the gates wanting just a little bit more. It was the 5th time seeing Pretty Lights perform for me and I will without a doubt rank this one above every other. From All: Thank You Pretty Lights for Showing New Orleans NO MERCY.
— WORDS by Ryan Smelley

Please enjoy some of Saturday’s pretty lights in the photo gallery below.
— PHOTOS by Michael Wren