Tom Jones rocks SA

03 May 2010

  Tickets were sold out for the Tom Jones performance at both the Grand Arena, at the Grand West in Cape Town and the Superbowl at Sun City on the 7th and 10th March 2010 respectively. His concert on African shores has been described as “slick”, “seamless”, “beautiful… a quality show that impressed”. Gearhouse South Africa supplied the full technical.   The Tom Jones production is a well oiled machine and experience has added panache to the show. Gearhouse were delighted to provide the gear specified, technical support and set up according to requirements. This meant that the team who travel with Sir Tom Jones, around 28 professionals from all parts of the world including America, England, Scotland and Australia, could arrive, plug in their lighting console and then all set to go. They arrived with a grandMA2 full-size as well as a grandMA2 light. The two consoles were networked together as a full tracking back-up. The only other equipment provided from their side comprised of AOTO LED panels, a Catalyst Media server, NSP and their own snake. Fifty Martin fixtures, comprising MAC 2000 Profiles and Washes, were specified and 10 x 19 degree Source Four Profiles for FOH. For pure eye candy Gearhouse SA used i-Pix Satellite LED fixtures.   “This really was an incredible performance, commented Sean Rosig from Gearhouse, who was designated Lighting Crew Chief. “It was like sitting in a Vegas Show Bar. There was such a vibe; it was big and impressive, yet intimate. When you consider the lighting cues, you can see that much time has been invested in programming the show.  

Aoto low resolution panels were used as the backdrop with lighting towers of various heights positioned inbetween them.  Graphics sent to these panels was generated by a Catalyst Media Server.  6 x Eight light molefay were positioned at the base of each tower for effects.

Sean Rossig, Gearhouse South Africa   The Tom Jones team consists of dedicated individuals ranging from production, backline techs, audio engineers, lighting designer and tech, A/V techs, etc.  “As a lighting designer watching someone else’s work, I could see the way they did things was so different. There was a LD who operated the show and a lighting technician who made sure all was done according to spec. It was professionally executed and the team was fantastic.” Members of the team included Lighting Designer Mark Cunniffe, Crew Chief Matt West and Video Technician Calum Findlater.     Logistically, Gearhouse SA could not be faulted. All equipment was set up a day in advance and Sean tested everything on his AVOLITES Pearl 2008 console. Last minute updates were left to the day of the concert by the internationals. The equipment was taken down directly after the concert at the Grand Arena and loaded into a Pantech. A travel day was allocated and then it was back to setting up the same gear at the Superbowl. As Sean and his team loaded out of Sun City after the performance, a new crew from Gearhouse SA were loading in again, this time for the SAMA awards.  

“Tom Jones can still move on stage,” ended Sean. “I was surprised … Wow!  He sang all the well-known songs. It was fantastic and the crowd went wild.”

Sir Tom has been in the music industry for the past five decades before reaching his 70th birthday. American comedian, Groucho Marx, once said, “Anyone can get old, all you have to do is live.” Tom Jones is living proof that age is no limit and he still has the flamboyance to rock the house down!

* A special word of thanks extends to Gearhouse’s Sean Rossig and Robyn D’Alessandro and to Jennie Harris, Management Assistant, Tom Jones.