Howard Jones and Nate Alves, who code-signed the lighting for Brantley Gilbert’s
Black Out World Tour, have selected an array of Clay Paky fixtures – including the
new Scenius moving head spotlight – for the current leg of the arena tour
Gilbert, the country rock singer and songwriter, kicked off the US and Canada leg of
the Black Out World Tour playing to capacity crowds in Saginaw, Michigan. After
the tour wraps this spring Gilbert will take a breather before launching the Take It
Outside summer tour. The current lighting rig will be reprised for the summer tour.
Howard Jones, is president of DCR (Digital Console Rental, Inc.) in Nashville, which
provides the sound, lighting and video for the Black Out World Tour. He also
designed Gilbert’s previous two tours: Hell on Wheels in 2011 and Let It Ride in
2013-14.
An early adopter of new products, Jones was eager to deploy DCR’s inventory of
Clay Paky Scenius fixtures on this tour. “We are among the first companies in the
US to offer Scenius, which gives us an advantage,’ he reports. “Anybody can join
the party later, but being early adopters sets DCR apart.’
Scenius is a moving head spotlight at the top of the Clay Paky range. Its advanced
optical unit and new 1400W OSRAM discharge lamp provide a much higher light
output than with previous generation 1500W lamps. Its wide 8°-50° zoom make it
perfect for every use. A modern focus tracking system concentrates maximum
luminous efficiency precisely on the effect users wish to project; the focus may be
set to be fully automatic.
Scenius is known for its white light and color reproduction fidelity; its very high CRI
is extremely unusual for a metal halide light source. Colors cover a broad
spectrum, even including pastel shades; two rotating gobo wheels, a rotating prism
and interchangeable graphics wheel generate spectacular new effects. The fixture
can also be used in wash mode by inserting a newly-designed frost filter.
Even though Scenius is new to the US, Jones and Alves had no hesitation about
using it. “Clay Paky is known for this type of hybrid fixture,’ says Jones. “We used
Scenius during three weeks of rehearsals where it met all of our expectations.’
Thirteen Clay Paky Stormy Strobes CC are making their tour debut. Eight color
fixtures are on the main body of the truss; five regular Stormys are on the
downstage truss. “We use them for their strobe effects, color toning and as full-on
audience lights,’ says Jones.
Eight Clay Paky Sharpys are on the floor downstage left and right where the
designers deploy their effects package. “This is the third tour for the Sharpys,’
Jones reports. “They’ve become a staple.’
A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive North American distributor for Clay Paky.
Francesco Romagnoli, Clay Paky Area Manager for North and Latin America, added,
“We’re very excited about the new Scenius fixtures and thrilled that they’ve been
deployed on such a high profile tour.’
