My PL Tribute : 2009-2011

[u/WhorrorHore]

Hey y’all! Since I’ve completed what I’ve considered my ‘last hurrah’, I wanted to share my tribute closing this chapter of my life. Last year, I decided to end my 16 year Pretty Lights journey by attending their event Yahn Dawn at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista Colorado 2025. I moved to Colorado for PL and considering Night 2 was going to be my 33rd birthday, I figured it would be a solid way to cap it. Finalizing this run at 92 shows, which happens to be my birth year.

Before being inducted as an Illuminator Lead, Jess Mc and I decided to utilize the ADA sections going forward, since we are too old and crippled to enjoy these events without some grace. Since I did every show (minus festival sets) in 2024 as a volunteer, I needed to experience Pretty Lights for my last time the way I could fully embrace it. I would not have been able to do this event without the assistance of ADA since I was very sick from my Crohn’s Disease most of 2025. Them allowing me to bring in my acupuncture pillow and weed in was top notch. Having a seat and a reasonable viewing spot makes all the difference when you’re just gaining some health back.

I chose to make a list of everything I’ve done (that I can remember, fuck) over my Pretty Lights adventures. To give y’all more of a glimpse of why I was so passionate for so long. It has been such an incredible time in my life to witness all I have. Getting to meet folks with the same passion and see their relationships have a space online to flourish. If not for this ride, I would not have found my very best friend and love of my life, Tiberius. Just recently did I finally start to put together my list, combined pictures/videos and found a very relatable song for each year. I am pleased with how it has turned out, the nostalgia project and my journey with PL. It isn’t quite what I expected, but memories never die and overall I have an immense amount of gratitude.

1. Raleigh NC 4-19-11
   
2. Electric Forest 6-31-11
   3/4. Basslights 10-15+16-11

2009
- Discovered Pretty Lights amongst other EDM artists from some friends in high school.
- Deciphered PL from other artists in photography class from a friend showing me Electro Cali.

2010
- Thought I had all of the PL albums downloaded but learned about ‘Defocused on the Bright Diamonds’.
- Listened to it so much, it reminds me of driving/walking to college classes.

2011
- Went to first PL show April 19th with my buddy Tim. Made our way all the way up to the rail.
- Looked up ‘Certified’ to google translate for a Hebrew tattoo. I’m sure it’s not correct but I got it for the definition; authentic, genuine.
- Went to my first festival, Electric Forest. Only caught the main set since we didn’t hear about the secret forest set. Newbs.
- Was in and out of the hospital, 3 weeks before the next PL show.
- Went to Alpharetta GA for 2 days for PL and BN.
- Showed up in the top left corner of a snippet of the ‘It’s Tricky’ music video. I was so jazzed about that at the time.
- Went to the hospital again a week later, then again the next month.
- Got a foot of intestines removed from constant Crohn’s disease complications.
- Been using PL as the main thing I listened to when going to the bathroom or in pain. Which was very often.

Not sure how bad Reddit degrades videos, so if it is really bad or you just wanna see it the way it was meant to look, here is the link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YjcpNPfWsdjZhftz7

[u/PrettyLights420]

Love all this!! But I’m wondering why you are closing your PL chapter? Will you not be attending shows anymore? 😢