Doobie Brothers dazzle with Chauvet lighting – LSi Online

The Doobie Brothers marked their 54th anniversary last year with their groundbreaking Walk This Road album. This album was unique as it featured both Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald, two talented artists who had recorded separately with the band before but had never come together on a project until then.

The success of the Walk This Road album spilled over into the band’s national tour, where Seth Jackson’s production design took center stage. Departing from conventional norms, the show’s design focused on storytelling without the use of traditional lighting elements such as beams. The goal was to create a visual experience that matched the essence of the band’s music and reflected their Northern California rock and roll roots, as emphasized by band member Pat Simmons.

To achieve this vision, Jackson and his team were tasked with creating a show that felt both traditional and unconventional. This meant steering clear of smoke, beams, and overwhelming effects that are typical of many concerts. Instead, they opted for a more nuanced approach, relying on textures, colors, and balance to bring the music to life in a fresh and innovative way.

A key element in bringing this vision to fruition was the seamless integration of lighting and video elements. With a 43’x16’ video screen as the backdrop, Jackson utilized a lighting rig that included Chauvet Professional Maverick Storm 2 Profiles, Strike Array 2 strobe-washes, and Strike P38 blinder-strobes. These lighting fixtures, provided by Gateway Studios and Production Services, played a crucial role in enhancing the visual experience of the show.

Jackson’s approach to lighting was guided by the video imagery displayed on the screen. By matching the lighting cues and colors to the video content, he was able to create a cohesive visual narrative that complemented the band’s performance. In collaboration with Brent Sandrock and Ross McNamara of Creative Lumens, new content was created for the songs from the album, and existing content was refined for a polished look.

The Strike P38 units accentuated the video content, while the Strike Array 2 fixtures synchronized with the screen imagery to illuminate the audience creatively. Meanwhile, the Maverick Storm 2 Profiles played a crucial role in highlighting the band members on stage, providing precise key lighting to ensure they remained the focal point amidst the panoramic visual landscape.

Each band member on the front line had dedicated key and backlighting, meticulously designed to enhance their presence on stage. Michael McDonald, in particular, had specific lighting preferences that were accommodated with two key lights and a backlight, omitting the need for follow spots. The Maverick Storm 2 Profiles remained static, serving as consistent key lights for individual band members. Ryan Garner’s expertise in adjusting the lighting balance was instrumental in creating the perfect visual atmosphere for the Doobie Brothers’ performances.