Pretty Lights, Mimosa, DJ Inflect | Photo Essay

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by Shannon Claire

I haven't sported glowsticks since 1997, however, by the end of the Pretty Lights show at the Pershing Center Thursday, Oct. 27, I had danced for about four hours, ran into amazingly costumed concert goers and friends, was visually over-stimulated, and felt beats in ways I have never felt them before. 

Mimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NE

Walking into the Pershing, producer / DJ Inflect (of Somasphere) was already repping "the good life" and gettin the early crowd in the right frame of mind. I passed by coat check, security and vending stands catching glimpses of employees with looks of horror on their faces. They didn't seem scared of the ghouls, vixens or randomly costumed people walking by, but of the idea the Pershing would crumble, brick by brick, from the ridiculous bass pouring out of the auditorium. 

Inflect @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEInflect @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NE

Inflect put on an impressive set to which I couldn't help but start to move. It was great to see a local DJ on such a strong bill. Despite a 7:40 p.m. time slot, there was a large crowd eager to get down and bring their fellow crowd members to their feet by the end of Inflect's 40-minute set. 

Inflect @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NE

Mimosa (Los Angeles/Oakland) took the stage with one hand up, one hand bluntin', and a smile from ear to ear. Representing the West Coast, he encouraged the crowd to light one up, as well. With the grimey dub hip-hop beats Mimosa threw down in the first 10 minutes, he successfully set up what the night was going to become. In between snapping shots, I threw up my West Side sign to show some Cali love (I'm a native). I was blown away by how fast the Pershing was packed from front to back.

The crowd was exactly as one would expect at a concert whose genre is all about mashing and mixing sounds together. I saw glow sticks in full circle-swing, furry boots and mini skirts, a banana suit, Freddie Murcury, a geisha girl, hippies, hipsters, frat boys and retired ravers. They were all one. 

Mimosa played a powerful, hour-long set, leaving the crowd wanting more. 

Mimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NEMimosa @ Pershing Center, Lincoln, NE

Derek Vincent Smith — Pretty Lights (Denver) — has come a long way from his Box Awesome and Bourbon days (which were not long ago). With a light show that no other artist could even attempt to touch, to his sick crazy mash-ups of beats and prolific sounds, he is filling up venues that grow larger by the day.

P.L. throws down an organic rawness that makes him who he is. His music takes you on an infectious, mind-numbing, blood-rushing journey. And he performed for two hours and 15 minutes. His light show, of course, was epic, storytelling to every beat, sample and wobble he mixed. The visual stimulation mixed with his distinctive sound radiates energy.

He closed with two huge tracks: "All of the Lights" and "Finally Moving." If anyone wants to start making road trip plans for New Years, Pretty Lights will be ringing it in at 1st Bank Center in Denver. For now, reminisce or see what you should've seen below. View full slideshow here.

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Shannon Claire is a Hear Nebraska contributor and has only been home one nite in the past seven. 4 costumes, 7 shows, 3 parties and one un-carved pumpkin later she is taking today off and will be sittin on her front porch sippin on the java. You can contact her at s.claire.c@gmail.com.