So far, the European leg of the tour has seen the band play a string of high profile festival slots including the Isle of Wight Festival and headlining Sunday at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London - with future UK summer dates including T in The Park and Reading / Leeds Festival - as well as a host of other European dates.
Sinclair is a long term fan of the Vista platform. He purchased his first Vista S1 control surface in 2008 shortly after the model's launch, and now owns three identical systems - comprising of a laptop running the Vista software, with a Vista S1 and two Vista M1 wings - to service his own shows. Currently the other two are busy touring the US with chart topping Adele (operated by Jon Barker) and Peter Gabriel (operated by Steve Kellaway).
Pulp are touring their own video system and a small lighting rig, then each day hooking in to the locally provided rigs - all of which is controlled by the Vista. For the festivals, a small floor based 'specials package' is added and run through the desk.
On the new Vista v2 software - launched at Prolight+Sound, Frankfurt - he comments, "It's a leap forwards. Jands has done a great job and with Vista v2 they have a strong basis for plenty of long term development."
Pulp's video set up consists of 15 two metre square Pixled F40 LED panels supplied by XL Video. These are arranged in five columns / three rows, set at different depths to avoid the clichéd 'back wall' scenario and introduce a bit of dimension to the stage space.
Special video content - an eclectic mix of archives, vintage footage and completely new material created by three video artists - for the show is stored on a Catalyst media server which also takes in a couple of IMAG camera inputs.
The local lighting system and the Catalyst are triggered by the Vista, which also runs the touring lighting system - supplied by Neg Earth - plus a classic Pulp 'neon' LED sign made by Specialz and the set, a 1970s style Dimplex electric fire with false flames.
(Jim Evans)
