Ireland – Americana, Red Dirt, Country-Folk, Modern Country…there are many ways that people describe the music of Dylan Gossett. But regardless of what it’s called, the raw, honest, acoustic driven sound of this red-hot artist is striking a chord with fans throughout the USA and beyond.
This is plain to see in Ireland, where the singer-songwriter from Texas achieved double platinum status for his hit “Coal,” an accomplishment also achieved in the UK and on this side of the Atlantic. Setting an inviting mood for Gossett’s engaging storytelling music on his EU tour is an embracive lightshow run by Jared Rarick, using a rig designed by Jeff Mathews.
Characterized by warm ambers, with occasional saturated reds and blues, along with pastels, thrown in, the show instantly evokes laid back western imagery that transforms EU fans to the high Texas plains. Speaking of the design’s colors, Rarick said: “Much of this comes from what feels right for the music. The 2700k/tungsten warmth fits a good majority of this shows warm, western feel.”
Amplifying this mood and creating an easy-to-feel natural sense on stage was Rarick’s deck lighting and his tendency to illuminate the performers from pronounced angles. “When it comes to lighting angles, steeper angles from above for the front and back serve me best,” he said. “The light behind the band was sometimes done just to bring the energy to eye level. At other times, it was done for drawing the attention to a specific moment on stage.”
The absence of a video wall also added to the organic feel of the show. In its place, Rarick had his client’s names spelled out on the back wall. He also added a sense of depth by keeping the stage dim around this lettering.
Rarick worked with a collection of CHAUVET Professional fixtures supplied by The Just Lite Group. Included in this collection were six Rouge R3 Wash fixtures, positioned as downstage side light. He used them in lieu of follow spots to light his baseball cap wearing client.
“Dylan wears the cap as part of his look,” said Rarick. “With that in mind, I try to fill those shadows from the side with some R3 Washes. I’ve avoided follow spots because I don’t think they fit the aesthetic of our tour.”
Also in the touring floor package were 10 STRIKE Array 2 blinders, five STRIKE Array 4 units, and six Maverick Storm2 Beam/Washes. Positioned in front of the band risers, the STRIKE Array 2s, backlit the performers, while the STRIKE Array 4s in front of the drum risers worked with the overhead fixtures to create mood setting glows over the stage. The six Maverick Storm2 Profiles positioned upstage served as profiles and highlighted key moments in the show.
Working this floor package (and his entire rig) to perfection, Rarick ran an open, inviting show that was as at home in Belfast or Dublin as it is in Austin or Nashville.
