Super Bowl LED Tuques

Grant's Perspective on ... the Super Bowl half time show.

Like many other people around the world, I think the Super Bowl half time show is as important as the game itself. I settled in to watch Bruno Mars and immediately noticed the lights in the crowd. My first thought was that people had their cell phone light on. That did not make sense as the people were too far away for the light to work and would quickly empty their cell phone battery. Then the lights started to change colour and it became apparent that the crowd lights were a part of the show!

The Montreal company  PixMob was responsible for creating the LED show which included handing out 80,000 LED tuques to the fans. The LED lighting was controlled by infrared transmitters so the LED's could turn on or off and change colour. Each person wearing a tuque was like a single pixel on a video monitor.

The London Olympic Opening Ceremony had LED panels fixed to every seat in the stadium and now each person's head can be a part of the show.

Grant

London LED Lighting Olympics

Grant's Perspective on ... LED lighting stand out at the 2012 Olympics.

I watched some of the Olympics and could not help but be impressed by the use of LED lighting. From the LED panels wired to every seat in the Olympic Stadium, the use in the ceremonies on David Beckham's boat,  Spice Girls cars and "doves" riding bikes to London's landmark architecture.

LED lights up the stadium seating area

releasing the "doves" with LED wing lighting

 It will be interesting to see if the use of LED lighting in architecture and gala events will surge as a result of this Olympic exposure.

Grant

Neil Young Twisted Road - Winnipeg Show

Grant's Perspective on ... Neil Young solo show at  Winnipeg's  Centennial Concert Hall.

Grant is on vacation this week and I've been asked to post while he is enjoying the summer with his family. I attended the Neil Young Twisted Road show last night and wanted to comment on it.

The stage set up was a great mix of old and new technology. The old being the instruments including his "borrowed" Martin D-28 guitar, Les Paul & Gretsch electrics, old beaten upright piano, grand piano, bass pedals and pipe organ. Another acoustic guitar (had an interesting, processed sound) that he played some of his newer still to be released songs. A series of old Fender amps made for some exquisite feedback that Neil wrung out of his electric guitars. His harmonicas (with big glass of water to rinse them out in) rounded out the instrumentation.

The lighting system included old school chandeliers over the pianos, some traditional lighting instruments and effective  LED lighting. Neil was wearing a white coat that reflected the changing colours of the LED foot lights. You can see the panels mounted like audio wedge monitors in front of the mic stand below. The back drop was LED up lighting prop pillars.

Neil used old and new technology and treated the sold out Concert Hall audience to a glimpse into the mind of a genius.

Thank you to Matt (sat beside me at the show) for sending me the photos he snapped with his phone. Another great evolving technology.

Grant will be back next week.

Ken