Colors can
trigger emotions, and can also have a significant effect on developing minds.
I still
remember my first experience of watching a Pink Floyd laser light show at Hayden Planetarium in Boston all the way back in November 1991. Reclining in the chair, sitting amongst my
friends (Robby, Greg and Hammer) and listening to the songs that I had previous
only heard on the stereo in Jason's house.
Combining the audio with the visual, the songs began to take on a
different meaning, particularly when I started to think about the lyrics of the
‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ song ‘Breathe’: “Long you live and high you fly /
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry / And all you touch and all you
see / Is all your life will ever
be”.
I can also
recall a God Street Wine show at the Bayou in Washington DC in May 1995.
This show took place to support the release of their first major record
label album (“$1.99 Romances”). Signing
with Geffen Records seemed to officially mark that the band was “big
time”. However, the only reason I knew
something was up is that the lights showering down on stage started to change
during their set. It was so noticeable
that the band even commented mid-set that must have “made it” since they could
all confirm seeing different colors of wash lights. At a time in which I was first starting to
put my toes in the water of working professionally in the music industry, this
sequence initiated the thought in my mind of the different levels of success in
the world of touring bands.
Or there is the
story my friend Pete recently retold to me about attending the band Lettuce’s show at Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, CO in October 2017. There
could have (most likely) been other things involved, but he will argue with all
due respect to Grammy Award winning guitarist Eric Krasno, that he was more
fascinated with the light show than the set list. This is not a knock on the musicians band,
but a testament to the thought that venues and artists put into live
concerts. It also speaks to the multiple
facets in which people choose to enjoy a concert – again combining the audio and
the visual. And in the same jamband
circles that Lettuce earned its reputation, a lot of the same fans will tell
you that Chris Kuroda (aka Topher) is the fifth member of Phish. . . .His
instrument is the light board.
Thanks for
reading.
