t's been nearly two decades since British I Day" along with some new material. Mi- shot for every song, and as a result, he D5 onboard effects.However, I am using no pop I superstarGeorge Michael - known chael'5 stage setup was simple, yet visu- doesn't have to remember specific cues external dynamic processing or additional I as much for his bad boy reputation as ally striking, with three large curving video for each song.When Michael starts playing EQ. All the compression and equalization his chart-topping hits - toured U.S.arenas. screen backdrops and three-tier balconies 'CarelessWhisper,'for example, Bradshaw for every input is done in the desk.This has From his start in the 1980spop groupWham! behind the stage for his band and backup presses one button on the console that resulted in a very small FOH footprint that to his illustrioussolo career,hits like'Care- singers.This setup allowed an unobtrusive automatically resets all the reverbs, de- keeps production happyi lessWhisper,"Faith'and'Father Figure'cata- view of Michael, ensuring attention never lays, EQs and levels."A band member will Eighth Day Sound of Highland Heights, pulted him into a certified pop culture icon strayed from the star. be playing a particular guitar in one song Ohio, supplied d&b gear while U.K. con- and sex symbol. After a five-year absence FOH Engineer Gary Bradshaw first and a different guitar in another song that tractor Wigwam Audio supplied the DiGi- from the music scene, Michael returned to toured with Michael in the early '80s as requires unique level settings," he says. Co consoles,control equipment and Sen- the stage in 2006with an 8Gshow European monitor engineer for Wham! His resume 'That's all remembered in one oarticular nheiser mics. The d&b gear includes two tour. He stepped it up the following year as FOH engineer includes Annie Lennox, snaDshot.' main speaker clusters flown left and right with the'25 Live StadiumTour 2007,"which Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Pink Floyd, containinq l2 J8 and four J12 speakers. featured less tour dates but larger venues Roger Waters and Bryan Ferry.For the U.S. Two side hang speaker clusters flown off- including in London. tour, he is standing in for Andy'Baggy' A total of three consoles are used on stage left and right contain 10 J8 and two To coincide with his retrospective greatest Robinson,Michael's audio consultant and the tour: two DiGiCo D5 Live consoles for Jl2 speakers,while two 27o-degree clus- hits album, fwenty Five, released this year, FOH engineer. He admits that Michael front-of-house and Michael'smonitors and ters flown on the extreme left and right Michael announced the North American is quite a perfectionist when it comes to a DiGiCo D5T to mix the band. Michael contain six Ql speakers.Thestage has fou. segment of his'25 Live"tour - his first U.5. sound.'All artists care about what they has his own monitor engineer, Steve May, Q7 and six Ql0 speakersas front fills and tour in 17 years- which he alsoclaims to be sound like, but George is very particular who will communicate with him between l2 J series cardioid bass ground stacked his last. For all these reasons,Michael's fans about his songs - he's got amazing ears,' songs and who is solely responsiblefor the six per side,three cabinetshi9h. were pumped with high expKtations for a he reports.'He's not difficult to work with, singer'smix. This allows monitor engineer The load-in started at 8 a.m. and crew flawless-sounding show. but he demands perfection." Simon Hall to focus enti;ely on mixing the had to be out the door by 3 a.m. to travel And unlike many touring artists who band. Because of the hidden location of to the next gig in Phoenix,Ariz. Sound and want a raw and un-produced vibe to their monitorland backstage, both engineers lighting were setup before the stage was The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las music, Michael wants every song to sound rely on video cameras to see what's hap- complete, a common occurrence in large Vegas was the third stop on Michael's identical to the studio version. penrn9 on stage. venues.'Many times, at these large shows, 22-city tour which kicked off in 5an Diego. "l've done those kinds oftours where a A DiGiCo system was chosen because the stage gets built down here,'Bradshaw Although not a sell-out show, loyal fans band won't have a set list, will play what- of its ability to handle the showl large says pointing to the middle of the arena, filled the venue, eagerly anticipating, for ever song they want, and you just keep up number of inputs - over 100 - and 15 'and later gets pushed into place.'Brad- most of the 20-something crowd, their first with them, but this tour is very specific,'he band members on stereo oersonal moni- shaw adds that about 50 crewmembers concert experience. says."George wants it to sound exactly like tors. This allows May to concentrate on pushed the stage to the front of the arena The set list included hits over the de- the CO, so we go through great lengths to Michael's needs without interfering with where it must align preciselywith the vid- cades from Wham! (Wake Me Up Eefore make it sound studio-quality.' band mixes."ln order to accommodate the eo screen backdrop. once the stage is in You Go-Go) and solo efforts including A DiGiCo D5 Live console at front-of- large number of inputs for this production,' place, everything gets powered and crew dance numbers 'Easier Affair and "Hard house allows Bradshaw to create a snap- adds Eradshaw,"l have had to disable the can then begin sound check. Bradshaw reDorts that Michael was late to sound check.'lt didn't look like George was going to show up for it." he says."We .just went ahead and did a few songs with the band."Michael eventually variant1 12A showed up for sound check and warmed up to his typical routine of songs.Because Superiorperformonce- certain songswere more popular in Amer- priced ica than Europe,Bradshaw says the set list sensibty for the show varies greatly from the Euro- Whosays the clientcan't pean tour. "There is a huge list of songs haveit allT Auulotturt - we have about 60 songs programmed Txa taa3 into the O5." uvl1U3|(Crurr Coa'o| 'tlvr|rt ^ouoY|'ur! The concert started 45 minutes after its scheduled 8 p.m show time, although this did not come as a surorise to crew. Brad- shaw reports that Michael is notoriously late for almost every show - perhaps to make an entrance. or build anticipation, or allow additional time to fill seats.With Michael's CD-sounding vocals and ener- getic performances throughout the two- hour,23-song concert, there were few complaints from fans.The highlight ofthe tour is, without a doubt. Michael's voice. At 45 years old, the range and quality of his voice has matured, sounding even stronger than it did in his younger years. "When we did the first couole of rehears- als, I was blown away,"Bradshaw says."l just pushed that fader up and his voice was amazing - | never heard anything like that before.The best l've worked with in the history of my career."F.,rll

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