Bangor, ME - When The Black Crowes roll into town, subtle isn’t on the setlist. The band’s signature wall of sound, raw, soulful, and unapologetically loud, demands a system that can keep up without losing control.
On a recent run through the Northeast for The Happiness Bastards Tour, it was DAS Audio’s ARA Series that rose to the challenge, delivering the kind of clarity and warmth that turns a great rock show into an unforgettable one.
At the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor, DAS Audio partnered with Audio East to deploy a full ARA rig: 12-deep LARA line arrays, MARA outfills and front fills, and a groundstack of 12 LARA cardioid subwoofers.
On the receiving end? Front of house engineer Erik Rogers, tasked with translating the band’s gritty magic into a tight, musical mix for thousands of fans.
“From the first time I mixed on LARA, I was impressed,” said Rogers. “It was musical right out of the box. Tuning was so easy because everything I built into my mix translated immediately.”
Known for their analog-style energy and feel-it-in-your-chest stage volume, The Black Crowes don’t exactly go easy on gear. With 14 wedges on stage, Rogers needed a system that could cut through chaos without adding its own.
“They play by feel,” he said. “And that feel depends on having control over the stage volume while still giving the audience everything they came for.” The fully cardioid nature of the LARA system helped strike that balance. “The subs were also incredible. Tight and musical by design,” Rogers shared. “I had all the low end I wanted without the stage getting washed out.”
Offstage, Rogers leaned on DAS Audio’s ARA-P28 reference monitors to fine-tune his mix before load-in. With the same voicing as the LARA system, the transition from prep to performance was seamless.
“What I hear in the P28s is exactly what comes out of the main PA,” he said. “That kind of consistency has saved me more than once.”
He describes the overall sound of LARA as smooth, balanced, and natural. No harshness, no heavy EQ, and vocals that “just sit where they should.” For a mix that thrives on nuance, that kind of transparency makes all the difference. “I haven’t had to chase the usual problem frequencies,” Rogers said. “It just works.”
Beyond the gear, it was the DAS Audio team that sealed the experience.
“They’re present. They care. They’re in this for the right reasons,” Rogers added. “You can feel that when you work with them. It’s not just support, it’s partnership.”
For a band built on roots, grit, and timeless rock and roll, DAS Audio brought the clarity and control to let every moment land exactly as intended. No compromises. No overcorrection. Just a powerful connection between artist and audience, from the first downbeat to the last guitar scream.
“Don’t pass on an opportunity to mix on DAS,” Rogers said. “The ARA system stands up against anything out there. You won’t be disappointed.”
As more artists, engineers, and production teams experience the next generation of DAS Audio systems, one thing is becoming clear: The Future is ARA.
To learn more about DAS Audio and the ARA Series, visit www.dasaudio.com.
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