The Gearhouse set-up for Elton John in Newlands was the biggest line array PA ever used in South Africa. Main left and right was 12 a side V-DOSC with two dV-DOSC down-fills and six KUDO side as outer hangs. Delays were on Gearhouse's TFL V-Towers with nine KUDO on each and outer delays, also on towers, of nine dV-DOSC a side. An additional four dV-DOSC were deployed as front- fills.
Ofer Lapid, MD of Gearhouse SA, heard the new PA for the first time in CT. Speaking at the show he said, "Even as a lighting guy I know when I hear excellent sound because the hairs on my arms stand on end. This is what happened when I heard the V-DOSC at Newlands. I am very happy with the purchase."
The Elton John crew then moved to Durban for another outdoor show at the ABSA stadium. Here the PA was the same as for CT but without the requirement for the outer delays.
The tour ended in the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg where the crew were very happy to discover that they didn't need to hang any delays. Gearhouse has been doing Flashlight main PAs with dV-DOSC delays in the 20,000 capacity venue for years and not having to bother with delay hangs was a pleasant surprise for the crew.
(Jim Evans)
