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Bandit in ‘Wonderland’ with McFly
Bandit Lites is supplying popular British rock band McFly with full lighting production and crew for their lively ‘Wonderland’ arena tour, complete with a spectacular lighting design by Graham Feast.
The band, a young all-singing-all-playing in-the-face rock ‘n’ roll phenomena shot to the top of the charts on the hostile backlash against playback pop stars. They have enjoyed massive success throughout 2005 and look set for a brighter and bigger future.
Production managed by Production North’s level-headed Iain Whitehead, the band has been carefully and meticulously well prepared for arena level performance. This is exemplified in their confidence, poise and presence onstage. Graham Feast has been involved since their inception as a live act in 2003 and Bandit has worked with McFly for the last 12 months.
Lester Cobrin, Bandit’s business development manager states: “This is a fantastic show. It has everything from pyro and understage hydraulics to video tracking systems and custom moving trusses as well as a full on orchestra and a rather large set of inflatable pins. Iain, Graham and the rest of the crew have pulled out the stops on this one.”
Lighting and visuals are key to McFly’s high energy stage show, which features several ‘gags’ throughout 90 minutes of full tilt R ‘n’ R mayhem – including a guest appearance by Geri Halliwell’s famous giant inflatable legs, through which she made her stage entrance at the 2000 Brit Awards.
The set was designed by Ian Whitehead. Feast worked closely with him and video director Nick Fry, who produced some really tasty IMAG and screen-based work, complimenting the lighting perfectly as opposed to taking over from it as is sometimes the case!
“It’s a seriously loud and large rock ‘n’ roll show,” says Feast, “and the lighting is entirely appropriate to that genre, together with some moody moments for the quieter numbers.” There’s plenty of bold, beamy and intense drama with the lighting, with Feast still keeping tricks up his sleeve for the finale, a maelstrom of colour and visual excitement.
Points for the five lighting and video screen trusses were largely determined by a 55 ft wide 14 ft high custom made ‘McFly’ truss mid-stage, which occupies a large area of the roof-space and tilts down and flies in for one section of the show. Just to remind everyone who they’re listening to, there’s another static illuminated McFly sign on the front truss which emanated from the first theatre tour. This contains 55 Raylites and can be chased.
Upstage is a drapes truss with a three-drape Kabuki reveal. In front of this is the rear lighting truss containing six Coemar Supercycs, 10 Martin MAC 2k washes and eight MAC 2k spots.
The box truss mother grid for the McFly sign also contains four MAC 2k Washes and four Spots. The McFly truss itself, manufactured by Tomcat, is toned with 14 MAC 300s and contains 14 Atomic strobes.
Downstage of this are two curved front and mid trusses, containing 12 MAC 2k washes, 12 2k spots, 10 x 300s and a bunch of 8-lite Moles, plus a front kabuki drop for the top of the set.
Then there are 12 MAC 2k Spots dotted around the floor and risers and some additional 8-lite Moles with scrollers dotted around the set.
It’s expedient in terms of lighting fixtures, but Feast induces a far larger stadium stature out of the rig. Atmospherics are provided by two DF50 hazers and four F100 smokers, and Bandit has also supplied four 2k Lycian FOH followspots. Feast operates the show using a WholeHog II console and a wing.
The band are active in putting forward visual suggestions at the start of the tour which are mainly communicated through their manager Fletch. “He’s very enthusiastic and also practical in terms of what they want to achieve,” explains Feast. Feast is joined by a Bandit crew consisting of crew chief Steve Rusling, Kris Lundberg, Nigel Julian and Rick Butler.
“As always, the Bandit service has been absolutely top at every stage of the project. I really enjoy working with Lester, he shows total commitment and attention to detail which means I never have to worry about anything,” comments Feast.
Kris Lundberg has one of the more unusual cues of the tour which involves ensuring a scenic pantie gusset – marked up, naturally, with ‘McFly’ – is rolled down and secured into position, inducing a bit of modesty between Geri’s legs!
Video production is supplied by XL Video, sound by Wigwam, pyro by Pyro Junkies, catering by Home Cooking and trucking by Stardes.
20th October 2005
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