American post-hardcore band Our Last Night recently hit the road with a versatile lighting system provided by Bandit Lites. With more than 2.62 million followers on YouTube, Our Last Night is known for their powerful covers of songs, where they infuse mainstream hits with a hardcore edge.
“At the heart of this design lies Bandit’s FlexRax,” said Lighting Designer Jose Antunes. “Upon discovering this product through their social media channels, I immediately recognized its potential as the ideal solution for constructing a scalable touring rig that could be assembled sustainably with minimal labor.”
Bandit Lites supplied twelve FlexRax as well as Martin Sceptron VDO 10-1000mm, Martin Sceptron VDO 10-320mm, Martin Fatron VDO 10-1000mm, Martin Atomic Bold, Chauvet ColorStrike M as well as grandMA3 Light console for control.
After importing the FlexRax into Vectorworks models and utilizing them as the foundation for the build-out, Antunes then integrated the VDO line from including Martin Fatrons, Sceptrons and Atomic Bolds (his favorite of the bunch.)
“The Atomic Bolds proved instrumental in filling out the racks and were very versatile using the Aura as a wash and eye candy and the bold as a bright beamy strobe,” he said. “Leveraging Hybrid mode and a Resolume server, we streamlined control over all VDO products, enabling swift and versatile creation of visuals. This system facilitated development of intricate looks, enhancing each segment of the performance with dynamic textures quickly and easily.
With stages ranging in size, Antunes needed a package that would maximize impact in smaller spaces while still filling large stages. His modular setup allowed the design to scale to various venue sizes. Bandit converted his initial design into a system that could easily be disassembled and reconfigured, accommodate the various venue layouts and height restrictions all while ensuring safe transportation.
“Bandit rose admirably to the challenge, devising an ingenious and sustainable solution that not only facilitated consistent assembly and transport but also upheld rigorous touring day after day,” he said. “Their innovative approach ensured smooth operations and peace of mind throughout the tour.”
“Some of our more intimate spaces required us to cut back our rig in some very creative ways,” shared Lighting Director Michael Franzmann. “Usually this would require a lot of modification, removal and repositioning of fixtures. With the custom lighting carts and expertly crafted wiring, we found that reducing our rig was a mere matter of switching some data and power lines and having our rig up and running with little to no variation from our original schedule.”
“The carts being as lightweight and compact as they allowed us to get in and out of every venue with the most minimal of difficulties,” Franzmann continued. “The P3 System allowed us to deploy our rigs in an equal amount of efficiency and minimal troubleshooting so that the majority of our prep time could be devoted to quality control and programming for the night’s show.”
The show ran on the MA3 software, streamlining the cloning of the clone rig of JDC’s to Strike M’s to LED Pars and Atomic Strobes in a matter of minutes.
“I have to give a shout out to ACT and their support team for providing world class service and support for any challenges we come across going from venue to venue,” said Franzmann.
Bandit Lites own commitment to excellence was on display as Bandit sought to create a seamless install for the production at every venue level, ensuring Our Last Night’s team could deliver a dynamic lighting system to each of their audiences in addition to simplifying things for the lighting crew.
“They meticulously crafted our rig with disconnects and break points at all the right locations so that when we needed to go down to a B or C rig, we never had to break a single loom or harness,” said Franzmann. “Our production also required the deployment of Fatrons on extended poles above the lighting carts, and when Bandit’s first attempt wasn’t as efficient as they wanted, Mike Stanley’s team broke down the entire construction and rebuilt it.”
“Jose came to me for a different show that didn’t pan out, so I was stoked when Our Last Night came up,” said Bandit Lites Client Representative Mike Stanley. “The design was super streamlined, scalable, effective and it looked incredible. On top of that, everyone involved in their organization was a breeze and pleasure to work with. I’m very much looking forward to prospective projects.”
“Working with Mike Stanley and (Project Manager) Matt Dean was an absolute pleasure,” finished Antunes. “From the outset, they extended exceptional hospitality and support, making us feel truly cared for throughout the entire production process. Our experience during production rehearsals at the Nashville rehearsal room was marked by their unwavering attentiveness and accommodation. They maintained constant communication, ensuring that we departed fully equipped with a functional system and readily accommodated any last-minute additions during rehearsals. Despite the tour being on a smaller scale for Bandit, their level of commitment made us feel as though we were receiving the full treatment, underscoring their dedication to delivering exceptional service regardless of the project’s size.”
“Mike Stanley and his team provided the highest level of service and support that I’ve received compared to any of their competitors,” echoed Franzmann. “Not only were they available for questions and explanations of their gear during rehearsal, but they continued to maintain a high level of service and commitment to our production while we were on the road.”
- Jose Antunes- Lighting Designer
- Michael Franzmann- Lighting Director
- Shawn Solomon- Lighting Programmer
- Nick Gibson- Lighting Tech
For more information about Our Last Night including upcoming tour dates, visit https://ourlastnight.com/pages/tour.
For more on Bandit Lites, go to www.banditlites.com
