An L-Acoustics PA was specified by FOH engineer Paul Corkett with the main-hangs up to 14 x K1 over four K2 elements. This left a further four K1 and up to 14 x K2 (per side) to be used as side-hangs in chosen array configurations venue to venue.
"The tour went very well and we got pretty much what we specified," commented Paul. "I mix the show but technically I don't get over involved with all the boxes in front of me and the configuration. However, I have mixed on L-Acoustics many times, it's a format I'm more than happy with. The L'Acoustics K1 / K2 is consistently good in arenas and gives us a good spread evenly upstairs and on the floor.
"The guys can configure the boxes in different ways so we can get it to project higher in the audience or lower on the floor. It's a very versatile system and it seems to suit the music that The Cure play. It can handle really heavy stuff, some of the dark stuff and can go right across the board to something that is more contemporary pop. With The Cure it's a bit like mixing three bands in one show as it goes from heavy to psychedelic to quite poppy stuff."
At the Splendour in the Grass festival a d&b PA was to be used so Paul made a point of watching a couple of acts play the night before The Cure were due to perform their headlining show.
"The mixes were good but the bottom end concerned me as it seemed a bit light," he remarked. "I said to the JPJ guys that I needed a lot more work in the system and they were extremely helpful. They let us take control of the system and tune it as we wanted it. Coming from an arena show to an open air festival was great and the d&b system ended up sounding fantastic."
Paul further commented that the JPJ crew have been fantastic. "We've flown the PA without any troubles and everything has been very smooth. I have nothing bad at all to say, only positive things. Plus they are really nice people to work with. Alex and Joel were awesome!
"We had some great shows in Australia with amazing reviews, the band are happy and the audience is happy and you can't ask for any more than that."
(Jim Evans)
