Pop/rock sensations Neon Trees is touring North America in support of their Pop Psychology release, and lighting designer Matt Guminski is using SHAPESHIFTERS, along with an Axon HD Pro "quad output" media server with Full Boar 4 console and Playback Wing 4 at FOH to create ethereal, textured visuals for their performance.

Guminski, who has worked with the band since their Picture Show tours, utilized his theatre background and aesthetics to create a powerful design with maximum flexibility.

Along with Dave Matthews Band (LD Fenton Williams), Neon Trees are the first artists to perform with SHAPESHIFTER. Matt comments, "I wanted a rig that was self-sufficient, and I feel this plot achieves that. It's given us the height and the dynamic angles that I need. The SHAPESHIFTER is our signature piece for this tour; they really are big, badass fixtures! Every time I take one out of a case, the house guys are blown away and can't wait to see this thing rock. To be able to debut it on this tour - along with Fenton and DMB - is a real honor and I'm so glad we were able to make this happen."

Guminski learned of the SHAPESHIFTER while at High End's headquarters for Hog 4 console training. "I was in Austin for Hog 4 training, and to spend some time on their media servers, because I knew we'd be taking one out on this tour. Craig Burross first told me about the Axon HD Pro; we were really amped up on using that - especially with the four outputs. I knew I'd have at least three outputs for my show, so I was really excited to get my hands on it. But then he told me about a fixture that he said would be perfect for the band, and would blow everyone's mind. I showed the video to the band, and they were floored by it; they trusted me and we headed in that direction.

Pre-production was a little nerve wracking because the fixtures had not come out yet! But we put them in, and it only took about a day to get comfortable - Paul Hancock at HES was very helpful - and we began to utilize what the fixture was capable of. It took a bit of time and some programming but it was well worth it - the fixture really shines."

Commenting on SHAPESHIFTER's flexibility, Matt says, "It's a really bright fixture that competes even in outdoor settings. I've done a few outdoor festivals where I've set up my video and my SHAPESHIFTERs, and it absolutely cuts through. You don't need a bunch of smoke, and you definitely get the effects. I'm not using any profile fixtures on this tour, as I wanted to step away from using hard edge or gobo looks. Instead, I wanted it to be a soft, beamy but punchy show, and as soon as I added in the SHAPESHIFTERs that is what we had.

This amazing luminaire produces some swirl effects and movement effects that you can't get from any profile fixture. You see a pattern through the haze that a gobo would achieve - but with a soft edge - and each segment of your gobo can move and change colors! It's just a really great fixture that gives me the texture in the air that I need."

"SHAPESHIFTER gives a designer the tools to be extremely flexible and dynamic. You can get a tight beam or a huge spread. Individual modules ballyhooing to intensity chases and color chases - it's mind blowing!

This particular luminaire design is leaps and bounds beyond any competition, and years ahead of its time. I've had stagehands drop the fixtures and bend the modules, but they're very durable. I haven't had one motor fail, and I feel like I've definitely put the fixture through the physical ringer in terms of movement and usage. I haven't had one issue yet, and these are some of the first fixtures off the production line.

Production support is by Digital Sound Systems, Inc. Matt says, "Jeremy Dixon is the owner; he's a great guy and treats us really well, and Jeremy has an outstanding relationship with the Barco group of companies.

He always gets us the gear we need, so we were able to lock down the Axon server and the SHAPESHIFTERs, along with a new Hog Full Boar 4. We're running the gamut of fixtures and technology that HES provides, and it's been a rock solid rig since day one."