NASHVILLE, TN – Three-time ACM “Entertainer of the Year” Jason Aldean continues taking his ROCK N’ ROLL COWBOY TOUR to 34 cities nationwide with Bandit Lites and Luz Studio who has provided production design and creative direction for the tour. Matthieu Larivee worked closely with Aldean’s longtime lighting director Keith Hoagland to select fixtures.
The ROCK N’ ROLL COWBOY TOUR features special guests Gabby Barrett, John Morgan and Dee Jay Silver and it was recently announced that Aldean will be joined by Tracy Lawrence, Travis Tritt and Chase Rice this fall for select dates as well. For more information visit www.JasonAldean.com.
“The creative design team had all these washes focused on Aldean for a verse,” shared Hoagland. “The only light I know that would do that and do it well was the VL3500 wash, and once I decided that was the wash, I then needed to make sure I had a hard edge that could push through its output and compete not just as a beam but as a gobo enhanced fixture. I landed on the Mythos unit as it can go toe to toe with them and look nice.”
"There’s a lot of gear on this show,” said Larivee adding, “so it was important to stay focus to the creative deck and work together with Keith in order to avoid being all over the place.
Bandit Lites supplied more than 300 fixtures, including the Claypaky Mythos 2, Chauvet Maverick MK Pyxis, Chauvet Nexus AW 7x7, Elation Proteus Maximus IP 65, Elation CuePix WW4, GLP X4 Bar 20, HES SolaFix 37, VL 3500 Washes, Strike 4’s, Color Strike M Strobes, Elidy, Grand MA 2 Consoles, Tyler GT Truss, Tyler Ladders and a Follow Me System.
Rather than utilize a floor package and a flown rig with a video screen in the center, Matthew Larivee of Luz Studio proposed centering the lights within a video image, creating another dimension without hiding the video wall.
“The video content is what drives the creative direction of the show,” he said before adding, “Luz Studio’s background is lighting design, so our video content reflects that. Our signature is to create set extension within the screen. It is working well because it is lit with virtual lights that mimic the actual stage lights.”
By merging physical lights with virtual lights, Luz Studio layered another dimension on to the stage, creating more dynamic content. An 8mm blow-through screen with a wall of lights behind it controlled by the video team transforms in a single, cohesive set.
Following a workshop at Bandit Lites warehouse with multiple series of lights on hand, Keith Hoagland, Jason Aldean’s long time lighting director chose Chauvet Pyxys to achieve the aforementioned wall of lights.
“The Pyxys was perfect because it is LED, meaning it would not damage the plastic of the screen,” said Larivee. “There’s a center beam that can shine through the screen and content. There’s also a ring of LED that creates a wash unit to help the merging of content, a zoom to avoid being too spotty, as well as an endless rotation on X and Y axis, so for the songs where we needed bells and whistles, we had it!”
“Hoagland also picked the Clay Paky Mythos to create moods with gobos, colors and various positions,” said Larivee. “The High End Systems SolaPix were used as side light to wash the stage and create a few animated patterns.”
The team chose curved, asymmetric trusses, evoking an organic, root look, and with over two dozen songs on deck each night, production crafted a cohesive presentation that still showcased a diverse set of looks. An Elidy warm light is used beneath the riser to warmth the looks while GLP impression x4 Bar 20 are set up beneath the riser aligned in straight line to highlight the band riser: a striking staircase. Along the curved truss are Chauvet Strike 4 blinders, defining the trusses shape without lighting up the trusses themselves while Chauvet Strike M are used as a top light to wash the stage and connect the stage looks with the audience.
“The Color Strike M and Strike Array 4 units are awesome,” said Hoagland. “They read well and handle great. I really like the Color Strike unit as wash units since I am using the VL3500 wash as a highlighted tight shaft of light for an effect.
With Hoagland having over eight years of experience working with Aldean, his perspective on what the tour’s seen and already done proved invaluable. He wiped the slate clean and started a new fresh show file, providing the creative freedom to explore new ideas.
Custom LED winches come down from the ceiling for three songs, creating another dimension and supporting the breakdown moment of the show.
The control of the wall of lights was done via video, meaning some R&D was done to ensure the look would be cohesive. For example, if the team creates boxes in the content, the team can make them rotate, and as they rotate, a beam of light appears behind the screen with the disguise GX2c server controlling that via DMX.
“Basically, we choose a color and position in the grand MA and the server manages the dimmer,” finished Larivee.
With IMAG, the lighting can reach and include fans that may be on the far lawn at the venues.
“We did some really cool video tricks this year for the IMAG screens,” Hoagland said. “Really pushing the limit of how media servers are used and work. This year’s show is a work horse for the D3 media server for sure.”
“For IMAG, we wanted to create something different,” said Larivee. “So sometimes we are using live cameras on the center screen and we are using the wall of light to create the background of the image. We wanted to avoid having lighting beam interfering with his face.”
“We also worked with the artificial intelligence (AI) device in the VFX software Notch,” he added. “We did R & D to track the live image to kill the lights behind. Essentially, if Jason lifts his arm, the AI tracks the arm and send a DMX command to close the lights in conflict. This is really a game changer for us and for the next shows because it pushes a lot more.”
Bandit Lites has been on board with Aldean since 2008 and strives to secure the client’s vision into reality, a feat that Hoagland refers to as a “labor of love,” explaining, “A love of making sure it is right from the get-go and working to support with crew and gear as we went through rehearsals to now on tour. I cannot thank everyone enough for all the hard work. It truly shows folk’s care. Every year we start over and reimagine the wheel. Bandit has been so supportive from the day I was told to design and drive this year’s production with Luz, from our Client Representative Mike Golden, through Project Manager, Donnie Lockridge, to VP of Business and Innovation, Jake Tickle down to my Crew Chief Cody Cheatham and crew.”
- Production design: Luz Studio
- Creative Direction: Matthieu Larivee - Luz Studio
- Lighting design: Keith Hoagland
- Video Content: Luz Studio
- Bandit Lites Client Representative: Mike Golden
- Bandit Lites Project Manager: Donnie Lockridge
- Bandit Lites Crew Chief: Cody Cheatham
- Bandit Lites Crew: Kelly Feild, Bryan Place, Travis Price, and Kayla Richardson
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
About Jason Aldean
Multi-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean has learned a thing or two about the music he has made over the past 17 years, but as far as he’s come, Aldean always looks back home to Macon, Georgia. Both where he is from and how far he has taken his signature sound is reflected throughout his 10th studio album MACON, GEORGIA, as the expansive release “kicks off his career’s next era” (Tennessean) with 20 new tunes and 10 unheard live tracks showcasing everything he does. Aldean has bolstered 27 No. One hits, 15 billion streams and has sold more than 20 million albums. Notably, seven of Aldean’s previous studio albums have been certified PLATINUM or more and he has the most Top 10 song on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, more than any other artists, since making his chart debut in 2005. The recent CRS Humanitarian Award recipient created Wolf Moon Bourbon, an 80 proof bourbon that has been distilled from Midwestern grains and aged for four years offering a finish of caramel, oak and spice. For more information visit www.jasonaldean.com.