I just spent 90 minutes jumping up and down behind a lighting console. I wasn’t angry. I was lighting a punk rock band.
The Used hit the stage at 9:30 at the Bill Graham Civic Center and the energy did not cease until the house lights came on. I jump up and down and slam buttons on my desk.This is the reason I love my job. For the chance to light musical acts with high energy. I spend half my time lighting corporate stuff and TV. While this is great because I can make stacks of cash, there is no adrenaline flowing. Those gigs allow me to pay the bills, so I can light young bands that have little money. But they pay me by bringing me back to my youth for 90 minutes.
Tomorrow night we’re playing in Reno, Nevada. My partner Mike is lighting a Kenny Loggins show in the next town over, Lake Tahoe. He wishes he could trade places with me. That’s because he’s lit 1000 Loggins shows and really likes the music of the Used. But secretly, I know he just wants to jump up and down while punting behind a lighting console for 90 minutes.
