Packing for a trip to see Pretty Lights in Telluride. Emotions flailing in every direction. As the PL Family organizes for a Colorado Exclusive show in the mountain tops. A journey into the heavens of the raw rocky land. Returning to our roots and becoming more in tune with our surroundings. Primal instincts kick in.
As the day begins everyone catches one last moment of rest. Then last minute ride changes and plans are made. The cars are being packed full of pretty things to accompany many amazing souls. We set out onto the road with reality in our rear view mirror. In full music mode we are Telluride bound at last. To find that one sound bringing us all together.
Picking up fellow PLF on trains and planes, then loading them into an automobile to navigate through the madness of the city. Unexplainable evil forces like traffic accidents & thunderstorms keep us delayed from our destination until we break free and hit the open road. As we scale the mountain sides into higher elevations clouds part ways while we rise into the heavens. Darkness falls pushing the gas and flipping on the lights to divide the night. Surrounded by giants sleeping in the shadows creeping along the lakeside glimmering with the light of the moon. Deep into the mountains we would arrive at our destination soon.
We reached the town late at night, the stage was lit for visual testing as you could see the display on the mountain. Town park camp was full of family that had been preparing almost a full month since the Red Rocks show. I then found my condo which turned out to be an amazing mansion in the woods. I woke up to the most magnificent peaks shooting into the sky. Aspen trees lit by the crisp morning sun warmed my heart. All the frost from the night before had saturated the ground and deer grazed in the shade as I enjoy a breathe of fresh mountain air. The campgrounds fill with energy as sound check amplifies the air. Friends set up camp by the river with activities such as stacking rocks and hooping in the water.
So many beautiful people gathering for a monumental two night event. There is an energy here unlike any other. We are ready for this super moon to light up the dark abyss above ours heads. Floods of friends & family all gather in town square park. The band began to play in the shadows of the mountainside.
Energy erupts from every angle and Lasersharks shoot into sky. Bass reverberates through the earth while we stomp our feet in celebratory dance. Every face I look at is either in awe, can’t process what is going on, or has a look of pure excitement and joy in the heat of the moment. We made it to a once in a lifetime debut of new progressional sounds from Derek and the band. This is what we had all dreamt of, being together in the mountains listening to magical music being made. Later into the night the energy began to rise to the next level. This first night you could definitely tell the band was precise with every beat and they were saving up their energy to blow our minds that next night.
We all felt like it was a very special weekend and surely there was a surprise in store for us. It seems Derek wanted to pay a visit to his fans and Pretty Lights Family in the town park campground. He headed towards the waterfalls as groups of people surrounded him chanting his name as if he were some sort of god like figure. The legend of the man himself slapping a bag of wine next to the creek will always resonate as a part of this trip. Derek continued his stroll into town buying lemon cookies and something to drink from the local youth. He definitely did not want to get too tired before the show that night. The love he shared with everyone that day by giving hugs to people and taking pictures on cell phones together was a sure sign that we were in for a treat.
This time town park square was twice as full of the total amount of attendees by sunset. Some had work Friday so it seemed like Saturday was definitely the day to be there. Pretty Lights and The Analog Future Band came out with so much gusto and lit the stage on fire with the music ripping out of all the speaker boxes. Then the most unimaginable thing happened when Derek announced that Michal Menert was going to play piano with the band during the performance of a song titled “Try To Remember” . A song made by the two artists in the early career and production of Pretty Lights music. To myself and many of the dedicated fans this was a priceless moment because it had been years since Michal and Derek had played music together. Lights explode behind the artists as they brighten our night and tears of happiness run down my face. What an amazing night this turned out to be gazing at the glare of the stars and watching the full moon rise through the clouds as the Pink Floyd “Time” remix filled the skies with lasers that seemed to lock everyone in the spot they stood with amazement. The music kept going and going seeming like time almost slowed down for us all to enjoy it. Compared to the first night when it was already over before I was even satisfied. We were one big happy family.
Love filled the town park square as we continued to relish in the moment under the lights. I met so many people who were all there for the same reason. We are all the same when it comes down to it and join together as one to celebrate life. I finally felt like I had enough pictures and was able to put my camera down and dance for a good portion of the second set. Capturing the moment of those two nights was an amazing feeling and I am very blessed to be a part of this movement. We were sent home with a message of respect and peace which many people took to heart and helped to pick up trash at the festival ground leaving it clean for the locals. The show was finally over and Derek spent time up front, close and personal with the people who stuck around. He shook hands, gave hugs and kisses and love to all those people which not many others would do. Videos and photos together along with the family of friends made for a grand finale to Telluride 2015 ! I would like to thank each and every person for the kindness they shared. Every time I asked someone to excuse me passing through the crowd to take pictures I was given so many positive vibrations. I can not wait to see where the music takes us next !