Electronic dance music pioneers ODESZA launched their “The Last Goodbye Tour” last summer to critical acclaim and the popular duo continue to mesmerize audiences with dates on the schedule into October 2023. Lighting design is by Kyle Kegan who complements an array of captivating backdrop visuals using a rig that includes 78 Smarty Hybrid™ and 26 Artiste Monet™ moving heads from Elation Professional. 

Kegan, who has been lighting the duo since 2017, works on the design process with creative directors Luke Tanaka and Sean Kusanagi, as well as artists Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight themselves. Programming started early last year and after months in pre-vis and two weeks of tech rehearsals, the first string of sold-out shows launched at Climate Pledge Arena in the duo’s hometown of Seattle last summer.

Lighting’s role

Video content is the driving visual force in the show and Kegan builds a dynamic lighting design around it, working closely with the content team. Kegan says that lighting plays a very big role in the highly dynamic show. “Lighting becomes an extension of the visual component of the show and certainly brings a large impact from helping to tell the overall visual story to just bringing the energy of the music to life. We pair these beautiful architectural moments with intricate and detailed programming that is unique to every song within the set. We build looks around the guys on stage who are also accompanied by an 8-piece drumline, horns, and guest vocalists.”

Smarty Hybrid

The Smarty Hybrid and Artiste Monet work with a number of hybrid lighting fixtures, LED washlights and pixel battens. A key set piece in the design is the ‘ico,’ a six-sided shape that hangs center stage and whose form echoes out in the trusses above the stage, risers and stairs. “The Smarty Hybrid actually became a staple look in this design and we used 18 of them in the center piece,” said Kegan, adding that it allowed for the creation of unique architectural looks coming from the center. “We wanted something that had color mixing and was punchy enough to stand out. However, the biggest factor was its compact size and the ability to fit in the touring truss. We fit as many as we could in.”

The Smarty Hybrid is a punchy, multifunctional luminaire with CMY color mixing that packs an abundance of features in a small format, a remarkably bright light that can power through where needed. “The look really stands out for our show,” Kegan says. “We used these not only for the band’s logo at center but also for the blow-through effects behind the video wall. The beams cut through nicely and we were able to create a lot of depth to the stage and visual looks overall.” An additional element of the setup were ladders lined with Smarty Hybrids.

Artiste 

The Artiste Monet LED profile moving heads serve as the main source of key light on the show, used as both side lights and low backlights. “These fixtures really cut through well and not only created some beautiful silhouettes but also created some dynamic archetypical beam looks. I’m very impressed with the overall LED aspect of the Monet and how well they can cut through when we need them to.” Additional to the rig from Elation’s Artiste series are a few Artiste Rembrandt™ LED wash moving heads, which work from behind the video wall as well. “They provide a nice mixed bag of different tricks from behind the wall. It’s a nice option and we love having it on the road.”

Volt Lites

Lighting vendor for “The Last Goodbye Tour” is Volt Lites of Southern California. “Having worked with Volt over the years I have become much more familiar with Elation products and have grown to really love some of the newer fixtures that have come out. Volt has been great throughout the tour. I’ve known Matt Shimamoto for some time now, and this was the first full on tour I’ve done with them. We are excited to continue to use their services,” Kegan concludes.  

Production Team

Tour Manager: Bryan “Bronko” Aiello, Motion Music

Production Manager: Shane Crowl, Motion Music

Co-Creative Directors: Luke Tanaka and Sean Kusanagi

Lighting Designer: Kyle Kegan, Voyage Productions

Production Coordinator: Zane Phillips

Production Assistant: Mariesha “Riesh” Klos

Stage Manager: Neal Nance

Lighting Crew Chiefs: Jeff O’Brien, Joshua Dirks

Dimmer Tech: Bartholomew Freed

Lighting Techs: Ethan Fleek, Joseph Kerr, Kaili Story, Trey Looney, Axl Barsch

Volt Project Manager: Craig Caserta

Video Directors: Jonathan Beswick, Sean Smith

Video EIC: Fernando Cornejo-Vazquez

Video Crew Chiefs: Andrew Jablon, Ozaer Faroqui

LED Lead: Nathan “Smokey” Williams

LED Technicians: Andrew Jablon, Jeremy Colon, Michael Lynxwiler

I-Mag Crew Chief / Cam Op: Angelo Bartolome

Rail Cam Op: John ”Jack” Lipke

Cam Op: Marci Simmons

Media Server Op: Ray Gwilliams

Pyro Crew Chief: Ray Mangubat

Pyro Shooter: RJ Pacella

Pyro Techs: Nic Koulouris, Sean Moore,Alex Kingry, John Ferrante, Joe Bessner, Anthony Amato

Laser Techs: John Hruska, Glenn Foy, Brandon Dzurino

Lead Rigger: Ryan Durocher

Riggers: Wade Hinshaw, Jason Frisk

Carpenters: Joey Paulekas, Chris Olivieri, Will Wilson