Jason Patsel Creates Looks for Carbon Leaf Homecoming with CHAUVET Professional

	The RGBW Rogue units washed individual band members in richly textured colors underscoring the emotional power of the show. Photo: Waugtography

About 30 years ago, a group of students at Randolph-Macon College formed a band dedicated to performing a unique Americana blend of folk and Celtic music. Much has happened to Carbon Leaf since then. They had some hits, including "A Life Less Ordinary," which reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts. Their songs have been used in a soundtrack (Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!). And they've toured at major festivals and iconic venues.

Eventually, some members of the quintet resettled, moving thousands of miles away to the west coast. But on Sunday August 3, the band returned to their roots when they headlined Music at Maymont, a live performance series that takes place in an idyllic 100-acre greenspace in the middle of the Virginia Capital's downtown, 15 miles from the college campus where their musical journey started.

The beautiful setting, the history of the moment, and the connection to local fans who grew up with the band, were not lost on Carbon Leaf in this homecoming show. "It's special when the sun is going down and the whole mood changes from being dusk and getting dark. It's fun," the band's founder, Terry Clark, told a reporter. "It feels more like a relaxing hang than the high-stakes, high-pressure, showtime kind of atmosphere, which can happen on tour in venues."

Enhancing that mood was an engaging Jason Patsel design that featured Maverick Force S Spot and Rogue R 2 Wash fixtures from CHAUVET Professional that were supplied by 81 Productions and LiteTek Entertainment.

Positioned along upstage rows, the Mavericks and Rogues created colorful audience lighting to underscore the connection between the band and its hometown fans. The RGBW Rogue units also washed individual band members in richly textured colors underscoring the emotional power of the show.

"The show had a lot of looks," he comments. "We wanted some of these looks to create a creepy but bold output. For other looks, we had opened zooms and no gobos for crowd participation. There were also big out looks for the sing-alongs, as well as rock and roll looks as the band paid their respects to the late great Ozzy Osborne with 'Crazy Train.' "Big shout out too to Chris Waugaman and Tammy Melton for the great photos. Sean McLane and LiteTek and 81 Productions," continues Patsel, who said there was a "family vibe" throughout the production crew.