For the American rock artist's US tour, SLS Production Services recently equipped Alice Cooper with a full audio rig that featured JBL’s VTX Series speakers.
Cooper has sold over 50 million records and is well-known for his onstage persona and horror-inspired visuals and props. For this tour in particular, Cooper and his band performed with onstage gravestones, skeletons, and a platform doubling as a mediaeval castle wall.
The array of stage props meant a decision to avoid any onstage amps was taken so as to not interfere with the set design. SLS equipped the touring crew with a selection of JBL VTX Series speakers, including the new VTX A12 line array loudspeaker.
“The setup has certainly changed over the years, even from just a couple tours ago,” said Todd Hartman, owner, SLS Production Services. “There are no wedges or amps onstage for the performers on this tour, for example. They’re all just running through the rig. So basically we needed a rig that had great sound and was easily deployable with limited numbers of people.
“When you go into these rooms, you’re always five or 10 guys short on labour calls. So trying to limit the number of guys we need and still put a large format PA up in the space is part of the challenge in today’s touring world.”
The JBL VTX A12 is the most recent VTX-line speaker and is designed with time-saving and usability in mind for touring crews.
“All the sound and front-of-house guys want to mix on the newest and the latest and the greatest, and us being a JBL house and having A12s, that was a no-brainer,” added Hartman.
“Even though it's got a 12-inch low frequency driver, it's still full range and acts like a 15-inch box. It’s also a little bit smaller, lighter weight and even easier to fly than the V25, so even less labour-intensive overall. And the fact that it's a good-sounding box is a huge bonus.”
“We had 12 V25s per side with an additional 12 A12s per side for sidefill hangs,” explained Hartman. “JBL made sure that when you deploy the A12 with older models in Performance Manager software, they work together seamlessly. We figured out how to program the older V25 box with the A12 and make it seamless from side to side, and it works really well.”
The live rig also includes JBL VTX B18, B28 and G28 subwoofers to assist with delivering the audio impact audiences expect at a rock concert. Each of the speakers use 18-inch woofers with JBL’s patented Differential Drive technology for a wide dynamic range, improved responsiveness and low-end clarity even at higher outputs.
“We set the B28s in cardioid on their carts dead centre in front of the stage because they were shallower than the G28, so that we could get the barricade closer to the centre of the stage where Alice likes to see the people,” said Hartman.
“Then we deployed the G28s on the outside of those, in cardioid configuration across the front of the stage, with the A8s for front fills on each of those sub deployments. Then the B18s were also alongside the A8s on the side fills.”
The reception from the band and crew has been so positive that they intend to bring the speakers on Cooper’s upcoming European tour. Hartman also notes that he intends to use the A12 on future installations.
The crew have been sufficiently pleased and the speakers will also be used on Cooper’s upcoming European tour.
“I can see us using the A12,” added Hartman. “The guys on the tour like the ease of flying with a smaller rig, so they’d much rather see the A12 roll in for the European leg.