Shinedown Takes Bandit Lites on the Road

	Shinedown. Photo: Neil Lim Sang

Hard rock band Shinedown is out on an epic tour run with a striking lighting package provided by long-time vendor Bandit Lites and designed by Sooner Routhier. With more than 10 million albums sold, the band is comprised of vocalist Brent Smith, bassist Eric Bass, drummer Barry Kerch, and guitarist Zach Meyers.

Bandit supplied Shinedown with a layered lighting rig that consists of Philips Vari-Lite VL 3000s for front wash and specials, while Claypaky B-EYES wash the stage and add powerful accent effects for songs. Philips Showline Nitros and Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 FX B's placed in ladders provide accent and back light along with Elation Professional ACL 360i fixtures. The ACL 360i are placed behind a diffused plexiglass, giving them different effects. Bandit recently added Martin by Harman Sceptrons that play video content, while Martin MAC Vipers round out design with big beam looks, texture, and special effects.

Lighting director Carter Fulghum takes a straight forward approach to illuminating the band, focusing on looks that accentuates the music on stage, whether it is the raw, emotional "How Did You Love" or head banging "Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)."

"I feel that Sooner did a great job building each song to have its own personality and ability to stand on its own," said Fulghum adding, "Each song is programmed to stand alone, so the band can change things up every so often. This gives each song its own identity and feel, which is the way their music is. So each song is programmed that way with its own life."

Fulghum shared the tour is like one big family, and that the relationship between Shinedown and Bandit is a special one, noting the band exclusively has used Bandit fixtures on all their tours.

"Our relationship with Shinedown is one that goes beyond the typical client/vendor roles," said Bandit's Brent Barrett. "Working for Shinedown is one of those rare opportunities where we always are treated as part of the family. We take immense pride in being a part of the production team and working with the tour manager Maryjo Spillane (Lady Spillane) is always a welcome experience. I always enjoy seeing this show live. The Band presents the true definition of a ROCK SHOW and Carter compliments their songs with such great precision in a way that is only accomplished by genuinely knowing the Band and their music."

The tour continues into December 2016. Visit Shinedown.com/Shows for more tour dates and information.