ChamSys in the mix for The Interrupters
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The LA-based quartet are in the midst of an extended North American tour in support of their Top Ten Fight The Good Fight album. For Therrien, the tour not only represents the chance to spread his creative wings with a first-time client, but also an opportunity to run a different kind of show with his new ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 console.
“Cody James of JDI tried the ChamSys MagicQ MQ 500 Stadium lasts year, and told Derek Iorfida (owner of JDI Productions) great things about it, so Derek purchased some consoles,” adds Therrien, who designs for the Cranston, Rhode Island-based company. “I wasn’t 100-percent happy with the console that I was using. I wanted something that would make it easier to patch and clone different house stuff on tour. My first show with the MQ80 was in June. I haven’t looked back since.
“I think all tours have their own set of challenges, but this one for me was all about learning the band, what they like, and what makes them feel comfortable. The Interrupters want a very classic ‘punk show’ at points so, verses get big looks. Then, I add some movements for choruses in deep washes of colour. On the more ska/dance songs, it’s pretty much the same, but a little more movement and FX. The idea is to flow with the show and highlight the specialness of each band member.”
Helping Therrien accomplish this in his three-universe show is his ChamSys console. Given that his light show has to incorporate multiple fixtures from each new house rig on the tour, he appreciates how the cloning features of his console help him expand his rig.
“This is just a really powerful option to have at your disposal on a tour like Fight The Good Fight,” he says. “Going into the patch window, it’s very fast and easy to add fixtures when I get to a new venue. It’s also very convenient to be able to add fixtures, and sometimes just palettes instead of palettes and cues. The execute window is another great feature, since it lets me customise the console. Another thing I like is having all the playback buttons right below the screen.”
Therrien is carrying an Extra Wing with him on the tour. The compact MQ80 console and the Extra Wing along with their cases, fit neatly in the trailer as the tour criss-crosses North America.
The Interrupters embark on their European tour at the end of the year, Therrien will be there as the band’s LD. Coming along with him will be his new ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 console.
(Jim Evans)
