Pretty Lights Brings The Dead to Life at The Warfield

Last night, Pretty Lights brought a swirling fusion of electronic beats and an homage to classic artists to The Warfield in San Francisco, marking a night of eclectic sounds and surprises. The venue itself, with its deep ties to the Grateful Dead, set the stage for a performance teeming with nods to the Dead’s legacy, including “Dark Star,” “Althea’ and more which was furthered with the help of collaborators Michal Menert, Chris Karns, Borahm Lee & Alvin Ford Jr.

Throughout the show, Pretty Lights, led by Derek Vincent Smith, orchestrated a diverse sonic tapestry, weaving together a multitude of influences. The setlist was a blend of San Francisco icons like Sly & The Family Stone and the Steve Miller Band, alongside a plethora of artists spanning various genres—from Silk Sonic to the legend MF Doom and beyond.

The Grateful Dead tributes were a standout, shaping the technicolor theme of Saturday night’s set. After opening with “The Time Has Come,” “PL vs Dead Prez” and “Wake Up [4], the first set moved into a reimagined version of the Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter classic “Althea,” incorporating elements of the Bay Area hip-hop group Hieroglyphics’ “You Never Knew” which gave way to Prettly Lights’ iconic “Only Yesterday.” As the set progressed, the familiar strains of the Dead’s “Touch of Grey” interwove seamlessly with samples from Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” and Black Star’s “Definition,” creating a unique blend that resonated in an array of distinct yet connective ways.

The second set witnessed more creative melding, notably merging Pretty Lights’ remix of Daft Punk’s “Solar Sailer” with the atmospheric guitar featured on the Dead’s “Lost Sailor.” However, the pinnacle of surprise came late in the second set when Smith took center stage, delivering an ethereal rendition of the Dead’s iconic “Dark Star.” The song was made his own as he infused his own lo-fi hip-hop essence into the celestial song, retaining its free-form nature while imprinting it with his distinctive feel.

Pretty Lights’ three-night stint in San Francisco was wrapped up with this performance, leaving the audience buzzing with the energy of their innovative sound – another curling feather in the producer’s cap.

Pretty Lights

The Warfield – San Fransisco

Nov. 10, 2023

(w/ Michal Menert, Chris Karns, Borahm Lee & Alvin Ford Jr.)

Set I: Black Hoodie, Start Time: 8:31, The Time Has Come [1], PL vs Dead Prez [2], YNDIO [3]

Wake Up [4], Althea [5] > Only Yesterday [6], With A Lil Love [7], Let Them Know It’s Time To Go [8], Last Passenger [9], Finally Moving (Playaz Club) > Forever Lost > Finally Moving [10], End Time: 9:52

Set II: Black Hoodie. Start time: 10:22, Road To The Stars [11] > Expanding Perspectives [12] > Ethereal [13] > Gold Coast Hustle [14] > Anytime [15] Hot Like Rox [16] > Solar Sailer [17] > Free Stomp [18], Dark Star [19], Hot Like Sauce [20], End Time: 11:53

Enc.: Start time: 11:54, Up & Down I Go [21], San Frandisco [22] > Tricky [23], Hurry Up Tomrrow [24], End Time: 12:16

Walk Off Music: Clique – Kanye West

Notes: Courtesy of Devin Dees and the PLF Discord crew

 [1] Kraftwerk – Tour de France

 [2] Dead Prez – Bigger Than Hip Hop, Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle

 [3] OutKast & UGK – International Players Anthem, Sly & The Family Stone – Everybody Is a Star

 [4]

 [5] Hieroglyphics – You Never Knew

 [6] ZZ Hill – That Ain’t The Way You Make Love, Madvillain – Fancy Clown, Sly and the Family Stone – Everyday People

 [7] Steve Miller Band – Children of the Future, Slave – Just A Touch Of Love, Journey – Lights, Common – The Light, Bobby Caldwell – Open Your Eyes

 [8] Rick James – Mary Jane, The Floaters – Float On

 [9] Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time, Black Star – Definition, Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey

 [10] Rappin’ 4 Tay – Playaz Club

 [11] Unfinished, A$AP Rocky – L$D, Hermitude – Flood, Aaliyah – Are You That Somebody, Black Star – Astronomy (8th Light), Quad City DJ’s – Space Jam

 [12] Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo, Wu-Tang Clan – Ruckus in B Minor, Neil Young – Heart of Gold, Beastie Boys – Intergalactic, The Game – Pot of Gold

 [13] The Conscious Daughters – Something to Ride To, Michael Seven – Energy Mantra, E-40 – U And Dat

 [14] Beastie Boys – Sure Shot, Michael Seven – Energy Mantra, Silk Sonic – Fly as Me, Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop

 [15]

 [16] Mos Def – Next Universe, The Roots – Right On, Troyboi – Do You

 [17] Oliver Tree – Alien Boy, Luniz – 5 On It, Delinquent Habits – California

 [18] Ashanti – Baby, Nelly – Party People

 [19] The Grateful Dead

 [20] Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation, MIMS – This is Why I’m Hot

 [21] Can’t Stop Me Now tease, Earth, Wind & Fire – Energy, Dr. Fresch – Roll It Up

 [22] Walker & Royce Remix by Dom Dolla & Walker & Royce

[23] Run DMC remix

[24] The Nu’Rons, Derek on bass guitar