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Bandit – Bringing the System Down
Bandit Lites is supplying lighting production for System Of A Down’s dynamic ‘Mesmerise’ world tour which kicked off in Europe this month. System – among the loudest and most energetic exponents of the US nu-metal generation – is being LD’d by Joe Paradise. The account is being handled by Lester Cobrin from the Bandit UK office, who says: “One of the most anticipated tours has finally arrived. This is big, bold and mega bright... in fact, enough to make your eyes bleed!”
Paradise was initially approached after working with production manager Eddie Kercher on Incubus last year. He decided to create a ‘great wall of lights’ effect for the show – which currently carries no video, so the main visual element, other than the band – is lighting. His primary objective is to match the intense, raw sonic impact of the band with lighting semantics.
Paradise also wanted to make the stage three dimensional, so he decided to stagger the three ‘wall’ trusses at different heights. “I wanted there to be lights wherever you look onstage,” he states. He then added two vertically hanging side pods which are primarily used for front lighting as the band don’t like traditional front illumination.
He chose Martin MAC 2k Washes and 2k Profiles as the main moving lights – 25 and 22 of them respectively – which are used extensively throughout the show which for a colourful collection of beam-tastic looks and scenes. There is also plenty of blinding strobe cues from the 39 Atomics with colour changers.
Other lights include 18 Thomas 8-lite Moles, six MR16 zip strips, six MAC 250s, 18 ChromaQ ColorBlocks used for truss toners and 24 James Thomas Pixelline 1044 battens, which are arranged in a line above the set runway or some very tasty oscillating effects.
Four of the 8-lites and two of the MR16 strips are on the floor. The six MAC 250s are attached to the front edge of the runway, and also on the runway are nine Atomics, four zip strips and all 24 of the Pixellines. Paradise is controlling some of the Pixellines via the Martin’s Matrix software package.
Three customised MAC 2k profiles hung on the mid truss are utilised for followspots on the mid truss. He’s using a Martin Maxxyz console and a Maxxyz Wing for control, and with nearly 500 cues in the desk. It’s a hectic show! There are four Maxxyz consoles in total being used on System’s European tour, as Bandit is also supplying a smaller festival rig of ‘specials’ and control that leapfrogs with the full (own show) system when the scheduling gets really tight. On these festival dates, Paradise’s associate and programmer Geddy Kordyjaka goes ahead to programme and set up these festival dates because time is so pressured that Paradise is travelling with the band and arriving just in time for the show.
“As always, Bandit has done a great job,” says Paradise. “The crew and the kit are unbeatable, and I use them wherever I can. Working with Lester Cobrin is always a pleasure as I never need to worry about anything. The kit is always presented accurately and in first class condition.” Bandit Lites Inc. is the global lighting supplier for this System Of A Down World Tour.
The UK and European crew includes the unflappable Ian Lomas from the UK and Chris Keene, who, like Kordyjaka, is based in the US. The tour manager is Mike Amato, production manager Eddie Kercher and stage manager Steve Carlson.
17th June 2005
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