In Dr. Seuss’ The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, each time the fictional figure doffed his hat, a new one magically popped up in its place. Dave Boots is the human personification of Cubbins, with a substantial stack of headgear—all with The Oak Ridge Boys on tour.
First of all, he’s the set designer and builder, having constructed everything in the set himself over the years. Then he’s lighting designer, director and programmer. When those duties are done, he turns into production manager, stage manager and drum tech, plus the assistant merchandise guy. But that’s not all: Boots also drives the bus. Got a trailer problem? He’s the mechanic, too. So what doesn’t he do? Two on the crew handle sound and help with backline.
The Oak Ridge Boys are on their American Made: Farewell Tour, celebrating 50-plus years of touring. Their special 13-city Christmas-themed run launched Nov. 21, “with the addition of some new set pieces that I just finished building yesterday,” he says. The new set piece features a set of windowpanes with moving lights positioned below. “The set will look like they’re in a living room,” he says, with no video components this year.
This is his 30th year with the revered country band. “I do enjoy it, although it’s very hectic at times,” he admits, adding, “I have an incredible work ethic and that trickles down from the top! The Oak Ridge Boys are one of the hardest working groups in the business doing 150 dates a year. And their ages range from 75 to 85 years old. They’re my family,” he declares, “and I’ll do whatever it takes to make a show go smoothly.” The Christmas shows run to Dec. 17, with the band resuming its Farewell Tour into 2024.
Country Comfort
“I’m still trying to be retired,” says Michael Shucher. However, a phone call brought him to Dallas as lighting and video director of A Texas Heroes and Friends Tribute to Randy Travis concert on Nov.15. Travis suffered a stroke in 2013, leading to paralysis on the right side of his body. “I spent a quite a few years on and off as Randy’s lighting director, filling for Thom Roberts, who was one of my mentors,” he shares. Another comfortable thing about the gig: the LD’s brother, Herb Shucher, is drummer for Randy Travis’ band. Just days before, Shucher was preparing to work with another veteran country band—Alabama—a gig holding significance to him. “Their video and Lighting Director was John ‘Orca’ Orchard, who showed me the ropes and is passing the gig to me!” Alabama’s Roll On North America Tour starts with a Dec. 1 date. Shucher takes out the full tour kicking off in January 2024. “Reconnecting with Orca was and is priceless; he was also a mentor back when Thom and I went to work for him at Light & Sound Design Nashville over 30 years ago.”
Orchard had not planned to play the touring LD role this year but found it comfortable being back. “One show led to a tour with Alabama. Then I got Thom Roberts to cover it in August. Thom never got to do the first show. He committed to the tour Sunday morning and was killed Sunday night [July 9, 2023],” he says of the sad situation. “So I covered his Randy Travis dates and more than a dozen Alabama dates until the end of this year.” Orchard, who was on his way to work on a Thanksgiving half-time show, says, “It’s been really fun being behind a desk,” he adds, “but it was a fluke. It was the universe coming in full circle once again.”
Peppa Pig to Pro Sports
So Midwest is producing all over the planet, says Robb Jibson. “We animated the content for Peppa Pig’s Sing-Along Party, a live children’s tour. We designed new player entrances and updated the lighting console for Chicago’s United Center teams—Bulls (basketball) and Blackhawks (ice hockey)—including designing a new Bulls halftime show.” They are also undergoing projection study work for upcoming international installs, along with ongoing immersive projects. All of that while the team was overseas with Fall Out Boy’s tour. Jibson takes a breath. “Man, that’s exhausting just thinking about it!”
Lighting Friends in Low Places
Robert Peterson has a busy lighting schedule of televised events coming up. Garth Brooks opened his Nashville club, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, on Nov. 24 after the NFL game. “I’m enhancing Dave Butzler’s club design for the live broadcast on Amazon,” he explains. The LD is also shining a light on comedian Taylor Tomlinson’s Netflix special to air in 2024. He closes out the calendar with CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.
Send your holiday news to Debi Moen at dmoen@plsn.com
