Diverse City Worldwide Tour Unites Two Designs

The Diverse City Worldwide Tour united the popular Christian Rock acts Audio Adrenaline and tobyMac on one stage–a challenge as LDs Jeff Lava and Matt Waldner had to develop a unified lighting design that would be effective for both performances. The uplifting nationwide tour, which ran April-May, utilized a complete lighting package from Bandit Lites, which featured 10 VL2500™ Spot luminaires.

Audio Adrenaline is a dynamic rock-n-roll band, while hip hop and rap influence tobyMac. The lighting designs had to be able to showcase the different styles while utilizing the same gear.

"Matt and I had to put our heads together and come up with a design that would work for the both of us," says Audio Adrenaline lighting designer Jeff Lava. "We had to pack everything in one truck, so we were very limited, but the fun part of it is we had to think outside the box."

Lava uses bright colors with many spots on the audience for Audio Adrenaline’s set. For tobyMac’s high-energy act, Waldner designs flexible lights that highlight tobyMac’s hip hop hits, while staying prepared for the constantly changing set. Since the designers would be using the same lights to achieve different looks for the concerts, the lighting instruments had to be flexible in their capabilities.

"We are using the VL2500™ spot luminaire for its great optics. In the venues that we play they pack a great punch," explains Lava. "Going from churches to arenas to festivals, the VL2500™ spot is a great output light. It is the perfect fixture for the tour. It was bright enough for the guys and the zoom is intense. There is no other fixture that can put out the same color."

"There are a lot of different types of lighting on the market. They all have different strengths and weaknesses," adds Waldner. "I generally need fast moving fixtures to keep up with the show, and I find the VL2500™ spot to be one of the fastest moving fixtures in its class. Not only the head movement but the color mixing and gobo wheels as well."

With all of the lighting gear traveling in only one truck and only a finite number of instruments available, the lights needed to be dependable and easily repairable. "When I'm not on the road, I'm usually working in a shop fixing lighting fixtures," says Waldner. "I appreciate lighting fixtures that are designed to easily be worked on, and the VARI*LITE® fixtures are very dependable."

As the Diverse City Worldwide Tour came to end, it left in its wake thousands of energized fans and two satisfied lighting designers.

"We really felt the lights on the tour," says Audio Adrenaline bassist Will McGinniss. "They added so much to the energy of the night and they masterfully set the mood for each and every moment during the show. Hats off to Vari-Lite and a big thank you for the years of faithful service."

"I think in the end the budget and truck space made a lot of the decisions for us, but without the VL2500™ spot, we could not have pulled it off like we did," concludes Waldner. TobyMac toured with his new ablum Welcome To Diverse City. Audio Adrenaline will release a new album, Until My Heart Caves In, at the end of August.

For More Information:
www.vari-lite.com
www.jefflava.com
www.audioa.com
www.tobymac.com