By: Jamie Reysen

If the opportunity to see Pretty Lights presents itself, don’t miss it. And don’t wait to purchase your tickets either, as many Boston-area kids learned this fall.

Pretty Lights performed at a sold-out House of Blues Nov. 5, and it was one of their best shows that I’ve been to thus far (and I’ve been to quite a few).

Smith and drummer Adam Deitch played for two and a half hours—a lengthy set for a headlining act. Most of the musicians I’ve seen lately only played for about an hour and a half, at best.

For the first half of the night, Pretty Lights performed a series of their most upbeat electro mixes, keeping the crowd’s energy high. Not a pair of feet stood still.

After about an hour and a half, Pretty Lights left the stage. It was only about 11:15, but some audience members actually left. The venue’s lights hadn’t gone on, so I knew something was up.

Smith and Deitch returned to the stage, apparently having played a bit of a trick on the audience. Artists always leave the stage prior to an encore, but this wasn’t just an encore; it was part 2 of their performance.

While the first half of the night featured recent studio tracks played exactly as originally produced, Pretty Lights took a more fun, experimental approach to the second half of their set. They performed “Gold Coast Hustle” remixed with Kanye West’s “Get Em High,” and they threw in some older fan favorites, like “Hot Like Sauce.”

The crowd went crazy when Smith told them he was going to play a song he hadn’t performed in a really long time, referencing his remix of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.” I’m not a big fan of pop music, but even I get over-enthusiastic over a good remix of a top 40 hit.

Part of what made the show such an engaging one was Smith’s genuine appreciation for the audience. He said Boston was the first tour stop to sell out, and he thanked his fans on several occasions.

As usual, there was an accompanying light show. The name “Pretty Lights” was inspired by a 1966 New Years Eve concert flier. It read: Come and see the pretty lights. Smith has repeatedly stressed the importance of using visual production to make his live performances fun for the audience.

With their great success over the past few years, Pretty Lights could have played in total darkness, and they still would have evoked the same level of enthusiasm from the audience.

The tour has only just begun. Smith and Deitch will make 18 more stops before the New Year.