Maxxyz on Extended Kid Rock Tour

Out on the road since January in support of his self-titled 2003 release, Kid Rock will be hitting the U.S. amphitheatre circuit until October in what is certain to be one of the longest tours of the year. The extended outing features a lighting design by Nook Schoenfeld, his fifth time working with the Detroit rocker.

The show features an old time rock ‘n roll look with Martin MAC 2000 Profile and Wash units, other automated fixtures and custom PAR 64 pods making up the bulk of the lighting, all run off a Maxxyz controller. Lighting supply for the tour is by Upstaging.

Nook has been busy lately, having programmed the Kid Rock show and the latest Aerosmith tour on a Maxxyz as well. Nook worked together with lighting director Brad Teagan on the Kid Rock show.

Nook has 25 years as a touring professional on rock and roll shows under his belt and has been programming moving lights since 1985. He is one of the most experienced Maxxyz programmers around. Commenting on both the Kid Rock and Aerosmith tours, here’s what he had to say about the Maxxyz.

”What I like about Maxxyz is the comfort factor. I can´t explain it, but when I´m rocking behind this desk, it feels so right. Big fat faders and big soft keys. I taught Brad Teagan, the lighting director on Kid Rock, the console in one hour. It´s really that easy. If I ever have a problem the support team is right there on the other end of the phone. I get new software in 24 hours.”

Nook first used the Maxxyz lighting console in the summer of 2003 on the Sprite Liquid Mix Festival before going out with Maxxyz on Kid Rock in January. With well over 100 Maxxyz-controlled shows under his belt, he may be the most experienced Maxxyz user out there. He comments, “There are some unique features that each console has and I wanted the Maxxyz to be able to do some of the cool stuff that other consoles do. I wanted a new type of EFX engine as well. They´ve delivered almost everything I desired in a desk. 

”Most cues I write have split timing in the parameters of the lights. The console treats time just like any other attribute of the light, something long overdue in lighting consoles. And this console has the best Effects generator, bar none. There is also the Fixture Filter function, which is a unique way of grabbing banks of lights or dividing your whole rig by groups of 3 or 4 in an instant. I´ve been begging other manufacturers for this for 10 years now.”