Maximo Park ‘Quickens the Heart’ on World Tour

Maximo Park ‘Quickens the Heart’ on World Tour

August 18, 2009

When a band releases a highly anticipated album and then sells out its UK tour in record time you know things are going well. So it was for Maximo Park, a popular alt rock band from the UK who has hit the road in support of their third album “Quicken the Heart.”

Lighting and video designer for the tour is Stevie Marr who uses Martin MAC III Profiles™, MAC 250 Washes™ and Atomic 3000™ strobes in his design. Lighting supply is by Lite Alternative.

“I needed a quality laser effect without an actual laser because regulations prevent the crowd scanning effect that I really wanted,” Marr says of his decision to eventually turn to the MAC III Profile for the look. Glen Johnson, who ran the show, recommended the MAC III for the job. They did that job and more.”

Unique MAC III looks
Martin’s 1500 watt MAC III Profile is being used extensively throughout the 2009 summer touring season (Elton John, Billy Joel, Beyonce, the Jonas Brothers to name a few). Its unique fat beam coupled with an enhanced CMY color mixing system, dual gobo wheels and gobo animation system provide designers with all new dynamic looks.

“I have never used gobos with Maximo Park and have shied away from gobo looks for quite a few years now,” explains Marr. “I'd never really seen a light that could do enough with gobos against the LED I've been using. It may just be nostalgia but since the demise of the Icon nothing has really caught my attention. Until now that is.”

Marr has the MAC IIIs positioned across the upstage on 3 meter centers, working through an array of 16 upright LED tubes. “The electronic strobing of the MAC III is particularly effective for the fake laser looks,” he states. “The wide zoom coupled with excellent optics help make big pictures out of a limited quantity of lights.”

No fuss
Marr calls the MAC 250 Washes his workhorses and “a general purpose light that just does what it's told without any fuss. It's light in weight and footprint while still able to hold it's own against a backdrop of LED video.” Marr has used a variety of LED displays with Maximo including Martin’s LC Series™ LED panels. Gavin Tomkins from XL Video looks after all LED on the show.

Lite Alternative’s Gareth Pritchard and Ivan Ellison reported no trouble regarding any of the lighting equipment. Maximo Park wrapped up a sold out UK tour in late spring and are playing European and North American dates through October.

Photos: Robert Hollingworth, Brixton Academy, UK, May 26, 2009

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