Lighting designer Matthew Button of Button Light has used
the powerful new Philips Vari-Lite VL4000 BeamWash to create a dramatic focal
point of the drum kit on Super Furry Animals\’ string of UK reunion dates.
The psychedelic-rock legends took to the stage for the
first time since 2009, supporting the deluxe 15th anniversary reissue of their
long out-of-print album \’Mwng\’.
Playing such venues as o2 Academy Brixton and the o2
Academy Glasgow, the Welsh quintet were true-to-form with an eccentrically
brilliant show that The Guardian awarded 4 out of 5 stars. Button worked
with drummer Dafydd Ieuan to design some of the experimental show effects,
including the transparent drum kit. Behind this the designer positioned the
super powerful VL4000 BeamWash, making him the first to take the latest
addition to the Vari-Lite product line out on tour.
\”To make this idea really work, I needed a big
wash/beam light to power through and illuminate his legs in action on the
double kick drums,\” explains Button. \”The VL4000 BeamWash luminaire
was the ultimate choice for this with its incredibly bright beam, meaning I
only needed to use a single fixture. Its massive lens also fitted perfectly
just above the riser ledge and made the drum, the driving oomph of rock music,
the focal point of the set.\”
The VL4000 BeamWash combines stunning wash capabilities
with intense beam functionality and the ability to produce a powerful column of
light. It provides designers with a single unit that can serve multiple uses
seamlessly without changing lenses or adding fixtures.
\”I am very impressed with the VL4000 BeamWash,\”
continues Button. \”The accuracy and speed of its zoom allowed me to flick
from beam to a very wide wash mode with ease meaning we were able to achieve
the exact look we wanted.\”
Super Furry Animals are set to play a number of festival
dates this summer, including Forgotten Fields in August.
