Thoughts on local bands with their own lighting guy(s)???

[wolfXbeast]

So... not sure if anyone else has noticed this, or maybe it is just a regional thing, but a lot of bands are bringing their own lighting rigs to local shows. Like hall shows and such. It never bothered me really. But now i am seeing bands with actual lighting guys that sit off to the side and push buttons on and off.

Thoughts?

Is it just me, or does this seem to be beyond lame? (just having a guy doing it, not having lights)

[underthetalking]

Some work. Some don't. There is one local band in this area that has their own lighting guy (well, atmospheric technician, they call it). Anyway, them adding the light show really put their live show over the edge. Some bands do it just for the hell of it, but the band I'm speaking of has actually made it an important part of their sets.

[Fuckmaxbemis]

yeah, I dont know, some times the lighting if it's good can make up for a shitty performance.

[dearmsleading]

i went to a show the other night and the lights made all the difference. there's something about coupling the visual with the audio that makes the experience all the better. i do think that if the band is crappy and they have an expensive light show, it ruins the whole thing though. i guess it's the old image v. substance argument though- sprinkling glitter on crap doesnt distract from the fact that its crap.

[Wyatt!!!]

Dead and Divine brings a lights guy on tour with them wherever they go.

fact?

[jenniferlee]

I saw Portugal. The Man last fall and it was the same thing...I didn't have a problem with it, and it kind of made their set stand out a bit more?

[black rose]

Yea, this local band Nine Life Fire had a guy do their own lighting for a while. It was actually a friend of mine that did it. But I thought it looked pretty cool, and they are a hardcore band so it made their set different than all of the similar sounding hardcore bands. It was pretty cool; I liked it.

[SLoT]

if you can't play a kick ass show in broad daylight you suck dick and should sell your equipment. fuck having a lighting guy, fuck wasting money on lights, fuck their friends for not kicking the shit out of them for even bringing such a ridiculous idea to light.


(pun intended/end rant/kidding anyway)

[chipdip18]

I have never heard of a local band doing this, seems a bit pointless to me though, i think you should be selling your music through the performance, not the light show.

[Neo Cassady]

I have never heard of a local band doing this, seems a bit pointless to me though, i think you should be selling your music through the performance, not the light show.

tell that to kanye

[Regards]

Lighting definitely adds to the show though.

[thespearkid]

In our local scene, someone just plays with the light switch during the br00tal breakdowns.

[chipdip18]

tell that to kanye

Hahaha. Maybe i will!

Lighting definitely adds to the show though.

Oh of course it does, but local bands? They don't need a light guy or atmospheric whateverer, they need to save all the money they can get. The bottom of the food chain doesn't need a lighting guy.