As the production team prepared to bring the group's latest album Picture Show to life, lighting designer Matt Guminski would be inheriting part of the largest moving light rig they had ever used and they would capitalize on this by using the power and performance of the VL880 Spot luminaire from Philips Vari-Lite.
"I've been out with Neon Trees since May of last year when I joined them during the middle of their previous tour," began Guminski. "On that tour we really only had a ground package with small moving lights and strobes but for this tour we grew to seven trusses which included using a number of high-powered moving lights. Because of this, the band wanted the show to pop more than it did previously and be more dynamic. While they liked the floor package they had last tour, this time around I had to find new fixtures which would allow me to be more creative and make it more unique. That's why I chose VL880 Spot luminaires."
As Guminski received the set-up of the Maroon 5 tour, he was shown a stage shaped as a giant 'M' with truss shaped the same hanging in the air loaded with high-powered moving lights and strobe fixtures. Two additional sticks of truss were set downstage full of VL3500 Wash FX luminaires, and then upstage there was another stick of truss full of even more VL3500 Wash FX fixtures. While he was grateful that he would be able to design looks for his show using these high-powered and full performance automated luminaires, he also knew that finding the right lights for his new ground package just got a little more difficult.
Guminski explained, "Neon Trees is very much a rock-n-roll band and they like to have a rock-n-roll show. They want to be able to see and interact with the audience and design-wise, they like for the production to be a little edgy, but they do not want it to be static. Very rarely will you see one of our lights parked in one position for a large amount of time.
"They want movement, sharp angles and texture. I knew that I would be able to get that out of the lights hanging above, but when it came to my ground row package I had to find lights that could compete with all the power in the air. The VL880 Spots are incredibly punchy and they not only compete against the hanging rig, they cut right through it. I am very happy with these fixtures. Their small, they have fantastic optics, and they have an incredible punch."
Guminski continued, "When I was looking for the right light for our ground row package, I remembered a festival we did last year in Wisconsin where we got our hands on a VL880 Spot luminaire. I loved how compact it is with the amount of punch that is has, plus all the features and VARI-LITE optics. It seems that great optics are always the trademark of a VARI-LITE luminaire. The VL880 Spots have amazing beams, zoom capabilities, and precise gobo images without losing any punch."
(Jim Evans)
