NASHVILLE, TN – Brooks & Dunn may call their most recent return to the road “REBOOT 2021,” but the legendary country act, comprised of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, deliver the same high-octane, honky-tonk magic that led them to dominate the country charts for decades. With 20 number one singles, nine certified platinum albums, two Grammys and 17 CMA Awards, Brooks & Dunn are touring with what they call a “renewed sense of energy” and a lighting package designed by Chris Lisle and supplied by longtime vendor, Bandit Lites.
“We began working with Brooks & Dunn in 1990 and remained their lighting vendor every year until their retirement tour in 2010, so it felt like a family reunion to be a part of this Reboot tour,” said Bandit Lites Vice President, Mike Golden. “This tour built a very quality production staff, meaning I had the opportunity to work with some very old friends in Production Manager Jay Schwartz, Tour Manager Bill Thompson, Show Designer Chris Lisle and Lighting Director Aaron D. Luke.”
Lisle had the opportunity to dive into Bandit’s collection of custom built “rib” trusses that had been used in Brooks and Dunn’s early 2000s productions.
“These are the visual focal point of the lighting rig,” said Lisle. “As these are large and silver, I opted to make all of the GT truss silver as well, sort of a throwback look that I still love.”
Bandit Lites supplied nearly 200 fixtures for the system, including ROBE BMFL Profiles, Ayrton Khamsins, Claypaky B-EYE K20s, Elation CuePix WW2, Elation Smarty Hybrids, Proteus Maximus, Martin Atomic 3000 LED Strobes and Showline Nitro 510c.
“Brooks & Dunn has always been known for their awesome stage look and performances, and I wanted to make sure we paid tribute to that with a rig that would be visually impactful to look at, while also loaded with right type of fixtures that to give some rock-n-country punch,” said Lisle.
To provide that punch, Lisle loaded the downstage truss with the BMFLs and Khamsins, utilizing the Khamsins for the band member key light. Both the mid-stage and up-stage trusses were each filled with additional BFMLs and B-EYEs, with the BMFLs supplying the big, beam looks and B-EYES for overall color wash effects. The “ribs” were lined with Smarty Hybrids for added beam looks and fans.
“I have worked with a few of the newer Ayrton fixtures, but this was my first time working with the Khamsin,” said Lighting Director Aaron D. Luke. “I’ve been very impressed with the horsepower from the LED engine. In the past, LED engines have always been a bit of a compromise when it comes to lumens out the front of the fixture, but we’ve reached a point where the more efficient fixture is also brighter than many of its discharge counterparts. Equally as impressive is the flat field you get from the Khamsin. This is obviously a huge benefit when it comes to intensity, but also lends itself well to consistent color in the pastels.”
Drawing on the lighting design, the video content team, Lüz, created a storyboard that incorporated structural elements within the looks that mimicked the lighting trusses and added lighting elements into many of the scenes that are directly controlled by the console.
“This is also where a lot of the color choices came about,” said Luke. “With the goal of blending lighting and video into a cohesive visual experience, the lighting color scheme followed video. The video and lighting elements were initially programmed separately, but once the two teams came together, we worked closely to tie our two departments together, changing bits of our programming to more closely integrate with the other.”
While Lisle shared his favorite moment are the first ten cues of Brand New Man, complete with what he describes as “straight forward white line in your face fun,” Luke looks forward to the aptly named, Hard Working Man.”
“The arrangement is very dynamic, beginning with an almost spooky intro that is contrasted by big, fast choruses,” he said. “The solos are full of rock’n’roll guitars, then coming back down quickly to low, spooky interludes. It is truly fun to light a song that has elements of both huge looks but also drama.”
In addition to utilizing Bandit gear and personnel, the tour was able to make use of Bandit’s Venue One rehearsal space for a week, a bonus client representative Golden said was a win/win for all parties.
“Not only did they leave with a very polished show, but for the office staff it was simply wonderful to hear them put their show together.”
“I am always appreciative of how Bandit preps their rigs,” said Luke. “Everything is labeled, color coded, and clean. It makes for fast, easy load-ins and load-outs, and when the occasional issue does arise, troubleshooting is quick and easy. That’s not always the case with every company. I’m also very appreciative of the professionalism as well as flexibility from the top, down.”
“The entire Bandit crew did a phenomenal job with the prep and execution of this rig, especially with the odd shape/size of the “rib” trusses,” said Lisle. “The prep was fantastic, and we rolled right into show one with a very smooth load in.”
“It’s an honor to continue the ride with Brooks & Dunn and the talented team they have assembled,” finished Golden. “We look forward to working with them all again in 2022.”
The ‘REBOOT 2021’ tour continues through October 9. For more information about tour dates and tickets, visit www.brooks-dunn.com/tour/.
Lighting and Set Design: CLLD LLC
Video Content and Design: Matthieu Larivée
Lighting Programmer and Director: Aaron D. Luke
Video Director: Milojko Dobrijevich
Production Manager: Jay R Schwartz
About Bandit Lites, Inc.
Bandit Lites is a full-service design, management and producer of live events, theatrical productions, and live shows. Bandit Lites has a full staff of highly trained professionals to deal with all types of production needs. Bandit’s presence will ensure seamless transitions no matter where your next show takes you. More information available at www.BanditLites.com