Last fall, I heard from my friend Missy. She manages the Chicago-based rockers Rise Against. They had been on tour last year and were looking to revamp their look and wanted some ideas…They had some set carts that they would carry around the world this year, and they wanted a lighting package that could attach to the carts. They also wanted some “light boxes” that could spell out the letters, “R-I-S-E.” …As an alternative to the so-called light boxes, I wanted to add some video elements. A light box is simply a box with lights mounted inside of it, and a face that lit up when these interior lights illuminated. Similar to a beer sign in a bar. With a media server and four Martin LC 40mm video panels placed behind some rear projection material, I could build a light box that would change pictures for every song…We made the switch at rehearsals and never looked back. Of course, once the band saw the new video elements, ideas started flowing, and they found more uses for them.
—Nook Schoenfeld, from “LD-at-Large,” PLSN, April 2012
