Pretty Lights is playing Saturday, Nov. 20, at the McDonald Theatre for $22. If you’re like me, you might feel like you already spent your concert cash going to the other shows that came through town this fall. That amazing Flaming Lips show was totally worth those two Andrew Jacksons, but at this point in the fall lineup, $22 is tough. Even so, I’ve been really excited to spend that money to see Pretty Lights.
The coolest thing about Pretty Lights, aside from the electro-funky grooves that make me want to dance all night, is that all of their music is available online for donation. That’s right, all four albums are legally downloadable for as much or as little as you can afford, including October’s “Glowing In The Darkest Night.” Just visit www.prettylightsmusic.com.
That means the band only makes money by donation or when you pay to see them in concert, and they’re probably doing pretty well because they’ve been selling out shows since their tour last year. Its Dec. 3 and 4 shows in Telluride are already sold out, and they sold out the McDonald Theatre more than two weeks before the show.
Pretty Lights is playing with Thunderball and Gramatik. Thunderball has also been touring with popular Bonobo and shares a label with Thievery Corporation. Their blend of drum and bass, dub, soul, funk and downtempo on the newly released “12 Mile High” hits my musical sweet-spot like few groups touring right now. Gramatik is a hip-hop-turned-electro house artist from Slovenia whose music is a blend of instrumental hip-hop, dubstep and indie dance. You can download his latest album for free now until Dec. 5 by visiting www.coldbusted.org.
It’s a good thing these albums are available for free downloads online since I won’t be making it to the concert on Nov. 20. Sadly, I still don’t have a ticket. I think I’ll just stay home, put some Pretty Lights and Thunderball on my stereo, and think about all that money I’ll be saving. That is, unless one of you has an extra ticket for me.
Liz Gilkey, known on-air as “Lizard,” plays reggae, dubstep and dubtronica on her show, Lizard’s World. Lizard’s World airs on KWVA 88.1 FM every Sunday night from 6-8 p.m. You can call her during her show to offer her Pretty Lights tickets or make requests on the KWVA station phone line, (541) 346-0645.
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