A View from the top of the World…Includes Chroma-Q
2022 Grammy-winning Prog Giants Dream Theater worked throughout the pandemic to create their newest album “A view from the top of the World”. In January 2022 they set off on their world tour named “Top of the World Tour.” The entire vision was created in their Dream Theater headquarters (DTHQ) in the USA.
Steve Baird has been the Lighting Designer for Dream Theater from 1995 to 2000 and then returned in 2007. “As a drummer and artist, I have an innate passion for music, lighting, and how a live show functions smoothly while impressing the audience.” The artistic, and creative work of Baird, is what allowed him to light a simple, yet creative stage for Dream Theater.
The band wanted floor-to-ceiling video projection, and Baird’s role was to come up with a vision for the lighting and video that would make the audience gasp. The album cover is a scene between 2 mountains in Norway, with a rock suspended between the gap of the mountain.
To create a stage that was Dream Theater’s own environment, and unique look. 6 White fabric panels were used in front of a white projection screen to create a projection surface with depth, a kind of 3D. Along the sides were 6 digitally printed fabric panels, 3 on each side with the two mountains from the album cover. This was done so that when the audience walked into the venue the album cover was projected on the center surface and the sides were used to extend the two mountains.
When it came to lighting the panels, I wanted to use the Chroma-Q® Color Force II™ 72’s fixtures. The fixtures were hung at the top and the bottom of each panel to provide full color on the set.
“The Chroma-Q® Color Force II™ fixtures provide great powerful colors, and I think the best saturation on the market,” explains Baird “Dream Theater has a powerful show. Using the fixtures to color match the video for the best audience experience was the ideal choice.”
“There is nothing like the sound and vibe from the audience once the first (lighting) cue starts.” reminisces Baird.
Lighting was supplied to Baird by Christie Lites via A.C. Lighting for the Canada and USA leg of the tour, and A.C. Entertainment Technologies for Europe. In 2023, Dream Theater went back to Europe to commence the next leg of the tour.
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