Typical of this hard-driving pace is the group's current You Know Who You Are tour, which covers 35 US cities plus stops throughout Europe. Keeping up with Nada Surf on the cross-country American leg of its tour is a collection of Rogue and Nexus fixtures from Chauvet Professional.
Packed in a trailer towed behind the band's bus, the all-Chauvet rig includes four Rogue R1 Spot moving fixtures and six Nexus 4x1 RGB linear LED washes. "They are travelling very well," said Dinah Miller, the tour's lighting designer, who rented the fixtures from Squeek Lights.
"Versatility was extremely important to me," said Miller. "I selected these fixtures because I wanted a lot of different looks from a rig that was compact and easy to transport."
Miller flanks the drum riser with two Rogue R1 Spots and two Nexus 4x1 washes on either side. She positions these fixtures on cases or pipe-and-base, depending on the venue, to give them height. Her two other Rogue units are on mid-stage cases pushed as far to the right and left as possible. The four remaining Nexus fixtures in her rig are arranged on the stage deck in front of the drum riser.
"I elevate the R1s and keep them in the mid-stage area so I can create special looks focused on each of the four band members," said the LD. "The R1s give us some great backlight on the band. In some venues, I'll use them to project some engaging images on ceilings, in addition to some beautiful scenes on the back wall and backdrop."
The Rogue R1 Spot is also being used by Miller for audience lighting. "I like using the R1 to reach out into the audience ceiling to really transform the space," she said. "I can do this, because they are very powerful for their size. They also have such a great prism that I am able to use them sometimes as almost a wash unit."
Miller uses the Nexus 4x1 fixtures for back, up and side light specials for the individual band members. "The soft uplighting and intense colour of the Nexus really adds pop to the band," she said. "I like creating looks for each band member."
(Jim Evans)
