PODCAST · music
Almost Familiar
by Elizabeth Dreeson, Wes Johnson
Is Pretty Lights the Phish of EDM? Is it possible to love Dubstep and Bluegrass? Have you ever called someone a wook or been called a wook yourself? Elizabeth Dreeson and Wes Johnson discuss the evolving landscape of what they call "neo-hippie music festival culture." Wes and Elizabeth have witnessed firsthand this emergent subculture's evolution over the last decade and are interested in looking at the past to make better sense of the present.The music speaks for itself. Wes and Elizabeth are interested in talking to the characters behind the scenes who are responsible for building the community we know and love. Almost Familiar is a podcast by the people and for the people, because it's about the people.
Episodes
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The 3420 Episode
Get familiar with 3420, a talented three-piece ensemble that has spent the last six years developing a sound and a continuously-evolving and expanding live show that manages to stand out for all of the right reasons in the hyper-competitive Denver music scene. We catch up with Josh, Martin &...
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Vector Checkpoint 5.0: Tahoe
Way up high in Sierra Nevada, Pretty Lights channeled the unique flavor of California Soul and expressed the spectrum of the human experience over two mystifying nights of music near the shores of South Lake Tahoe. The project has exceeded its potential-with an onslaught of deep cuts that hadn’t...
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The 5AM Trio Episode
Get familiar with the 5am Trio, composed of Sam Andrus (5am), Aaron Harel (ZONE DRUMS) & Keith W (½ of Wax Future). They are incredibly talented musicians on their own, but together form a group that have occupied a distinct place within the scene, bridging the gap between high fidelity sound...
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Vector Checkpoint 4.0: Bethel
55 years after the culturally-significant Woodstock Music & Art Fair of 1969, the Check Your Vector Tour brought Pretty Lights and company for a two-day celebration on the idyllic grounds nestled in Upstate New York. Bethel’s historical context and sense of place offered a unique lens to…
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Vector Checkpoint 3.0: Red Rocks
Red Rocks is an iconic venue to see music in, and it is especially meaningful for the evolution of the Pretty Lights project and its impact on Colorado’s electronic music scene. 2024 was no exception, as the band and crew continued to elevate the Pretty Lights experience to New Heights once…
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Vector Checkpoint 2.0: Bonnaroo & Electric Forest
As we approach a weekend 6 years in the making, we revisit when the Pretty Lights crew returned to headline both Bonnaroo and Electric Forest last month after more than a decade since their last appearances that solidified their presence/reputation in the scene. It’s hard not to feel engrossed in...
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The Hampton Retrospective Episode
Hampton, we have lift off. This weekend Pretty Lights returns to the iconic Hampton Coliseum for the first time in nearly a decade to kick off the Check Your Vector tour. Wes and Elizabeth reflect on the last time the Pretty Lights project was in the building as we look forward to the start of a...
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The TF Marz Episode
Get familiar with TF Marz, Co-founder and Creative Director of all:Lo music collective, whose Colorado and Pacific Northwest roots heavily influence his refreshing and distinct take on electronic music that is healthily infused with hip hop and RnB sensibilities. We dive into the music scene in…
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The Greg "Lazershark" Ellis Episode 2.0
Get familiar once again with Greg “The Lazershark” Ellis, a highly revered, industry-respected, ruthlessly sarcastic lighting designer who has been responsible for nearly 15 years of breathtaking and dazzling visual displays as innovative as the music it backs. Best known for his work with Pretty...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 8: New Orleans 2023
Like the city of New Orleans and “the tangled veins of cypress roots that meander this way and that in the swamp” the final sets of the Pretty Lights tour were “interrelated, wrapped around itself in ways that aren’t always obvious.” Channeling the spirit of Dr. John and New Orleans itself, the...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 7: The Caverns 2023
Even the sky is not the limit for the Soundship Spacesystem crew. Using it as their palette, the crew engaged Sky Lites to coordinate a light show with 75 drones, on top of having special guests in the VJ booth. This was just one of many unique elements that passengers on the Soundship…
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 6: San Francisco 2023
Famous San Francisco promoter Bill Graham’s marquee on The Warfield theater for The Grateful Dead’s concert on September 25, 1980 said it all: "THEY'RE NOT THE BEST AT WHAT THEY DO, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT DO WHAT THEY DO" Almost Familiar invites prolific live music journalist, Upful Life...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 5: Chicago 2023
The best Pretty Lights show of all time? The echo chamber was swirling in the aftermath of the Soundship Spacesystem’s leveling of one of its most-visited destinations, Chicago. Almost Familiar welcomes PLF Chicago representatives, Charlie Charles Char and Kris Wilhelmsen to reflect on the...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 4: Brooklyn 2023
Not even biblical flooding could stop the Soundship Spacesystem tour from docking for an iconic three-day run at the infamous Brooklyn Mirage, whose larger than life production showcased the tantalizing abilities of the entire Pretty Lights team as both band and crew continue to fire on all...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 3: Philadelphia 2023
The Soundship Spacesystem touched down in Philadelphia for three nights of swirling samples from different eras and tasteful tributes to the city of brotherly love. With the successful execution of the band’s first “set sandwich,” the menu is full of limitless potential with a secret sauce that...
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 2: Atlanta 2023
The Swirl Bridge made its way down to the South East as Pretty Lights and the Soundship Spacesystem tour touched down for three awe-inspiring nights in Atlanta’s The Eastern as the band picked up right where they left off in Colorado. While Atlanta experienced bust-outs, re-imaginations of…
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Soundship Spacesystem Passenger Log Volume 1: Colorado 2023
The electronic music scene has been in a constant state of reflection and reinvention since its inception, yet one of its most influential pioneers of the new millenia has been dormant over the last five years. Earlier this month, balance was restored as Pretty Lights made a triumphant return...
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The Borahm Lee Episode
Get familiar with Borahm Lee, a pianist and key member of Denver’s music community, known mostly as a member of the formerly Brooklyn-based duo, Break Science and multiple live iterations of the Pretty Lights project. He could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but his love for the piano and jazz...
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The parkbreezy Episode
Get familiar with parkbreezy: producer, instrumentalist and co-founder of Denver’s beloved all:Lo music collective, whose compositions are a soulful and melodic exploration of the future with nostalgic glimpses of his past inspirations. Parker underscores the relationship between sampling and...
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The 2022 Unwrapped Episode
Get familiar with highlights of the 2022 festival season and beyond. Wes and Elizabeth share their own highlights and also conducted a community census to get a sense of what stood out between festivals, events, musicians, mixes, albums, and personal milestones. Trending submissions include...
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The ZONE Drums Episode
Get familiar with ZONE Drums aka Aaron Harel, whom you have likely seen on the drums bringing abstract electronic music to life with the 5AM Trio, Thought Process, CloZee, Daily Bread, and more. Aaron has a knack for recognizing potential in both music and materials - from cutting his teeth by...
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The Wessanders Episode
Get Familiar with Wessanders, a Connecticut- based producer and staple member of The Rust, whose music is as eclectic as his life experiences. A traveler and student of the world, Wessanders has immersed himself in many cultures outside of the US and imbeds them into his ever-evolving sound...
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The Cnopes Episode
Get familiar with Cnopes, a producer whose electronic music style is influenced heavily by jazz, blues, hip hop and soul, creating sensational soundscapes that have caught the attention of lineup curators for festivals like Sonic Bloom and Sound Haven. Connor shares how he shifted his approach...
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A Tale of Two Festivals
Get familiar with how the pandemic has impacted the experiences and infrastructure of two of the scene’s most beloved and influential festivals: Lightning in a Bottle and Sonic Bloom. After allowing some time for the dust to settle (and there was lots of dust), Wes and Elizabeth reflect on the...
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The pheel. Episode
Get familiar with pheel., a Denver-based producer and co-founder of the increasingly popular All:Lo record label who specializes in all things low end. Known for his signature Morning Coffee series in collaboration with Parkbreezy, Phil shares how these mixes evolved from beats to drink coffee to...
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The Anti-Alias Episode
Get familiar with Jack Hurley, better known as Anti Alias, whose career as a multimedia designer has taken him from working a corporate job to collaborating with Tipper at his most recent return to Red Rocks in 2021. Jack talks about his experience collaborating with Datagram Visuals for the…
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The Phyphr Episode
Get familiar with Phyphyr, whose project is as much of a product of Nick’s experiences with the scene as our podcast. After being inspired by the hybrid electronic/instrumental acts he witnessed at Hulaween, Nick began his journey in creating music which has transplanted him from North Carolina…
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The West of the Moon Episode
Welcome back to season two of Almost Familiar! Sharing space with harmony, rhythm and eternity, Wes and Elizabeth had the opportunity to record in-person for the first time after attending their first concert together since the last Pretty Lights performance at Red Rocks in 2018. Sound Tribe, San...
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The Rust Music Episode
Get familiar with The Rust Music, a collective that curates some of our favorite gatherings on the East Coast. From the events, to the artists they represent, to their blog, the crew at The Rust Music does everything with the intent of authenticity to push the boundaries of how we experience...
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The Sanctuary Radio Episode
Get familiar with Stacey Forrester’s Sanctuary Radio, a weekly podcast about safer nightlife with a focus on consent and harm reduction. Stacey runs the harm reduction program at British Columbia’s boutique Bass Coast festival, co-founded the Vancouver chapter of Good Night Out, and creates...
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The DB Montana Episode
Get familiar with DB Montana, who used social media to create a safe space for the victims and survivors of Bassnectar’s disturbing and pathological abuse to anonymously share their stories that shattered his public image built on meticulous manipulation. Montana tells this story from the...
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The Father Figure Episode
Get Familiar with Father Figure, an East Coast-based producer and fellow Mudson Project survivor with whom we exchange horror stories from the trial-by-fire that was Camp Bisco. From a profound Amon Tobin ISAM set, to playing the renegade stage, Matt’s seasoned perspective allows him to reflect…
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The Midicinal Episode
Get Familiar with Midicinal (Scott Rhatigan), an Arizona-born producer currently residing in Denver whose music is imbued with themes of travel- pulling from his own experiences of moving frequently. As his name suggests, Scott fully understands music’s healing properties and shares his…
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The PLF Series Vol. 3: Jesska Cvijanovic
Get familiar with Jesska Cvijanovic whose pins, photography (214), and merch are foundational to the Pretty Lights Family that she helped create. Jesska shares how her photography passion changed her experience and perspective of shows, the history of the Illuminator and Vibe Adjuster programs…
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The 5AM Episode
Get Familiar with 5AM, an innovative electronic music producer who is pushing the boundaries on what improvisation can look like in the abstract corner of electronica. 5AM went from asking “What’s a Tipper?” when first encountering his name on a festival lineup to kicking off Uptempo night for…
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The PLF Series Vol. 2: Sam Ackels
Get familiar with Sam Ackels, whose first show was Pretty Lights’ last - the second night of Red Rocks 2018. Wes and Elizabeth learn that context was not required to experience the profundity of that singular show. Sam shares the moments that hooked him and how it influenced his journey and taste...
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The Shuj Roswell Episode
Get familiar with Shuj Roswell, a Denver born-and-bred producer who specializes in what he calls “Funktronadelic.” Mark A. Cooley (Shuj Roswell) takes us on a journey of his distinct travels through sound and the paths of rhythm: from seeing Pretty Lights at Boulder’s Trilogy Wine Bar, to…
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The Vincent Antone Episode
Get Familiar with Vincent Antone, the man behind the “All the Pretty Lights” tribute that recently reverberated some much-needed positive vibes in the Pretty Lights Family. Vincent shares which Pretty Lights interviews he sampled in the tribute, his creative process on making music that Makes You...
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The No Simple Road Episode
Get Familiar with the No Simple Road Podcast, one of the major inspirations for Almost Familiar that’s hosted by a Deadhead family of charismatic cosmic wanderers. Wes and Elizabeth share how they met, what it took to get the podcast off the ground, and how they got “turned on” to Pretty Lights -...
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The PLF Series Vol. 1: Brett Shredmunds
“Red Rocks ‘18, bitch!” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. Get familiar with Brett Shredmunds, an admin for the Pretty Lights Family group on Facebook, who was one of the group’s first 10 members and has named his fair share of songs. Brett takes us through listening to reggae as a...
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The Whit Hawkins Episode
Get familiar with Whit Hawkins, who has worn many hats behind the scenes for some of our culture’s most iconic artists, including Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, STS9, and Daily Bread. From sneaking out of his bedroom in his parents’ house to see STS9 perform in backyards in Atlanta to becoming their...
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The ReVibe Rewind with Andrew Frost Episode
Get familiar with Andrew Frost, the stage manager who pulled off the Pretty Lights surprise at ReVibe Wellness Festival in Myrtle Beach - the first COVID-compliant festival of its kind. Currently Sunsquabi’s tour manager, Andrew shares stories about how he cut his teeth in this trade - from...
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The Thought Process Episode
Get familiar with Thought Process. This prolific producer specializes in what he has coined, (and we fully support) high fidelity sound design. This conversation took us through his journey loyal street teamer to promoter, to performer at Denver's iconic bass mecca, The Blackbox. We talk about…
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The Kaptain Episode
Get familiar with Kaptain, a producer currently based in Denver whose music pulls from electro-soul, electro hip hop, future funk, and glitch hop to create a sound that is as hybrid as the culture itself. Stephen shares his perspective on why the Denver scene is so magnetic and conspicuous…
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The JD Vanderwiel Episode
Get Familiar with JD Vanderwiel, who has likely been the first person in and last person out at some of the shows and festivals you have attended within the electro soul scene. Such is the life of this tour manager/production manager/lighting designer extraordinaire. You have probably seen his...
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The Mr. Bill Episode
Get familiar with Mr. Bill, a staple of the bass music scene and an Ableton wizard whose techno side project Electrocado was released on Deadmau5 label mau5trap. We talk to Bill about Australian wooks, why psytrance never took off in America, what makes a DJ set “live,” and the evolution of...
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The B. Getz Episode
Get familiar with one of the music scenes most active and knowledgeable journalists, our friend, B. Getz. B. started working in the music industry dating back to the 90's. Throughout his career he has been to countless historic concerts/festivals, transcribing them in his incredibly captivating...
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The Greg Ellis aka the LazerShark Episode
Get familiar with how the Pretty Lights community was intentionally built from one of the guys who has been there from the beginning. Greg Ellis, known for making the lights pretty, has an approach to lighting that is almost as improvisational as the music it complements. As a huge Phish fan...
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That One Friend Who Moved to Colorado...
Get familiar with why people move to Colorado and what makes them stay. Shelby shares her story about the impulsive decision that brought her to Colorado and the transformative experience that inspired her to stay. Thomas (@saintsnacks) shares stories about live painting and creating visuals for...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Is Pretty Lights the Phish of EDM? Is it possible to love Dubstep and Bluegrass? Have you ever called someone a wook or been called a wook yourself? Elizabeth Dreeson and Wes Johnson discuss the evolving landscape of what they call "neo-hippie music festival culture." Wes and Elizabeth have witnessed firsthand this emergent subculture's evolution over the last decade and are interested in looking at the past to make better sense of the present.The music speaks for itself. Wes and Elizabeth are interested in talking to the characters behind the scenes who are responsible for building the community we know and love. Almost Familiar is a podcast by the people and for the people, because it's about the people.
HOSTED BY
Elizabeth Dreeson, Wes Johnson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Almost Familiar have?
Almost Familiar currently has 52 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Almost Familiar about?
Is Pretty Lights the Phish of EDM? Is it possible to love Dubstep and Bluegrass? Have you ever called someone a wook or been called a wook yourself? Elizabeth Dreeson and Wes Johnson discuss the evolving landscape of what they call "neo-hippie music festival culture." Wes and Elizabeth have...
How often does Almost Familiar release new episodes?
Almost Familiar has 52 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Almost Familiar?
You can listen to Almost Familiar on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Almost Familiar?
Almost Familiar is created and hosted by Elizabeth Dreeson, Wes Johnson.
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