BOULDER, CO – American rock band Chevelle wrapped a series of shows in the western U.S. in January that took them from the Fillmore in San Francisco on Jan. 13 to the Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO on Jan. 30. Lighting designer Craig Richter built this tour’s lighting design around the new scenic set elements created by Robb Jibson of So Midwest Inc., using a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. With a new album to promote, The North Corridor, the band had been looking to make a new visual statement with the shows.
More details from Bandit (www.BanditLites.com):
The band, made up of brothers Pete and Sam Loeffler and Dean Bernardini, were promoting their latest album, The North Corridor which included the hit singles, “Joyride (Omen)” and “Door to Door Cannibals.”
“With Robb being a well-respected and talented lighting designer himself, he was able to come up with something that would allow some of the lighting fixtures to be incorporated into the set pieces,” said Richter. “Then I just had to choose the fixtures that I wanted to go on the set as well as the rest of the package.”
For that package, Bandit supplied Martin MAC Viper Profiles, Chauvet Rogue RH1 Hybrids, Elation Sixpar 100s, GLP X4S, GLP X4 Bars along with Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes and a Grand MA 2 lite console for control. “I try not to use a bunch of different fixtures; I like keeping it to a profile, beam and wash/LED type fixture,” Richter explained.
The GLP X4S illuminated the main focal points, as their compact size allowed them to be mounted on the set while still being powerful enough to give beam looks or wash out the stage. GLP X4 bars lit the scenic elements, backdrop and cabs in addition to occasionally backlighting the band.
Richter referred to the MAC Viper Profiles as his workhorse fixture as it is bright, fast and loaded up with gobos.
“As for the Chauvet Rogue RH1 Hybrid, I was convinced to take those by Bandit’s Director of Technical Services, Jake Tickle,” Richter added. “I was looking for a beam light, but something that had a lot of options as well. We did a shoot-out at Bandit with a similar fixture, and the Rogue RH1 Hybrid was the clear winner.”
With the fixtures chosen and the lighting design cemented, the next challenge was enabling the design to accommodate the wide range of venues. Even in facilities where there may not have been a dock, and the crew found themselves pushing set carts around the front to carry up a flight of stairs, the end result of awe from audiences was worth the struggle.
“It’s a pain a lot of the time, but it’s also worth it on the smaller venues when you have house people telling you that no one brings this much lighting into their venue.” Arming lighting designers with the ability to accomplish their visions is something Bandit’s staff strives for, an effort Project Manager Matt King accomplished for Chevelle’s tour using his decades of knowledge to suggest the most efficient ways to cable things, or even ideas on how to mount a fixtures. “In addition to all that help,” continued Richter, “Matt figures out all the information I will need before I head out of the shop, such as power draw, truck space and more.”
One aspect that Bandit prides itself on is its person to person interaction, an element Richter himself has noted in his seven years of working with the company.
“It is always a great experience,” he said of working with Bandit. “Brent Barret has been our client representative since I brought Chevelle to Bandit in 2014, as well as a few other clients over the years. He always has time for us, even when we make a last minute change or request. He is also great with helping making the gear to budget ratio work the best it can.”
“Being able to be adaptable is such a valued skill in my experience, and Craig demonstrates both that and more with his talent in creating superb looks for Chevelle’s production,” said Barrett. “I truly appreciate his ability to accomplish his vision in addition to the Client/Vendor relationship that Craig and I have developed over the years.”
“It is a good feeling knowing that if I ever need anything on the road from tape, to a caster, or even a whole new fixture, it’s just a phone call away,” finished Richter. “Any time or day of the week: I will have it at the next show.”
Following the close of their North American tour, Chevelle kicked off a European leg. For more information regarding tour dates, visit http://getmorechevelle.com/chevelle-tour.php
