Cour Design handles production design, lighting programming and production coordination on the tour, their first time working with the band. "We met with their management team when we first started our business," stated Gordon Droitcour, co-founder and designer along with Erik Anderson at the Nashville-based design house that can take a project from napkin sketch to full production. "We had never heard of X Ambassadors but they've been one of our most exciting bands to date."
Cour Design specializes in intricate visual designs that literally run themselves. They have developed a system that triggers lighting and video content via bands' existing backing tracks systems. This allows bands with any budget to take out stunning visual displays where they never were able to before.
"A lot of our shows incorporate some type of lighting automation such as MIDI triggering, SMPTE, or MTC," explains Gordon, who shares most responsibilities with Cour partner Erik Anderson. "We believe that it gives a very professional look to every show we apply it to, but it has more of a logistical purpose than anything else."
For X Ambassadors, Gordon chose to use 32 Elation SixPar 200 fixtures, LED PAR colour changers with a 6-color LED multi-chip including a UV LED, for a couple of reasons. "We really wanted to find an LED PAR with as many features as possible at a reasonable price point," he said. "The large face with colour blending LEDs really sold us on the SixPar. The UV feature was the cherry on top."
Working with Cour Design and supplying lighting for the tour is Christie Lites who "gave us some great gear and support," Gordon says while also acknowledging the work of Gabe McNatt "for taking on a lighting set up on his own for the first time. The creative and logistical process was really pleasurable to work on with these guys," he concludes.
(Jim Evans)
