Live Design's fourth annual 31 Days Of Plots features one production per day during the month of December 2021, highlighting a different lighting design, from across theatre, concert tours, corporate events, live for broadcast, and more, as we wind down 2021 and head toward the new year.
Day 21 of 31 Days Of Plots 2021 takes us on tour with Black Pumas and lighting designer Marc Janowitz of E26. "The design aesthetic is inspired by 60’s and 70’s album and concert art including Sly and the Family Stone-Live at the Fillmore East, Jimi Hendrix-Band of Gypsies, and Marvin Gaye -Live at the London Palladium," says Janowitz. "I wanted to create a visual vibe that felt rooted in the band's unique style of psychedelic soul R&B. The design grows from the center. The band's logo consists of a red circle with two black prowling pumas in the center. It is an important visual branding element for their live appearances. The "Puma Drum” (as it came to be known) is the central core from which the rest of the design radiates." The band's 2021/2022 tour hits a mix of clubs, theaters, festivals, and boutique amphitheaters across the US and Europe.
As Janowitz explains: "The Puma Drum comes to life using a combination of lighting and scenic pieces. We had Gallagher Scenic re-create the bands pumas on plexi. The puma cutouts are stood off the back of the drum by about 9”. The pumas have LED pixel tape behind them so that they have a floating light aura effect. There is also a triple line of LED tape that runs the entire circumference of the drum. This light grazes the drum surface AND the face of the pumas. The puma eyes have LED pixels behind them. EdgelightRGB in Nashville handled all of the custom LED integration. Around the perimeter face of the drum is a ring of 60 GLP KNV Dots. These offer all the eye candy yet also cut through with a blindingly intense white light. Sidelight is implemented using Robe Tarantulas, offering big, fat faces of light. Four towers (each loaded with 3 Tarantulas) envelop the band in light. From every perspective, there are giant light orbs behind the musicians. There are also radiating lines of truss (“whiskers”) working out from the Puma Drum. These are lined with Robe Spiiders."
In addition, "There are Chauvet strikes dotted around the set to give off a warm ‘tungsten’ light with a fresnel lens face. It gives an old school glowing vibe. They are laid out randomly to give the feel of a field of candle light, flickering flames. These also served to accentuate the hits and even serve as the audience blinders when needed," the LD points out.
"Lighting programmer Meagan Metcalf really dug in to create a dynamic and fluid show. She takes full advantage of the looks and vibe that can be created morphing so many individualized sources of light. The Pumas, the Dots, the Spiider/Tarantula Pixels, the Strikes, the Esprites all meld together creating an incredibly dynamic and engaging show. Lighting director Alyssa Milione delivers an incredible show every night and continues to make adjustments and translations that are necessary for the design to succeed on this bands wide reaching tour."
Lighting Gear List:
32 Robe Spiider
14 Robe Tarantula
24 Robe Esprite
12 Chauvet Strike 1
20 Chauvet Strike P38
6 GLP JDC-1
60 GLP KNV Dot
4 GLP KNV Dot Power Supply
180’ Pixel Tape RBGW with controllers by Edgelight RGB
2 Base Hazer + Reel FX fan
2 Reel EFX DF50 Hazer
2 20” Mirror Ball w/ adjustable motors
1 MA Lighting grandMA 3 Full Size (running MA2)
4 Tyler Truss GT 8’ (tipped up as torms)
5 Tyler Truss 20” x 8’ Black
11 Tyler Truss 12” x 8’ Black
3 CM 1-ton chain motor
3 CM 1/2-ton chain motor
To see more 31 Days Of Plots, click here