Reed has been show designer for the band's previous two tours, which were centred on video. For this run, he went for a more light-based show, specifying 14 of the SL eSTRIP 10 units from Bristol-based rental operation Enlightened Lighting.
"The overall concept was to take a very modern approach to the lighting, whilst maintaining the requisite menace and quirks that span the punk, new romantic and even pop genres," says Reed. "When it came to choosing fixtures Andrew Bartlett at Enlightened invited me to check out the SL eSTRIP 10 and I was sold just from looking at one unit washing a white wall in daylight."
Reed focused the design on a black camo net backdrop to reflect the band's signature colour as well as the military March On tour concept. Fixture placement was also as regimented and even as possible with eight of the Showline luminaires on sub truss behind the net, and six under the three risers backlighting the front edge.
"We wanted big symmetrical looks that could be broken down into constituent parts either by rigging position or lamp type," continues Reed. "I ran the SL eSTRIP 10s in 1-pixel mode and at 8-bit. For four channels per unit that's a lot of punch! There's also great colour consistency across the units.
"In fact, one feature I particularly enjoyed for this type of show (where I programmed by fixture attributes and Roger Butler the operating LD busked intensity and cueing live) is they seemed to recall the last colour value they were given, which was a real advantage in a hectic live environment. Not to mention they're easy to rig and cable and are fast to program."
(Jim Evans)
