Chauvet lightshow for Luke Bryan
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Displaying the free-flowing energy of a beach party where everyone is invited, Bryan’s performance gleefully pulls in a diverse mix of music that includes his popular country hits like Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (from which the tour got its name), as well as renditions of crowd-pleasers like Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer.
A large vertical video wall over the set, flanked by two equally impressive square walls, creates an evocative environment on stage by displaying a wide range of images that include ‘neon’ cowboys, clear blue skies, and red sunsets.
Working in unison with the video walls are 16 Maverick MK Pyxis fixtures that are arranged four apiece on vertical light ladders. Drawing on the continuous 360° pan and tilt movement of the beam/wash effect, Kitchenman creates a variety of multi-dimensional patterns on stage.
Kitchenman also relies on the outer ring of nine zoomable RGBW LEDs in the MK Pyxis to conjure up a continuous flow of eye candy effects. At times, the looks from the Maverick units seem almost to grow out of the videos because of the way they mirror the colours and patterns displayed on the walls.
“The Pyxis works beautifully with the video elements of the show,” says Kitchenman. “This fixture has so many visual capabilities that allow it to go from a fast-punchy beam, to a soft ambient wash, or any matter of combinations. We set up the Pyxis in line with the video walls so we could extend their visual impact.
Also setting a tone on stage by outlining its form and focusing attention to its centre are the pixel mapped EPIX Strip fixtures in Kitchenman’s rig. “We use the ÉPIX Strips on our lighting pods to outline the top and bottom chords of the truss,” he said. “The strips play an important role, as the pods are on automated winches. Having the ability to outline the shape of the pods with the ÉPIX really defines their movement and position from song to song.”
(Jim Evans)
