Pretty Lights Up the Night at the Fillmore

Though Colorado-based Pretty Lights (known informally as Derek Vincent Smith) began his set at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza at 11 p.m. sharp, I per usual, rolled in a little late. But in my defense, I know what the electro whiz kid is capable of, and was certain he'd be dropping beats until the wee hours. And I was right: he and his live partner-in-crime, drum master Cory Eberhard, are human manifestations of the Energizer Bunny and delivered a lengthy set. I'm just kicking myself for missing his opener, the Biggie-sampling "Sunday School," off his recently released third album, Passing By Behind Your Eyes (available for free download here). 

My date and I avoided the crush of rowdy fans below and headed upstairs for a bird's-eye view. Nothing like a Pretty Lights show to make you feel old. While hip kids sweated it out below, arms in the air, crowd surfing, shirts tossed, sunglasses and kicked caps the must-have accessories, we kept our distance in the balcony, staring at Smith, his flailing hands working his soundboard. In addition to the duo, we were also captivated by the the, er, pretty lights swirling and flashing in a large-scale digital backdrop. Projecting imagery ranging from solar system exploration to blazing flames, Tetris-esque 'scapes and Lite-Brite-inspired aesthetics, the visual is as much an essential element to Pretty Lights' shows as the music.

Among the best ditties, Smith included "Ask Your Friends" (yet another song, among several, that called on Biggie's vocals. I'm a fan.).  If you haven't heard this number, hurry up and download it. Also from the spankin' new album: "Keep 'Em Bouncin'," a track that fuses the electro pings of old school video games with ridiculous beat drops. It's sure to make any ass shake. If it doesn't, then I'm sorry, my friend, you're in a coma. He also threw in three of his most monumental creations from 2008's Filling Up the City Skies: the synth-laden Etta James mash-up "Finally Moving," the spastic "More Important Than Michael Jordan," and "Hot Like Sauce," a head-bobbing, rap-meets-autotune number.

Notable moment? I kinda dug that an attendee (let's call him Rain Man) found amusement thrusting his opened umbrella up and down, marching through the dense sea of people, then tossing it in the air. 

Photos by: Nicky Digital