Music | Show Preview: Gramatik returns to Red Rocks on Friday

This Friday, June 17th Gramatik makes his return to Red Rocks looking for redemption. Last year’s show, now fondly referred to as "Blizzmatik", had to be cut short due to safety reasons because of unrelenting snow and freezing rain. It’s no secret that Colorado is anxiously awaiting the moment to “Hit That Jive”…but we hope to do so with better weather this time around.

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last year's Gramatik show at Red Rocks, now referred to by fans as "Blizzmatik". (photo credit: NO COAST)

Time and time again, when searching for good tunes to play on Pandora or Spotify, Gramatik radio seems to be the "go-to" option. The complex sound of Slovenian music producer Denis Jašarević contains aspects of jazz, hip-hop, R&B and has even been described as "electro-funk". He has captured our attention over the years with his songs “Just Jammin”, “Hit That Jive”, “So Much For Love” and “Obviously” featuring Cherub and Exmag. His theory of a fee free music model has also attributed to his success, voicing his opinion publicly saying that he believes it is "morally right for music to be primarily free” .

Gramatik's musical inception has ties to Denver-based online music company and website called BeatPort from way back in 2008. His first album Street Bangers Volume 1 shocked the artist by receiving much more attention through the site than he was anticipating, and only a year later, he teamed up with Colorado’s own Derek Vincent Smith and signed to his label, Pretty Lights Music. Following that success of that venture, Jašarević went on to create his own record label called Lowtemp.

Gramatik just recently released his new album, Epigram, and has scheduled a massive world tour in support. While doing a little research we discovered something interesting on his homepage: it turns out you can create your very own paradoxical work of art through a feature on the site! The app will transform each letter of your epigram into its own symbol that shares live to the site, which you can then download along with the new album.

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This Friday will be Gramatik’s sixth performance at the beautiful Red Rocks Ampitheatre. This year’s lineup includes Hippie Sabotage, ProbCause, Geek x Vrv, and Sweater Beats. We are especially excited to check out brotherly duo Hippie Sabotage; their remix of Tove Lo’s hit song “Habits (Stay High)” has received over 420 million views on YouTube! Talk about a viral video.

Make sure to follow our Instagram page for live updates and stay tuned for a full review of our experience including photos from the show by our photographer Andrew Rios.

Eliot Lipp joining the Pretty Lights Music Label!!

 

Just announced Eliot Lipp will be joining the Pretty Lights Music Label, for those of you unfamiliar:

Eliot Lipp's status as an electronic music pioneer is known to scene connoisseurs and weekend warriors alike. Lipp's omnivorous tastes are apparent, from the obvious funk and myriad manifestations of hip-hop though less explicit reference points as jazz fusion, folk and techno. His well-earned reputation as a producer's producer stems in part from his craftsmanship. Never content with well-worn breaks and effects, his work incorporates a love of analog gear with sampledelic flourishes, intricate rhythmic patterns and more than a few leftfield surprises. But his melodic instincts and tunefulness are what have earned him such wide appeal, as well as his connection to music's storytelling possibilities, even without words. 

Since his arrival on the scene, Lipp has displayed an intuitive knack for teasing melodies out of rhythmic bangers, and he draws from a remarkably mature sonic palette. These two qualities immediately set the young instrumental producer apart. Since his promising debut, Lipp has played to his strengths while creating an imposing body of work with a style uniquely his own. [VIA]

Pretty Lights at The First Bank Center: New Year's Eve: Review

Thank you, Jake Fling, for sharing this video with us!

Before you go any further, if you haven't read Castro's review of the first night, do that first. The show on the 30th was an absolutely amazing performance but it was a warmup for the main event, the New Years Eve party. The crowds were louder, the lights brighter, and the bass hit heavier. The First Bank Center hosted the event for both nights, and while it can hold almost 10,000 people, it couldn't hold the level of enthusiasm that this crowd brought with it; this night was set up for an epic performance to be remembered. 

Starting the night off was one of Ultra’s newest favorite DJs, Colorado native Paul Basic.  Working the crowd, he started the New Year’s celebration off right, getting everyone into the groove.  It is obvious that he appreciates being able to do what he loves, especially in front of the home crowd.  This enthusiasm beamed like the strobe lights that lit up the crowd.  His humbleness carries with him off the stage as well; Ultra5280 got to meet with him recently and you can tell he is a great person and talented producer. 

Hailing from Germany and only 22 years old, house DJ Anton Zaslavski, also known as DJ Zedd, was one of the best surprises of the night. He hit the stage after Paul Basic to bridge the gap before Pretty Lights. I'm going to be honest, I hadn't heard much of Zedd's music before Saturday so I didn't have any expectations but I was blown away by the performance.  The beats were fast, the bass was heavy, and the remixes all managed to sound unique.  Frankly, his remixes are the one of the main things that stick with me from the night.  Each song started out easily recognizable before immediately bursting into something completely unique, while keeping the theme of the original song.  I know, I know, that's what a remix is supposed to be, but when it's done well, it's a thing of beauty and no less masterful than the original song.  Zedd played to the crowd spectacularly, and I really can't think of a better way to lead up to Pretty Lights.

During the final preparations before Pretty Lights took the stage the energy and anticipation in the venue hit another level that I've personally never experienced.  And then it happened, the lights dimmed, Pretty Lights took the stage, and a wave of lights, lasers, and bass filled us.  It was then that we realized just how far Pretty Lights has come in such a short period of time. Pretty Lights has found such a loyal following because his music speaks to everyone on a personal level.; it hits them to the core. It's as if he is playing to each person individually even amongst 10,000 other people. 

Pretty Lights built up the crowd for the hour before midnight with a smattering of his best songs. Playing new stuff and then bringing us back to the beginning.  A few hits of the night include "I Know the Truth", "Down the Line", and "Hot Like Sauce".  Pretty Lights played his own rendition of The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider" among other popular remixes.  Closing in on midnight, he hit us with Europe's "Final Countdown". This remix has become a Pretty Lights tradition for the New Year's countdown (and one that I hope to be apart of again). It seemed as if the clock would never reach midnight, like a school child waiting for that last bell before summer break, but then the giant LED on stage started it’s crawl to midnight...10 (this is happening) ...9 (oh shit it's really happening)...8 (don't pass out).... 7 (where's my camera) ....6 (don't forget to breathe) .... 5 (only seconds remain) ...4 (I don't want to be anywhere else) ... 3 (it's now approaching midnight) ... 2 (it's been a good year) ... 1 (next year will be even better) ....... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we looked above a shower of balloons, confetti, and streamers rained down on us as the pretty lights (pun intended) bounced off the faces of everyone present. The quintessential party song, “Celebrate”, was the first song to hit our ears in 2012. The crowd was dancing and smiling as people hugged each other while volleying the giant balloons. There was almost a feeling of relief from the crowd; we had made it another year and were welcomed to 2012 by a favorite artist. Pretty Lights didn't wait long to remind us all that we were there to party long and party hard. He kept playing for another solid hour, stopping only to thank his fans, crew, friends, and family. One of the surprises from his set was a remix he was asked to do by Daft Punk. It was a solid track that I could've listened to on repeat all night. 

When all was said and done I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the New Year. I spent it listening to an amazing artist, hung out with amazing people, and worked with some of the most talented people I know. 

Here is to the start of an amazing year!! 

Kyle

Pretty Lights at The First Bank Center: December 30, 2011: Review

Derek Vincent Smith aka Pretty Lights does his thing.

 Friday night at The First Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado was the first of two nights which welcomed Colorado's own Derek Vincent Smith, known by most as Pretty Lights.  The 9,500 plus in attendance came to dance and the lineup for the party did not dissappoint.  It is pretty amazing to think how far Pretty Lights has come a long in such a short period of time, I still recall seeing him a few years ago when I lived in Fort Collins.  Back then his setup was simple, with only a few strobes thrown in for good measure. Nowadays, he brings a light show unparalled in the industry.

Supervision

Opening the night's festivities was labelmate SuperVision whose unique style and old school approach set him apart from the rest of the Pretty Lights roster.  He kept the early crowd energized with danceable tracks and skillful scratching often associated with the hip hop genre, all while keeping it in the realm of electro.  Flanked with his customary Texas Rangers baseball cap, Richard Blake Hansen gives hip hop a unique element of electro unheard of anywhere else.

Next up was heavy hitter Porter Robinson. Rumor has it that Porter was upset about the lighting, which prompted his reaction to bring it hard.  Yup, he abosutely did.  With a performance and crowd reaction often associated with a headliner, Porter Robinson unleashed his barrage of bass with no avail.  Sampling an array of tracks, it was his version of Avicii's "Level"  that set the crowd into a frenzy.  He also managed to subtly incorporate his version of the Skrillex dance track "A Little Bit More", that wowed the crowd sending them into an all out synchronized bounce once the bass line dropped.  Porter was having a great time motivating the crowd to dance, a participation that is dissolving among artists that play the same set time after time.  It seems that only the passionate artists appreciate the crowd as much as the crowd appreciates them. 

Porter Robinson giving the sold out crowd the thumbs up

The crowd was in a full frenzy once Pretty Lights stage was being set-up, flanked with the house music which blarred out Dead Prez's "Hip Hop" a perfect primer for what was about to go down.  The house lights dimmed and Pretty Lights took the stage for what ended up becoming a full, 3-hour set that left the sold out crowd in a euphoric stage (literally). One great thing about a Pretty Lights show is that you will never see a show as same any other.  This night he incorporated a mix of old and hit us with a few new tracks that will only escalate the level of anticipation for his next album.  He maintained a downtempo feel all night while reaching back into his old hip hop roots with a set that left the often rowdy Pretty Lights crowd to soak in every ounce of musical bliss.  It was a couple of notable favorites that stood out the most including a full crowd sing along of "Finally Moving", and his version of Kanye West's "All of The Lights".  He managed to drop some of his well know remixes including his Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle" which was a major hit during his performance earlier this year at Red Rocks.  Other notable tracks were "Aimin' at Your Head", and "Gazing at The Glare" which went perfect with his hip hop inspiration for the night.  All in all, the crowd was left with a notion that Pretty Lights' set can evoke different states of emotion throughout a show.

Castro

Pretty Lights performs his version of Kanye West's "All of The Lights"

Pretty Lights to ring in the New Year

 While you are all still recovering from a Christmas food baby and possible hang over, it is time to start getting amped up for a two-night New Year celebration with Pretty Lights and company.  The 30th will open with Porter Robinson and Supervision alongside Derek Smith while the 31st will include Zedd and Paul Basic.  A sold out 1st Bank Center, packed with 5,000 plus people, could possibly explode due to high energy and some serious bass.  When the countdown begins and the clock strikes midnight, Pretty Lights will definitately bring it harder than the party happening in Times Square.  The expectation has been set!

Amanda