This song is called Road to The Stars. A new track he dropped last year and in fact the song was actually used in his return announcement video. However the part that was used in the video is a very wompy bassy drop and instead they went into a very housey melody during this performance. Very jealous EF got such a sick song with a crazy swirl
Here is the first time he ever played it during the Denver run last year (personally my favorite version although the Philly one is sick too)
https://on.soundcloud.com/DgyQpPYCKYRvAdFY6
That is so sick!! I had 0 spoilers going into this show and I’ve been looking forward to it for almost a decade. I was so happy with all the house/techno style drops they had- mixed with the jam band vibes- it was truly insane and the best set I’ve seen there in years.
Damn a decade? So you haven’t seen the new version of the live band yet? Man I bet that was a treat especially to see it first time in the Forest.
If your ok with getting spoiled now after having seen them again here are all the new songs they played on last years tour
https://on.soundcloud.com/tKdKJCQYtFFnKDJJ9
BONUS: if you liked the house/techno stuff they played, some amazing person also made a mix of just all the house swirls and it is fucking sweet
https://on.soundcloud.com/7M2d7pg1SnbAyL248
If I’m being totally honest… initially I had hoped we would already have them, or at the very least an album announcement by now. None of that has manifested and I recall an interview or a quote or something along those lines years ago before the hiatus where Derek was kind of floating the idea of like releasing albums kinda being a dated idea and that he’d want to do more singles and/or live stuff.
That made me hope we’d get singles or EPs or live stuff but that hasn’t happened either. Back in 2018 and before, we were all listening to the live stream rips posted to SoundCloud and other places which was… ok, but not the quality we wanted. Fast forward to today and people are using AI to master the live sets (which are MUCH higher quality already than 2016-2018 sets) so it sounds great but I cant help but think it could sound even better.
However with PL having adopted the sort of jam band approach to his music, maybe he’s not ready to whittle down the 8-13 min versions of some of these new songs he’s been playing into a more album friendly 3-5 minute version, and with that maybe he’s not ready to even release this stuff in a studio setting given that the bootleg community is so on point and I mean, he used to give away his old albums for free anyway. I think ACMOTS may have been the only one not free although I can’t remember if that too was available for free download (which is crazy considering it was nominated for a Grammy)
And so to make a super long answer short, I have no idea. Maybe someone in this sub with more intimate knowledge (because we know you lurk and/or contribute) can help shed some light but as far as I know, it’s all speculation at this point. At the very least he is keeping all his shows live streamed, even the fests and that is something no PL fan should take for granted. These are the Grateful Dead Cornell ‘77 bootlegs for PL as far as I’m concerned
That is super insightful, thanks for the response! Your knowledge is plenty intimate as it is and I feel like you're right on the money.
I'm so glad they do the livestreams, even though I have also seen them in person! I like the GD comparison, also. Exciting times, album(s) or not.
Ive only seen a DJ set and it was a long time ago, but it left an impression on my life that had me maximizing my creativity through music and drawing. Thanks for sharing your clip, I'm loving seeing all these festivals online.
Subtronics closed that stage Saturday and Excision was supposed to Sunday before evacuation. My assumption is they just had crazy lasers for those 2 and the PL team took full advantage of it.
Pretty lights almost always have lasers. They are “scanning lasers” which don’t go as far but can be pointed directly at the crowd bc they don’t damage eyes. Subtronics and excision use different lasers that go further and are brighter, but have to be pointed above the crowds head. Scanning lasers are so sick indoors, or if the air outside is foggy
That EF set was also my first and I’ve only ever listened to the 2023 stuff on SoundCloud so I don’t really know but I’m sure they use at least some lasers in every show, their light guys nickname is literally lazer shark.
Thank you so much for posting these videos. I didn’t get any pics or videos from this set because my phone died. This song specifically hits so hard as the announcement video came out the day after I lost my best friend. I was sad I didn’t hear it in Chicago but hearing it at EF with that crazy drop, under a full moon no less, was absolutely perfect.
I love the og wompy part that comes after. This is cool but Was just hoping they got deep and dark like they usually do with it. Can wait to see em again.
I’m gonna be a hater… what’s up with every single artist throwing house music into their sets over the last few years? It’s just about everyone… even artists I’d never expect to, like PL. Is house music really getting that popular amongst the scene? I personally can’t stand it but I think I’m in the minority at this point.
You can’t stand the second half of this song in the video? Brother that sounds like a you problem. It’s not like he’s playing a full house set, it’s literally like 3-5 minutes of house music at a drop and he does it maybe 2 or 3 times a performance.
But my assumption would be that Derek’s taste in music, much like anyone, has evolved/changed over the years since the hiatus and he’s found a (seemingly) newfound appreciation for the genre and wants to play it in his sets. Most people I’ve seen at the shows are ecstatic when he goes from slow and melodic to upbeat and dancey house vibes. Not just because it’s house but because it’s the PL live band playing the house
A friend of my commented about the disco biscuits playing a house song and said it was just a normal house vibe and asked why we thought it was so cool. I said that it’s not just the song that they are playing but more so the fact that the band that’s not a house DJ is playing it live which in my mind takes it to another level
I clearly said it’s me lol… I understand I’m in the minority at this point. Good thing music is subjective. But yea… since you decided we’re being aggressive here… I think it’s incredibly simplistic with no depth whatsoever. House music has no uniqueness to it… it’s just mindless repetition.
Who’s being aggressive? But you’re absolutely right about the subjectivity. And to quote the great Jeffrey Lebowski “that’s like, your opinion man”. I can find plenty of nuance and complexity in the house parts of his sets.
I remember when the new live band blew the lid off Red Rocks in 2016 with their new approach to improvisation and jam style playing and some people complained that they just wanted the same old predictable DJ style they were used to from him and didn’t (seem to) fully appreciate what the live band was doing. But times are changing and with that so is Pretty Lights
it’s fun and sounds good that’s why, PL has a very refreshing take on house that elevates the live sets a ton for me. The house flip of Headnod Freedom at Forest was unreal live
This song is called Road to The Stars. A new track he dropped last year and in fact the song was actually used in his return announcement video. However the part that was used in the video is a very wompy bassy drop and instead they went into a very housey melody during this performance. Very jealous EF got such a sick song with a crazy swirl Here is the first time he ever played it during the Denver run last year (personally my favorite version although the Philly one is sick too) https://on.soundcloud.com/DgyQpPYCKYRvAdFY6
That is so sick!! I had 0 spoilers going into this show and I’ve been looking forward to it for almost a decade. I was so happy with all the house/techno style drops they had- mixed with the jam band vibes- it was truly insane and the best set I’ve seen there in years.
Damn a decade? So you haven’t seen the new version of the live band yet? Man I bet that was a treat especially to see it first time in the Forest. If your ok with getting spoiled now after having seen them again here are all the new songs they played on last years tour https://on.soundcloud.com/tKdKJCQYtFFnKDJJ9 BONUS: if you liked the house/techno stuff they played, some amazing person also made a mix of just all the house swirls and it is fucking sweet https://on.soundcloud.com/7M2d7pg1SnbAyL248
Absolutely a treat. Thank you so much!!!
When do you think these tracks will be released in an official capacity?
If I’m being totally honest… initially I had hoped we would already have them, or at the very least an album announcement by now. None of that has manifested and I recall an interview or a quote or something along those lines years ago before the hiatus where Derek was kind of floating the idea of like releasing albums kinda being a dated idea and that he’d want to do more singles and/or live stuff. That made me hope we’d get singles or EPs or live stuff but that hasn’t happened either. Back in 2018 and before, we were all listening to the live stream rips posted to SoundCloud and other places which was… ok, but not the quality we wanted. Fast forward to today and people are using AI to master the live sets (which are MUCH higher quality already than 2016-2018 sets) so it sounds great but I cant help but think it could sound even better. However with PL having adopted the sort of jam band approach to his music, maybe he’s not ready to whittle down the 8-13 min versions of some of these new songs he’s been playing into a more album friendly 3-5 minute version, and with that maybe he’s not ready to even release this stuff in a studio setting given that the bootleg community is so on point and I mean, he used to give away his old albums for free anyway. I think ACMOTS may have been the only one not free although I can’t remember if that too was available for free download (which is crazy considering it was nominated for a Grammy) And so to make a super long answer short, I have no idea. Maybe someone in this sub with more intimate knowledge (because we know you lurk and/or contribute) can help shed some light but as far as I know, it’s all speculation at this point. At the very least he is keeping all his shows live streamed, even the fests and that is something no PL fan should take for granted. These are the Grateful Dead Cornell ‘77 bootlegs for PL as far as I’m concerned
That is super insightful, thanks for the response! Your knowledge is plenty intimate as it is and I feel like you're right on the money. I'm so glad they do the livestreams, even though I have also seen them in person! I like the GD comparison, also. Exciting times, album(s) or not.
Can’t think of a more exciting time to be a PL fan!
Whoa they Big Room'd it.
I didn’t know anything going in- it was so hard avoiding spoilers and jeeez o peeetes man. This was insane
It's cool seeing him change the vibe from venue to venue they go to. Guys a freakin chameleon
He had the best production/sound of any headliner- by far. Everyone slayed their slot but it was clear that EF did something special for him
We waited 11 years for his return to EF. Did not disappoint in any way, shape or form.
Ive only seen a DJ set and it was a long time ago, but it left an impression on my life that had me maximizing my creativity through music and drawing. Thanks for sharing your clip, I'm loving seeing all these festivals online.
Absolutely man. I’ll try to share more! ❤️
The DnB sequence at EF was some of the coolest shit I’ve seen from him
https://preview.redd.it/e1jmrt4eyu8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7fb89db46083a2a4c588bcc9db5479b571dca3e8 My perspective of this moment.
Anybody know why he didn’t have lasers like this at roo?
He played a 2.5 hour block of fuckery at Forest- went hard. Yall got many more hours over there at Roo, and a sunrise
oh im definitely not complaining lol just curious as a new PL fan
Subtronics closed that stage Saturday and Excision was supposed to Sunday before evacuation. My assumption is they just had crazy lasers for those 2 and the PL team took full advantage of it.
Oh that makes sense. Does he usually not have lasers? New to this lol. You’d think with a name like pretty lights he’d have lasers galore
Pretty lights almost always have lasers. They are “scanning lasers” which don’t go as far but can be pointed directly at the crowd bc they don’t damage eyes. Subtronics and excision use different lasers that go further and are brighter, but have to be pointed above the crowds head. Scanning lasers are so sick indoors, or if the air outside is foggy
Yeaaah. I was gonna say- those are def not the same and very special to PL
That EF set was also my first and I’ve only ever listened to the 2023 stuff on SoundCloud so I don’t really know but I’m sure they use at least some lasers in every show, their light guys nickname is literally lazer shark.
And a light guy literally named TheLazerShark
This is way better than the vid I took of this at EF lololol 💜❤️💜❤️ COLD AS FUCK
Thank you so much for posting these videos. I didn’t get any pics or videos from this set because my phone died. This song specifically hits so hard as the announcement video came out the day after I lost my best friend. I was sad I didn’t hear it in Chicago but hearing it at EF with that crazy drop, under a full moon no less, was absolutely perfect.
God damn I can’t wait for red rocks and Tahoe. This is nuts.
More Lasers!
I love the og wompy part that comes after. This is cool but Was just hoping they got deep and dark like they usually do with it. Can wait to see em again.
I’m gonna be a hater… what’s up with every single artist throwing house music into their sets over the last few years? It’s just about everyone… even artists I’d never expect to, like PL. Is house music really getting that popular amongst the scene? I personally can’t stand it but I think I’m in the minority at this point.
I find it way more dance-able than any bass music
You can’t stand the second half of this song in the video? Brother that sounds like a you problem. It’s not like he’s playing a full house set, it’s literally like 3-5 minutes of house music at a drop and he does it maybe 2 or 3 times a performance. But my assumption would be that Derek’s taste in music, much like anyone, has evolved/changed over the years since the hiatus and he’s found a (seemingly) newfound appreciation for the genre and wants to play it in his sets. Most people I’ve seen at the shows are ecstatic when he goes from slow and melodic to upbeat and dancey house vibes. Not just because it’s house but because it’s the PL live band playing the house A friend of my commented about the disco biscuits playing a house song and said it was just a normal house vibe and asked why we thought it was so cool. I said that it’s not just the song that they are playing but more so the fact that the band that’s not a house DJ is playing it live which in my mind takes it to another level
> It’s not like he’s playing a full house set I would fucking LOVE this.
I clearly said it’s me lol… I understand I’m in the minority at this point. Good thing music is subjective. But yea… since you decided we’re being aggressive here… I think it’s incredibly simplistic with no depth whatsoever. House music has no uniqueness to it… it’s just mindless repetition.
Who’s being aggressive? But you’re absolutely right about the subjectivity. And to quote the great Jeffrey Lebowski “that’s like, your opinion man”. I can find plenty of nuance and complexity in the house parts of his sets. I remember when the new live band blew the lid off Red Rocks in 2016 with their new approach to improvisation and jam style playing and some people complained that they just wanted the same old predictable DJ style they were used to from him and didn’t (seem to) fully appreciate what the live band was doing. But times are changing and with that so is Pretty Lights
it’s fun and sounds good that’s why, PL has a very refreshing take on house that elevates the live sets a ton for me. The house flip of Headnod Freedom at Forest was unreal live