“Are you OK?” This had to be the most posted question of the day on social media sites March 11 when the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan. Everyone checked on everyone who might remotely be in the vicinity of the Disaster Zone. Sandy Espinoza, a member of the PLSN-affiliated social network site, ProAudioSpace.com, made it her mission to track down and post the status of crews touring in or traveling to Japan. The list was shared with ProLightingSpace.com, which relieved those looking out for friends’ safety on the road. The industry is one big family, all looking out for each other…
Japan to Cyndi Lauper: “Domo Arigato”
Just 15 minutes after the earthquake struck Japan, Cyndi Lauper’s flight was due to land. She was diverted to Yokota Air Force Base, while the crew’s flights were cancelled and rebooked. Lauper was urged to cancel her shows, but she stood firm and believed in the power of music to help heal and lift spirits – and to also raise donations for earthquake relief during her six concerts in Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka.
Tour/Production Manager John Callahan says, “The media has embraced us as well as the fans who are much appreciative that we did not cancel. The promoter, Kyodo Japan, did an amazing job during a difficult time here.”
Power grids were not affected in downtown areas, and getting gear to gigs was no problem. The biggest logistics issue was rebooking flights for everyone from Osaka to the next tour leg in Sydney instead of from Narita Airport in Tokyo. This was done as a precaution in case the media-induced panic of escaping Tokyo ever materialized, Callahan notes.
The first Osaka show sold out and the second was at 90 percent; there were few no-shows in Nagoya or Tokyo. Yet Callahan hoped to do a free live streaming of the second Osaka show for fans who could not make it. Relief efforts won’t stop, as Lauper will participate in a Heal Japan charity event being organized in Los Angeles. “Japan will not be the same for many years to come with the amount of loss and devastation that occurred up north,” Callahan says.
Lauper’s crew on the world tour also includes Michael Mule (monitor engineer), Orris Henry (FOH), Raymie Kopels (stage manager) and Kevin Cofield (tech).
Paul Simon’s New Image-ry
LD Richard Locklin of RL Light just finished getting Janet Jackson’s U.S. tour started with LD Vince Foster’s design, run by Tyler Elich. At the same time, Locklin started designing Paul Simon’s April 15-June 1 tour. “Paul Simon’s show is a straightforward lighting design with projection,” Locklin says. “It’s not about the lighting, it’s about the music, so the visual impact will come from programming.”
LD Steve Fallon, who will program and run the show, is also designing digital content. “For the first time, Paul Simon will use media content – nice soft projections on drapes,” Fallon says. “Simon’s new album, So Beautiful Or So What, features songs based on a guy at 70 and looking back, so imagery will be based around that. It will be landscape-ish but abstract. The shows will be in small venues and more intimate. Yet it will have big looks, which is achievable with new technology; you can do it with less and with smaller instruments, and in this case, sometimes less is more.”
Bob Seger, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd
ZZ Top is finishing a new album before heading in April to New Zealand. Busy with that design, LD Chris Stuba has another project in progress: Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band tour, running from March 26 to May 19 in North America. “I am working with my dear friend Bob Peterson again,” Stuba says. “Both Bobs are the best to work with and it is a great show!”
Stuba is also collaborating with LD Steve Owens for the Lynyrd Skynyrd/ZZ Top summer tour. “It’s been 10 years since we toured together. We have been sending WYSIWYG drawings back and forth,” Stuba says. “Steve and I both have basic requirements for each of our respective bands. Though it’s in early planning stages, one thing is for sure: we will have a blast spending some time together this summer.”
Jon Pollak is Reeling in the Years
After spending 2008/2009 as production designer for David Byrne’s tour and 2010 lighting the combined efforts of the Dukes of September (Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagan), LD Jon Pollak finds himself back to what has traditionally been his “day job,” at the visual helm of the Steely Dan tour, who go out worldwide July-November.
Bryan Hartley Lights “Beethoven”
After 12 years of winter touring with Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), LD Bryan Hartley gets to thaw out this spring on a new TSO mega-production. Beethoven’s Last Night Tour, entertains with a fictional story about the meeting of Ludwig van Beethoven and the Devil. The setting’s stormy night lends itself to lights and lasers gone wild. The new show will please those punters who are gaga over production, Hartley says. Though the show is huge, he finds the theatres and small arenas a refreshing welcome after the gigantic snowy spectacles. The tour started in Europe in March and hits the U.S. and Canada April 2-May 31.
Space Cowboy Kicks Off New ACL Studio Tapings
Steve Miller Band was first show taped at the new Austin City Limits studio at The Moody Theatre for the PBS music series. LD Randy Garber has worked with Steve Miller for six summers now. “The Moody Theater was great! Steve had an awesome time and the Intellaspots blew me away. That venue is going to be a must stop for a lot of tours,” Garber says. This spring, the band plays dates with Gregg Allman using last year’s set. “Steve is open to new ideas and new technology,” Garber says, “as long as it fits into one truck.”
A Touring Detour
LD Benoit Richard made a major career detour: He joined IATSE Local 728 (Set Lighting Technicians) in Hollywood, CA, and is the on-set lighting programmer for NBC-TV series The Cape and upcoming films Thor (set for release in May 2011), Green Lantern (June) and Cowboys & Aliens (July). He hasn’t abandoned Matchbox Twenty, Rob Thomas and George Michael – as all are conveniently working on their next studio projects. “I see many opportunities to bring my pre-visualization experience to the movie-making world. It is a nice change of pace and less pressure than being a touring LD,” Richard notes.
Quick Cues
LD Baz Halpin is designing world tours for Sade, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Ricky Martin…LD Alex Reardon is putting together a micro-tour for Glee cast member Matthew Morrison. The Summer Rain Tour starting in June should be quite fun, Reardon says…LD Paul “Arlo” Guthrie is preparing Stevie Nicks for a shared tour billing with Rod Stewart (LD Mark Payne) and designing more Sheryl Crow shows. In off hours, Guthrie mentors local high school students…Benny Kirkham programmed Lil Wayne’s I Am Music II tour for LD Dan Boland, running to April 29 in North America. Kirkham then programs A.R. Rahman for LD Peter Morse in Singapore, tweaks some fixes for Cirque du Soleil in Vegas, then programs Brad Paisley’s tour. “I’ve been blessed with a busy schedule this year,” Kirkham says.
