Sometimes a name just seems to feel right. Such was the case with Brian Kelley’s “See You Next Summer,” the latest his from the singer/songwriter formerly of the multi-award winning (CMT and ACMA) duo Florida Georgia Line. Recorded after a long hard pandemic lockdown, Kelley’s sound strikes the hopeful chord of new beginnings, with its laid-back beachy sound, and engaging sing-alongs, punctuated by some moving and thoughtful ballads. This combination has been winning the star a large following as a solo artist. Its upbeat, laidback mood is reflected in the engaging lighting that is supporting Kelley’s music on tour.
Dayne deHaven and Tyler “Shap” Shapard, partners in Nashville-based District 5 Studio are creating these inviting looks with help from a collection of CHAUVET Professional fixtures supplied by 4Wall Entertainment. They are using four Color STRIKE M units positioned on upstage pipes and 12 STRIKE Sabers arranged along their backline to create a big engaging look.
“Shap and I take pride in accentuating the mood and feel of Brian’s music, using specific color choices to match the emotion of each song,” said deHaven. “We try to time each song so it’s perfectly synced to match the energetic moments as well as more contemplative moods.
“We carefully placed each fixture to create the look and feel of being on the beach,” continued deHaven. “The STRIKE Sabers are used to create ‘waves ‘and sun color, while the Color STRIKE Ms are counted on for backlighting the band, and adding the punch we needed to accentuate the beat and musical moments.”
The biggest challenge the designers faced involved creating a big good-time look with a relatively small rig. “Everything for audio and lighting had to fit into a single bus trailer,” said deHaven. “But working with Charlton Combs, Brian Kelley’s PM, we were able to come up with some creative solutions and fit everything in the trailer and on the stage. We are proud of the scalability of this rig in particular. By simply adjusting the spacing of the upstage pipes we are able to shrink down to a small stage or scale up to a large stage without having to sacrifice anything in the process.”
Like Brian Kelley, who’s embarked on a new phase of his career after Florida Georgia line, deHaven and Shapard, two experienced designers, are starting a new adventure with their recently formed District 5 Studio. Launching a venture can involve some stress, but it was hard for anyone to be anything but chill on this tour with its sublime beach vibe.
Further information from CHAUVET Professional: www.chauvetprofessional.com
