Elation lights Skinny Puppy across Europe
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Pioneers of the electro-industrial genre, Skinny Puppy, known for their theatrical and sometimes controversial live performances, enjoys a dedicated following and has charted in both North America and Europe. They have just completed the European leg of their Down the Sociopath tour.
Lighting has been designed and is under the direction of Eric Price (Thrice, Underoath, Bayside), who, although working with the group for the first time, has meshed with the band to create a design that complements the band’s complex and layered sound.
“For the Skinny Puppy design, everything needed to be angular since they wanted to incorporate a triangle projection screen right in the centre of the stage,” Price says of the design, describing his overall approach as ‘textured’. “I try to put a lot of emphasis on visual depth and maximize what is available on a day to day basis at venues.”
Price says that initially he was using the ACL 360 Bar RGBW moving bar effects as a “third level” ancillary fixture. “But once the band and myself saw them on stage, everyone got ideas for ways to make them more of a focus over the course of the show,” he said. “I'm able to mimic the shape of the projection screen while also creating windows of negative space, so you can still see the musicians upstage on the risers.”
The ACL 360 Bars are hung on 6' truss towers mid stage left and right and can also be used as side light for the downstage musicians. “I love the infinite pan and tilt capabilities of the fixture. So fun to play around with!” Price says, referring to the ACL 360 Bar’s continuous 360-degree rotation. “The band and I are extremely pleased with them.”
The entire lighting package for the Skinny Puppy European tour was provided by VER, which Price coordinated via VER shops in Chicago and London. “The fixtures have been outstanding. No complaints,” he says.
(Jim Evans)
