Prolific multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Todd Rundgren has
just released his hot new “Global’ album, and is one of the highly innovative artists
in the current portfolio of Lighting and Visuals Designer and touring Lighting Director
Martin Thomas.
Martin has been touring regularly with Rundgren for around six years and is now out
with a tower and floor specials lighting package comprising just 18 moving lights –
twelve Robe Pointes and six Robe MMX Spots – plus LED video panels.
With lighting and visuals absolutely at the essence of the energetic and fast-paced
show, Martin was confident he could deliver all the dynamics needed with just these
few touring elements, as well as hooking in to a different “top’ rig each night at the
various venues on an eclectic itinerary.
Initial phone conversations between Martin and Rundgren revealed the desire to
create a melodic EDM ambience onstage, so Martin decided to create a basic set
framework around the performance space with four 14ft high upstage trussing
towers, each rigged with 12 x 8 mm Omega LED tiles and two Pointes on the top.
The overall aesthetic developed is more theatrical than 2013’s “State’ album tour,
and also features several layers of physical movement that make specific use of the
stage space, and Martin relished the challenge of using just 18 carefully chosen
fixtures to craft the lighting.
The Pointes were selected for being a “great effects light’ capable of producing such
a range of different looks. The Pointes also do most of the wash and spot work
onstage, their sheer functionality making them “extremely efficient workhorses.
Every day, when I fire up the rig, the local technicians are completely blown away
with all that the light can do.’
A palette of colours and looks is programmed for each song, with the MMX Spots
providing quality saturated washes to match the base hues. “They are another
really adaptable Robe lightsource,’ said Martin, “giving broad wash options and a
really “full’ light’.
The Pointes and MMX Wash beams are being supplied by Howard Ungerleider’s
company PDI, Inc. and Craig Mitchell from LMG.
Martin has been using Robe products since the Pointe was launched in 2013, a trend
he continued in 2014, specifying MMX WashBeams for the first time on Jill Scott’s
2014 world tour. “I’m really happy with Robe,’ he declared. “They are really
excellent fixtures with a lot of great, imaginative minds designing them, and the
support and enthusiasm from Robe Lighting Inc. is phenomenal’.
The U.S. section of the “Global’ tour is on its second leg and continues until
September, followed by a stint in Europe.
