In a sensory-overload show, a massive projection screen made up of EPT6IP LED panels flashes a mix of chilling imagery while Platinum SBX hybrid moving heads keep the mid-air visual look electric.
Production and lighting design is by Trevor Ahlstrand of Ahlstrand Productions with lighting supply by Gemini Light, Sound & Video, both of whom have worked with Slipknot on several tours.
Known for their aggressive style of music and energetic live shows, Ahlstrand was looking for a combination beam and profile fixture that could keep up with the band's hard driving show. "The SBX were chosen for their output to punch through the battling light of the video wall and to be able to backlight the band below," he explains. "One of the main reasons I chose the SBX was its great beam while in profile mode. It has a great even field with a lot of output."
Ahlstrand has a row of the 3-in-1 SBX luminaires placed on top of the set to give separation between the set and video wall. "The gobos look great and with the combination of the two prisms and its beam mode you can get so many different looks out of the light you never really have to repeat anything."
Because the SBX also includes a frost system the fixture can also be used for wash effects. For audience lighting the designer utilizes Elation's high-impact white light Cuepix Blinder WW2 with two 100W COB light sources.
Slipknot has been touring with an Elation lighting and video package since it kicked off its Prepare for Hellworld tour in late 2014. That tour featured a video centrepiece made up of Elation 9 mm pixel pitch EPT9IP LED video panels. For the current tour Ahlstrand turned to Elation's EPT6IP video panels with a tighter 6 mm pixel pitch.
The video wall is a large 16:9 upstage screen flanked by fixtures on either side. "It was added to help give us a different look from previous years going into some of the same markets," Ahlstrand explains. "These panels look amazing with incredible balance of blacks and colour. The weight was minimal for the size and resolution of the wall."
Supplying the Elation products for the tour is Gemini Light, Sound & Video a Dallas-based company that has been working with Slipknot for years. "The Gemini crew has been great and so has the gear," Ahlstrand said. "They handled both video and lighting on tour and got it up and down quickly without any real hold ups. The gear was in great condition and needed little to no maintenance throughout the tour."
Out on tour as lighting director for the past couple of years is Greg 'Little G' Kocerck, who Ahlstrand acknowledges for his excellent work. "He has done an amazing job keeping the show looking great everyday no matter what venue type or country," he said. "He has impeccable timing and a great eye! The production manager, Jordan Coopersmith and the entire Slipknot crew do an amazing job working together to keep the set and show consistent and looking great."
(Jim Evans)
