The Rave Installs dBTechnologies VIO Systems

	The Rave

For the owners of Milwaukee live venue, The Rave -- Joe Balestrieri and Leslie West -- the installation of a pair of dBTechnologies VIO rigs is just one of many improvements made to the historic venue.

Since purchasing the property in 1991, restoring the former Eagles Club to its original glory has been a labor of love. "Many cities have iconic venues built in the 20s -- Radio City, the Chicago Theatre, the Lyric Opera House, and Fox Theatres. In Wisconsin, this is the largest example of classic 20s architecture," Balestrieri says, adding that restoring the building to create an architecturally spectacular, state-of-the-art venue: "Was just the right thing to do. And we're still not done," Balestrieri adds, "but with the new sound system, the sound in The Rave Hall and Eagles Ballroom is spectacular; equal to anybody's."

"There are always improvements happening," notes Jeff Claveau, The Rave's assistant production manager and audio manager -- upgrades to amenities, new acoustic treatments, HVAC systems, and lighting, and, most recently, the installation of VIO PAs in the 1,800-capacity Rave Hall and 4000-capacity Eagles Ballroom.

The choice of dBTechnologies was based on hearing VIO in action at Irish Fest in 2023 -- a system deployed by local dBTechnologies' representatives Audio Biz and local production house Clearwing to showcase VIO products on two prominent stages. "We were there on install day, and they'd just turned the system on," Claveau says, "and even before it was tuned and EQ'd we were impressed."

As with every upgrade, care was taken to ensure The Rave met the needs of incoming artists while preserving historic elements that are integral to The Rave's rich history.

Designed by architect Russell Barr Williamson (a student of Frank Lloyd Wright) the building was constructed in the mid-1920s to serve as an 11,000-person Social Club for the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the surrounding community.

Initially, it housed athletic facilities and a variety of performance spaces, notably Devine's Million Dollar Ballroom, where, in early 1959, the first date of the Winter Dance Party Tour (featuring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and others) took place -- just two weeks before Holly, Richardson, and Valens died in a plane crash.

Although the Eagles Club continued to serve the community until 1983, by the time Balestrieri purchased it, the building had been condemned. Thanks to his efforts, however, The Rave's four stages now host over 200 shows annually by artists including Bob Dylan, Slayer, T-Pain, Jack White, Florence and the Machine, Lainey Wilson, and many others.

A pair of demos undertaken in the Rave Hall and then the Eagles Ballroom by Audio Biz with the help of JEM Productions solidified Claveau's initial impression, explains Shawn McLoughlin (senior technical sales representative, Audio Biz: "Our technical services and support manager, Brian Christ and I deployed a dBTechnologies system in the Rave Hall first, and then, because they wanted to give the VIO rig a test run in the larger space, in the Eagles Ballroom."

Now, both rooms are home to dBTechnologies PAs: seven VIO L1610s and six VIO S218 Subs per side as mains, and four VIO L208 as front fills in the Rave Hall; and, in the Eagles Ballroom; per side, eight VIO L212s as mains, eight L1610s as out-fills, ten VIO S218 subs ground-stacked, and five VIO L1610s for front fills." Monitor systems in both spaces consist of eight VIO W15Ts, four VIO S118 Subs, four VIO C12 Tops as side fills, and one VIO S118 drum sub.

Although The Rave considered several different loudspeaker systems, dBTechnologies topped their list, not just for the "absolute audio clarity," Claveau says, but the care taken by everyone involved in the project, including local dB rep. Audio Biz, dB users Jem Production, and owing to dB's overall responsiveness and support before, during, and after the install.

"dB were cooperative, easy to deal with, and (represented) locally, so if we did need something, we could get service," Balestrieri concludes. As for the result, he adds, "This is, by far, the best the place ever sounded."