The band are well known for their penchant for the experimental, the off-beat and for embracing creative challenges. Stembridge worked on the last tour, The Suburbs in 2011 as video designer and has now taken on the role of show designer with great enthusiasm.
XL Video's project manager Phil Mercer comments, "It's fantastic that Richie has stepped up to Show Designer. The show is real proof of his imagination, vision, talent and ability to think differently. As always we are really enjoying working with him, and it's great to see show video encouraging a real engagement with the audience, rather than just blasting out generic looks and images."
With up to 12 people onstage at times, one of the briefs from the Canadian indie rock / art band was that the performance area was clean and sharp, and the visuals reflected the dancier and more carnivalesque direction of the album. The 'reflektor' theme was prominent from the start and evolved from the initial low profile warm-up shows in the latter half of 2013.
Stembridge wanted an expedient but versatile lighting rig for the tour, and started thinking about how his set and video surfaces could be developed to also reflect light in the process becoming secondary lightsources. That all the video surfaces should be truly multi-purpose and look interesting and relevant even when no footage is playing is one of his trademarks, together with using the medium subtly, intelligently and judiciously throughout the set.
He started investigating the possibilities of using a mirrored video screen at the back of the stage that would reflect light when not in use, and then jump to life as a screen when video was running.
During the warm-ups he hit on the solution for this, which was to cover XL's Pixled F-11 LED tiles which they are using on tour - with mirrored Mylar polyester film material. It's a simple idea that works fabulously!
A total of 120 x F-11 LED tiles are used to create two rectangular screens with mirrored fascias, and these are flown in an out throughout the show via a Kinesys automation system. They can go all the way out to the roof so they are completely invisible.
A total of nine Barco HDF W26K projectors are on the tour, three of which beam on to an impressive 60ft wide by 30ft tall video back-wall made from Frazzle, a metallic sheen fabric etched by half circle slits that track across the entire surface from Rose Brand. This is behind the mirrored screens, and both takes light and projects it beautifully.
The other six Barcos are used to feed the IMAG screens - which are also integral to the overall stage aesthetics. Their intricate hexagonal lines are based on the Arcade Fire logo and made up from four individual interlinked mini-hexagons ... resembling a honeycomb.
The show's playback content is run from four Catalyst v4 media servers which are triggered from a Road Hog Full Boar console operated by Stembridge at FOH. He runs the Hog very much as a live console with multiple layers of video at his fingertips on the faders, all of which helps mould the organic visual picture as the set unfolds.
Alongside him on the riser is Chris Bushell, whom he asked on-board as lighting designer. The two have collaborated closely on evolving both elements of the show, together with video director Charles Woods who is directing the camera mix.
The camera package comprises five of XL's Sony HXC-100 operated and two Sony BRC H700 robo-cams.
The crew includes Charlie Woods (video director) Clarke Anderson and Jeroen 'Myway' Marain (engineering), Ted Cognata (projection / LED), Steve Falconer (projection / cameras) and Mark Insc
