Steve Cohen's set design for Sugarland's Incredible Machine tour has an affinity for the sci-fi "steampunk" style seen in films such as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but rarely seen in concert touring. "It is very brave for country artists to go with a set that's so stylized," Cohen said, of the design touches that include Victrola-styled horn embellishments on the PA system and steam-era brass and wood paired with HD video bridging the 19th and 21st centuries.
The 24-foot-diameter circular video screen is framed in antique-looking but high-tech, lightweight materials engineered by Tait Towers to allow for two-hour setup and teardown. Another key set element is a floating bridge that connects the keyboard and drum risers. It is styled with a retro railing and scenic levers and gears. Curved chandeliers also evoke the steam power era. The Tait team also custom-molded 100 old-fashioned lightbulbs filled with 8,000 DMX-controlled LEDs.
"Steve's design is so unique because it focuses on scenic artistry in a world where automation prevails," said Adam Davis, vice president of Tait Towers. "The design came to us in perfect scale of size and shape as it relates to and fills the stage," Davis added.
Lititz neighbor Atomic Design also played a key role crafting aluminum, plywood, plastic and foam into set elements with the look of rusted steel, burl wood, brass and antique Verde Gris ironwork.
Atomic also managed to include trademark Sugarland icons. "We incorporated such elements as their winged heart, umbrella and feathers, into the artwork," said Atomic scenic artist Tim Nies. "Those icons are all in the scenery to pull the steampunk design into focus as a spotlight for Sugarland."
Atomic built the group's iconic scalloped umbrella with a gear assembly handle. Jennifer Nettles flourishes it while singing "The Incredible Machine."
"This project is a textbook example of efficient collaboration between the designer, the engineers, and the scenic artists," said Soren West, president of Atomic. "We can be only as good as our client who, in this case, is Steve Cohen. He's drawn from the synergy between Atomic Design and Tait Towers to form a true collaboration and fully realize his vision."
Cohen echoed that sentiment. "The project has come together very well. The soft goods and painted scenery approach works beautifully for artists with multi-dimensional dynamics. Sugarland is loving it."
