US radio station KDKB 93.3 celebrated alternative music with a star-studded Dia De Los ALT show at the Mesa Amphitheatre, supported by Chauvet Professional lighting fixtures.
Featuring Top Ten alternative recording artists from around the world, including New York’s Bleachers, London’s Bishop Briggs, and Denmark’s New Politics, the event served up a nightlong smorgasbord of music done in a seemingly endless array of quirky and highly individualistic styles. John Garberson of Creative BackStage was supported by assistant LDs Rita Assi and Chris Brodman, as well as a flexible rig.
Key to creating this immersive visual flow were the rig’s 8 Maverick MK2 Spot moving fixtures. Flown 4 apiece on midstage and upstage truss, the 440-Watt luminaires filled a wide range of roles for the Creative Backstage team, from backlighting and casting specials on performers, to engaging the crowd with audience lighting, to aerial effects, to underscoring ballyhoo moments with colourful crossing patterns.
“The Mavericks always give us a lot of options with their rotating gobos, colour wheels and nice zoom range,” said Garberson. “Having 8 of them set up on 2 rows of truss created a lot of depth on stage. Plus, their output is very intense, more than up to the task of handling a 5,000-person venue like Mesa Amp.”
Also enhancing the versatility of the Dia De Los ALT rig were its 24 Rogue R2 Washes. Garberson positioned these RGBW moving fixtures throughout the rig, flying 12 downstage, six mid-stage and six upstage. Reflecting the emotional twists and turns of the music, the Rogues were used to effect quick colour changes on stage. The rapid pan/tilt movements of the fixtures were also relied on to accent moments when the tempo of the music picked up.
Engaging the sellout crowd were the 4 STRIKE 4 multi-formatted fixtures that Garberson and his team flew on downstage truss. “The STRIKE 4s served as blinders at this show. Aside from they’re brightness, their warm white glow is really effective at creating a good feeling in the crowd. There’s a strong connection between bands and fans in alternative music, and audience lighting reinforces that bond,” Gaberson concluded.
