SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Fans got an unexpected surprise near the end of Bassrush Arizona’s closing (1 am) slot. Headliners Black Tiger Sex Machine shocked everyone when they tore off their iconic glowing tiger masks and performed the final 10 minutes of their show bare-faced!
The facial reveal was only one of many astounding moments in the Insomniac Events-produced event that rocked the sprawling WestWorld of Scottsdale. Thrilling fans at every turn were artists like Barely Alive, conjuring up the magic of the 2010 bass scene with their distinctive brostep-heavy set, Ray Volpe, electrifying the stage with hits like “See You Drop,” and much more!
Matching the stunning sounds with an equally dynamic visual background was bold and distinctive lighting design by Luis Torres of HiLite Designs powered by 164 CHAUVET Professional fixtures supplied by Hardwired Productions.
Torres used this power-packed rig to immerse the entire venue in intensely bright light. At times, this light was made of monochromatic washes accented by splashes of white and amber. During other passages during the one-day festival, the immersive light was created by video displays, geometric patterns, and laser beams that hurled their way over the entire dancefloor.
“The venue here really enhanced the design,” said Torres. “Tall, trim and very adequate load capacity rigging allowed us to hang production throughout the crowd, and over our stage. The venue gave us a lot of opportunities to create big impressions.”
Torres pulled the stage and cavernous venue together by flying six pods loaded with fixtures across the upstage deck. This not only made the 168-foot wide stage appear wider, it also engaged fans with intense crowd lighting. There were four strobes in each pod, and eight on the video truss, while the remaining units were spread out throughout the floor on house trusses.
The strobing firepower in Torres’ rig came from his 36 STRIKE Array 2 and 18 STRIKE Array 4 fixtures. Also in the mix were 68 Color STRIKE M and 42 Maverick MK3 Wash fixtures. All of the wash units were spread out over the crowd, creating immersive venue-wide washes and also moving to the bounce of bass drops.
In addition to helping Torres meet his main goal of reflecting the music on stage, his end-to-end lighting was instrumental in connecting the crowd to the performers. “I wanted everyone to feel a part of this,” said Torres, who added he also tried to make the entire show “feel like a party.”
True to his vision, Torres did create a party atmosphere in the big venue - and just as at any good party, Bassrush Arizona let everyone feel free to do the unexpected -- even if they were a headlining hitmaker removing their trademark masks!
About CHAUVET Professional
CHAUVET Professional offers innovative professional lighting fixtures for the production and touring market as well as permanent installation in theaters, hospitality venues, cruise ships, clubs, television and architainment applications. For more information, please visit www.chauvetprofessional.com
Photo Credit: Kyle Lescarbeau
More News
Support USITT
For many 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, USITT included, donations are a lifeline. We are able to continue to expand our online offerings to our Members and to our industry thanks to Membership dollars and the generosity of our donors.