Trip Thru Time

Benny sits down with Chris Wilson, aka PrettyNights, one of the Pretty Lights community’s most dedicated historians and archivists. What began as a project to document Pretty Lights history has grown into a massive resource for the community, first as a website and now as an app. PrettyNights brings together discovered setlists from across the years and gives fans a way to track the shows they’ve...

Ben, ToferToast and special guest HammyT continue their Capitol Theatre conversation with Part 2, turning their attention to Nights 2 and 3 of Pretty Lights’ August 21–23 run in Port Chester, New York. After breaking down the latest PL news and opening night in Part 1, the three pick things back up with the final two nights of the weekend and dig into how the run continued to evolve from one show...

Ben and Kris, aka ToferToast/Yellow Shirt Guy, are joined by special guest Tom Hammond, aka HammyT, for Part 1 of their Capitol Theatre recap, covering the latest Pretty Lights news and the opening night of the August 21–23 run in Port Chester, New York. With ToferToast and HammyT both inside The Cap for the weekend and Benny following along through the livestreams from home, the three bring diffe...

Ben and Kris, aka ToferToast/Yellow Shirt Guy, continue their voyage through the Pretty Lights Galaxy with Constellation 3 of A Trip Thru Time Fantastic, turning their attention to the next five tracks and the details that continue to emerge as the album unfolds. With another constellation comes another round of discoveries. Ben and Kris revisit familiar musical moments through the lens of their o...

Ben and Kris, aka ToferToast/Yellow Shirt Guy, continue their journey through the Pretty Lights galaxy with a deep dive into Constellation 2 of A Trip Thru Time Fantastic. Picking up where Constellation 1 left off, they break down the next five tracks from the album, revisiting familiar moments while uncovering new details, textures, samples, and musical connections that have emerged through repea...

Ben and Kris, (aka ToferToast and Yellow Shirt Guy), continue their journey through the Pretty Lights galaxy with a deep dive into Constellation 1 of A Trip Thru Time Fantastic. In Episode 31, they break down the first five tracks of the album, exploring the moments that feel different, fresh, or newly revealed within the official releases. They revisit elements that have already become personal f...

Ben is joined by regular guest Kris (aka ToferToast) to dissect the monumental return of Pretty Lights. The wait is officially over as Derek Vincent Smith drops A Trip Thru Time Fantastic—a massive 45 track masterpiece divided into nine distinct constellations, with the first 15 tracks already available for free download and streaming. In this episode, we explore: * The New Album 'A Trip Thro...

In this episode of Trip Thru Time, Mark Cooley, also known as Shuj Roswell of Super Best Records, joins the show to discuss his recent performance at the Meow Wolf Prismatic Fleet Danceportation event. Mark shares his perspective as both a performer and a dedicated archivist within the Pretty Lights Family, detailing his role in marking setlists and documenting the evolution of the band’s various...

In this episode of Trip Thru Time, Kris, the Yellow Shirt Guy returns to discuss his experiences at the Meow Wolf Dance Portation event, reflecting on the vibrant community atmosphere, the performances of various artists, and the unique format of the event. They share insights on the significance of Pretty Lights in the electronic music scene and speculate on future events and collaborations. The...

In this episode, Ben and Justin Balboa of Out of Time Studios @studiooutoftime explore the Prismatic Fleet event Danceportation at Meow Wolf in Denver CO, discussing its unique multi-channel experience and the evolution of music festivals. They delve into Justin's personal journey with Pretty Lights, the intersection of art and music, and the cultural dynamics that shape identity and trends i...

The cosmic voyage concludes! In this final installment of our Yahn Dawn trilogy, Ben accompanied by "Yellow Shirt Guy," Tofer Toast , break down the climactic yet to some controversial second night of Pretty Lights’ inaugural festival in Buena Vista, Colorado.  Ben opens the episode by acknowledging the long break he took from podcasting due to significant life changes. He candidly discu...

In this episode of Trip Thru Time, we explore the unforgettable experience of Pretty Lights at Elements Festival with our guests, Brandon and Molly. Dive into the magic of the secret renegade set that took place at 3:30 am, a spontaneous performance that left festival-goers in awe. We also discuss the two captivating sets on Sunday: a solo set that showcased Pretty Lights' unique soundscapes...

Ben and Kris are back, for a deep dive into the cosmic voyage of Pretty Lights' first night at Yahn Dawn in Buena Vista. In this second part of the recap, the duo breaks down both sets of the legendary performance, giving you a track-by-track analysis and discussing the overall atmosphere of the night. Featuring exclusive audio and visual clips from the iconic lucid stream, Ben and Kris weave...

Get ready for a mind-bending journey back to Pretty Lights' magical Yahn Dawn festival in Buena Vista, Colorado! In this first of three recap episodes, we dive headfirst into the Thursday pre-party events with special guest Kris, also known as "Tofer Toast" – the legendary yellow shirt guy seen dancing passionately front row on live streams and recap videos. We'll kick things o...

Join us as we dive into the unique experience of organizing a 5K race at Yahn Dawn, the Pretty Lights music festival event 6/26-6/28. Our guest, Matan Korrub, shares his journey from a solo runner to a community leader, bringing together his love for running and music. Discover how this event, filled with unexpected challenges and heartwarming moments, became a testament to the power of community...

Ben checks in solo to share what’s new with Trip Thru Time — from prepping for Buena Vista and welcoming a baby, to shifting creative priorities and reflecting on how Pretty Lights and this community continue to shape his life. He shouts out past guests contributing to BV, like Samso, Hyperspace Sky, and the Swirl Safe team, and invites listeners to get involved via a new voicemail line and fan-so...

From a high school sculpture class in Atlanta to nearly 100 Pretty Lights shows, Nicholas Bitzis—aka Niko Beats—takes us on a vivid journey through the highs, lows, and pivotal moments of his musical pilgrimage. He recounts his first PL show at The Masquerade in 2009 at just 14, the life-shifting sunrise set at Bonnaroo, and how Pretty Lights became a compass through wild road trips, busted vans,...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Ben sits down with Jess MC — one of the original founders of the Pretty Lights Family Facebook group and a true OG in the scene since 2009. Broadcasting a lifetime of experience, Jess opens up about her deep connection to Pretty Lights’ music, the accident that nearly took her life, and how the music and community helped carry her through recovery and into a...

On this very special episode, Ben welcomes someone who's been part of his journey long before the podcast even began - his wife, Giselle (aka Mrs. Bahdoo)! Broadcasting from Las Vegas after seeing Dead & Company at The Sphere, they reflect on a lifetime of shared musical memories - from bumping into each other at random shows in Chicago to traveling across the country for Pretty Lights, S...

Ben welcomes back HammyT to deep dive into Pretty Lights history, community stories, and the moments that make this scene so special. As the first returning guest on Trip Thru Time, HammyT comes back with more tales, more insight, and plenty of laughs. The two unpack major news in the PL universe—from Buena Vista being billed as the “only band event of the summer” to Derek and Uma expecting their...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Trip Thru Time, Ben sits down with Brennen, the artist behind Illumination Lab Art, whose fresh designs — from pins to PL stickers — have become iconic within the Pretty Lights family. From the early days of Free Press Summer Fest, and the X-Games in Austin, to full-circle moments at Mission Ballroom for the return from hiatus and Marti Gras World for the...

In this episode of Trip Thru Time, Ben sits down with Brandon Rietheimer—legend of the Pretty Lights Family—for a deep dive into the early days of taping shows, building the Pretty Lights Live archive, and designing some of the most iconic PL pins ever made. From stories on tour to chasing rare tracks and debut moments, Brandon shares how he’s helped document the culture, music, and connection tha...

In this episode, Ben sits down with Sky, aka Hyperspace Sky, to explore his journey through music, spirituality, and self-discovery. From his deep connection to Pretty Lights to his experiences with breathwork, yoga, and healing, Sky shares how these elements have shaped his life. Plus, we dive into the energy of the Warfield shows, his daughter's incredible birth story, and the power of comm...

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Ackels to talk Pretty Lights, music theory, and community connections. From his journey into the PL universe to jam structures, dream collaborations, and building the ultimate PL Superband, this conversation is packed with insight and love for the music. Plus, a sneak peek into what Samso has planned for 2025. Intro/Outro: 2024-10-25 Live @ Las Vegas

Ben sits down with Tom, aka HammyT88, whose YouTube channel has garnered over 2M views, to discuss Pretty Lights’ 2-Night NYE run in Chicago. They dive into the evolution of live music, the impact of community, and the unforgettable moments that make Pretty Lights shows so special. From favorite venues and standout songs to the joys of live-streaming and fan interactions, this episode captures the...