The Pulse Lighting designer is no stranger to GLP's impression series (or the U.S. Cellular Center, Asheville, NC where the show takes place). Last summer he pulled 12 of GLP's larger X4 fixtures for the Red Rocks show by Slightly Stoopid in Denver, so he knew all about the strength, intensity and flexibility of the lightweight LED sources.
For the 25th edition of Christmas Jam, Dizzy Gosnell at Bandit Lites' San Francisco office - described by Preston as "one of the best in the business" - provided 56 of GLP's X4S for the special Christmas show, enabling the technician to group 36, divided into four backlight sets and create an ACL-type effect, while the remaining 20 were placed on the front truss to function as key lights. Bandit again donated the equipment to help support the charity Habitat for Humanity, the beneficiaries of the event.
"The show was essentially LED," Preston acknowledges, "although I did have a few traditional hard edge fixtures and audience blinders. I have never used such a high ratio of LED fixtures before, primarily because until now I haven't been able to get everything I need out of them."
As an early adopter of LED front light, he says the X4S outperformed any moving LEDs that he had used previously. "Their versatility never stopped impressing me; the one thing that I have not seen until now is the ability to get a crisp beam out of a moving LED fixture but I was able to get beautiful looks out of these by zooming in and focusing them to look like a hard edge fixture."
Summing up, the LD says, "Everyone I talked to had nothing but amazing things to say about the show from a lighting aspect; this year was supposed to be over the top and it certainly was. To exemplify the point, Phil Lesh Quintet, Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes, John Scofield & The Uberjam Band, Keb' Mo' and Gov't Mule all performed, in many collaborations, along with Widespread Panic, who closed the opening night, not leaving the stage until 4am!"
(Jim Evans)
