KNOXVILLE, TN – Bandit Lites is out on the road with co-headlining bands Shinedown and Three Days Grace. Shinedown LD Carter Fulghum and Three Days Grace LD Mike Filsinger worked together on the shared rig. “Designing a rig for two artists can be a challenge,” said Filsinger. “Keeping both bands happy both visually and financially can turn into a full-on brawl but luckily in this case, it was a breeze.”
More details from Bandit Lites (http://www.banditlites.com):
KNOXVILLE, TN – Bandit Lites is out on the road with two hard rock bands as Shinedown and Three Days Grace hit the road for a dual headlining February tour. The tour kicked off Feb. 1 in Moline, IL, at the iWireless Center.
With both bands co-headlining, Shinedown LD Carter Fulghum and Three Days Grace LD Mike Filsinger worked to reconfigure the rig to be more arena friendly, as the rig had previously been designed for amphitheaters. Additionally, fixtures and fixture placements were changed to accommodate both bands.
“Designing a rig for two artists can be a challenge,” said Filsinger. “Keeping both bands happy both visually and financially can turn into a full-on brawl but luckily in this case, it was a breeze.”
Fulghum worked with production manager Colin West, tour manager Eddie Gowan and Brent Smith, the lead singer of Shinedown, to design Shinedown’s rig. Drawing inspiration from the previous Uproar tour rig, Brent and Carter added a circle truss with a video screen, an addition that proved to be both unique and challenging. Each video was to correspond to a specific song, an effort that Viggy Vignola and Fulghum worked closely with.
“We used Moo TV for the video wall and programmed it with a Catalyst being triggered by a grandMA console,” explained Fulghum. “Brent and I spent about five days going through clip after clip and putting it into the show.”
Equipment included Martin’s MAC Viper, VL 3500 Wash, Clay Paky Sharpys, Bandit 5×5 Blinders and Bandit’s GRN Moving Wash lights.
“Both Carter and I are using MAC Vipers for the first time in this rig and I can say I am liking them,” said Filsinger. “The lighter, brighter aspect is definitely a plus as they do need to match the output of the Sharpys in the rig.”
“(Shinedown) also wanted a lot of beams in the show so we used the 3500s with a buxom internal lens and a clear lens on the front. That would give a wash and then you could also have a tighter beam as well. We also have mesh flown upstage next to the circle and used Bandit’s Green moving wash lights to light that element.”
“Carter and Mike have worked together closely to accomplish a stunning lighting design that allow each of them to provide a creatively distinct lighting show for each of their artists,” said Bandits’ business development officer Brent Barrett. “They both have been a true pleasure and gentlemen in arriving at a lighting design in a co-head design situation that could have just as easily been very challenging.”
“Dealing with Brent at Bandit and an experienced lighting director and designer like Carter has been great,” said Filsinger. “If I was a younger man I would try to learn a thing or two from Carter, but I’m way past that – old dog new tricks,” he added kiddingly. “It has been great so far!”
“I would like to thank everyone who helped me put this together,” added Fulghum. “Brent Barrett, Michael Strickland, Matt King, Jake Tickle, Dizzy Gosnell, Eddie Gowan, Colin West, Viggy Vignola, Nick Palladino, Scott Scovill and Paul Holst for recommending me for the job as well as all the help. I would also like to thank the band for all their help and input, Brent Smith, Berry Kerch, Zach Myers and Eric Bass.”
Photo: Troy Browder
