Mashina, Micha and Martin

One of Israel´s leading rock bands of the eighties and early nineties, Mashina, reunited for a series of shows this past summer. After an eight-year hiatus the band played several shows at the Caesarea amphitheater, an outdoor arena near the coast, and other big shows elsewhere in Israel.

Lighting Designer Micha Margalit used an array of Martin gear for the reunion tour, which goes indoors in November and on to America in January. Rental company Betty Bum supplied the Martin gear through Martin’s Israeli distributor Lightone.

With a stage set that includes seven large and rather luminous video screens - five on stage forming a video wall and one on each side - Micha was looking for a powerful lighting package capable of effectively cutting through such intense light spill. Micha chose 20 MAC 2000 Profile, 14 MAC 600 Wash and 10 Atomic 3000 strobes to do the job. He also incorporated several conventional fixtures.

The MAC 600s provide wash coverage from various floor positions, as well as in-fill color from the side and back of the stage. The MAC 2000 Profiles, equipped with custom gobos, are spread across the rig and show their versatility by also being used for backlighting. The 2000 Profiles’ main task is to target custom patterns and color onto three large scrims that hang above the five-screen video wall.

Atomic 3000 strobes add further energy and are located throughout the stage – three on a tower facing the audience, three on a catwalk behind the band illuminating through a translucent plastic material, and others up in the truss. For additional punch, five 5K lights were placed behind the band on a riser. Micha designed the various lighting looks with cues programmed by Ofer Brum.

“I’m very satisfied with the Martin lights,” commented Micha. “We have had no major problems with the lights and Lightone and Betty Bum have been excellent.”