A Shared Experience with Different Visions
The Coheed and Cambria/Taking Back Sunday co-headlining summer tour sponsored by Live Nation is “unique in that it is predominantly a good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll lighting show,” says Jason Reberski, owner and CEO of tour lighting vendor JR Lighting Design, Inc. Outside of I-Mag supplied at local venues, there were no major video scenic elements, with the visual focus on big, bold, lighting looks. Michael “Greek” Hionis and Eric Price, LDs for the two bands, respectively, worked with a shared overhead lighting system with a myriad of fixtures that deliver two distinct-looking shows. Each designer also created separate floor packages that further enhance the strengths and musicality of each act.
JR Lighting Design Inc. is a production rental touring house based in Tinley Park, IL, just outside of Chicago. “The word, ‘Design,’ in our name refers to systems design and engineering for installation and production/touring, not show or production design,” Reberski says. “We work closely with many talented designers to achieve their visions.” He adds that Kevin Rosenhagen, JR Lighting Design’s director of operations, is “an indispensable component of our team. He is a master of touring logistics and works tirelessly to support our customers. He is my ‘wingman.’”
The shared air rig consisted mainly of Martin MAC Vipers and Axioms, Robe Spiiders and Chauvet Rogue R2 washes with blinders and strobes. Both bands also made full use of the Robe Spiiders on the floor. On the downstage edge, a line of Elation Professional SixBar 1000s served as “chin fills” and color wash on the players.
“Having toured together before,” says Price, “when Mike and I found out this co-headliner was being planned, we immediately got on our phones. The main rig overhead was developed through a lot of collaboration over those calls.”
Custom-fabricated scenic pieces by JR Lighting Design put the signature stamp on each band. Coheed and Cambria’s flown “Keywork” set piece was designed by Hionis and his wife. “She is my inspiration,” Hionis says, crediting her for helping “build a unique theme/story for each design,” adding that she “deserves better than half the credit.”
The central focal point for the C&C show is the “Keywork” piece, which ties into The Armory Wars, a series of comic books penned by band frontman Claudio Sanchez. It’s a custom-engineered ring and support structure incorporating Tyler Truss, Martin MAC Auras, Chauvet COLORdash Accent Quads, custom-configured LED “neon” product and a touring control cabinet built by JR Lighting Design, Inc. which also handled the installation of the LED “neon.”
Coheed and Cambria’s floor package consisted of Robe MegaPointes, Chauvet Rogue R2 Washes, Elation Cuepix Blinder WW2’s, Elation Protron 3K LED Strobes and Tyler GT Truss.
Says Hionis, “Eric and I worked at a pretty hectic pace creating and pulling the elements of these two bands together. Once JR Lighting Design was on board, they really hit a home run for us and for the bands; everyone noticed.” Eric adds in agreement, “and JR’s techs, “Chud” and Benjamin, just nailed it every day.”
Taking Back Sunday had five 2’x4’ custom rolling set carts built by JR, which were then loaded with fixtures Price specified.
TBS took the stage before C&C, which was about 15 minutes after sunset, performing in partial daylight. “My band was really concerned with brightness so I loaded the set carts with CuePix WW 4’s, the JDC1’s and Mega Pointes,” says Price. The whole idea was to creating blinding looks from that vantage point.”
Though these were both heavily programmed shows, zero timecode was used,” says Reberski, “Both designers are so talented in their own styles. The different and variegated look that both of them achieved with the same shared part of the rig really speaks to their unique individual abilities and visions.” Hionis sums it up. “This was kind of a match made in heaven; everything just clicked.”
After rehearsals at Rock Lititz, the co-headlining tour ran from early July to late August. Coheed and Cambria are continuing to tour on their own through October with a JR Lighting Design, Inc. supplied package.
For more information on JR Lighting Design, visit www.jrlightingdesign.com.
Coheed and Cambria/Taking Back Sunday Tour
Crew
For Coheed and Cambria:
Show Designers: Blaze James, Michael “Greek” Hionis, Victoria Hionis
Lighting Co: JR Lighting Design Inc.
Account Managers: Jason Reberski, Kevin Rosenhagen
Lead Lighting Technician: Mark “Chud” Williams
Lighting Techs: Benjamin Jarrett, Michael “Greek” Hionis
Tour Manager: Chuck Andrews
Production Manager/FOH Engineer: Scott “Shreddy” Edwards
Rigger: Justin Mathis from To The Moon Rigging.
Transportation: Averitt On Tour Logistics
For Taking Back Sunday:
Lighting Design: Eric Price
Tour Manager/Production Manager: Andrew Sprague
Gear
Air/Floor Package (shared by Coheed and Cambria and Taking Back Sunday):
1 Custom JRLD FOH Luminex data rack
22 Robe Spiider Washes
28 Chauvet Rogue R2 Washes
22 Martin MAC Axiom Hybrids
12 Martin MAC Viper Profiles
13 Elation Cuepix Blinder WW4’s
11 Elation Protron 3K LED strobes
16 Elation Sixbar 1000’s
18 CM Classic 1-ton chain hoists
120’ Tyler Truss GT truss segments
4 Base Hazer Pro units
2 Antari Z-1500II fog generators
Taking Back Sunday Floor Package:
2 High End Systems Road Hog 4 consoles
6 Robe MegaPointes
6 Elation Sixbar 1000’s
6 GLP JDC1 strobes
5 Custom JRLD rolling lighting tour carts
Coheed and Cambria Floor Package:
2 grandMA2 Light Consoles
50’ Tyler Truss GT truss segments
12 Chauvet Rogue R2 Washes
12 Robe MegaPointes
4 Elation Protron 3000 LED strobes
11 Elation Cuepix Blinder WW2’s
10 Elation Sixbar 1000’s
1 12’x8’ Staging Dimensions Wunderstructure adjustable drum riser system
Coheed and Cambria Keywork Scenic Package (Flown):
2 Custom travel set carts
1 Custom support structure (built by Tyler Truss)
3 Custom 12” triangle truss circles (built by Tyler Truss)
19 Martin Professional MAC Aura Wash
26 Chauvet Professional COLORdash Accent Quad
1 Custom RGB LED “neon” system and rolling ventilated control cabinet (Built by JR Lighting Design, Inc.)
18 GLP Scenex RGB LED Spheres with custom stingers
4 CM Classic 1-ton chain hoists
4 CM Classic ½ ton chain hoists
40’ Tyler Truss 20.5” truss segments
40’ Tyler Truss 12” truss segments
1 Custom IFR vinyl backdrop with blow-through holes
Photo Credit: Victoria Hionis of Portraits Couture
