Chuck's Lights with Tony Levin at the Stone Pony

I was very happy to have the opportunity to do lights with The Tony Levin Band! I have to admit I was a little nervous about it. Their music was probably the most complicated music I have ever done lights to. They are incredible performers both recorded and live. Also, the background of the musicians is absolutely incredible!!

Tony Levin: basses, Chapman Stick, guitar, vocals. Has recorded and/or performed with many different artists on many albums. John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Paul Simon, Cher, Stevie Nicks, Buddy Rich...just to name a few. Click his name here to go to his web page and be sure to check out the Discography page

Jerry Marotta: drums, sax, guitar, vocals. Has recorded and/or performed with many artists also. Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Eric Johnson, Tears for Fears, Los Lobos, Hall & Oats...just to name a few. Click his name to go to a web page at DrummerWorld that has photos and a lot more bands listed.

Larry Fast: Keyboards. Has recorded and/or performed with Nektar, Peter Gabriel, Barbara Streisand, Foreigner, Billy Squire, Blue Oyster Cult...just to name a few. Click his name to go to his web page.

Jesse Gress: Guitar. Has recorded and performed with Todd Rundgren, Essra Mohawk, John Ferenzik...just to name a few. Music editor for Guitar Player magazine. Click his name to go to his web site.

I used the house light system at The Stone Pony to do the show. While the band was finalizing their set-up late in the afternoon, I was readjusting the lights on stage and figuring out the light boards. I was allowed to do anything I wanted with setting the lights up for show. I decided to use basic par cans that were there for the show. They had intelligent lights, but I am not fond them. I did decide that I might use 2 intelligent lights to create a sunrise in the song Ever the Sun Will Rise. I set them up so they were both round and overlapped each other in the center of the stage and had the colors and look of his new CD cover called Pieces of the Sun. The rest of the sunrise effect would be done by blending different colors from the par cans over a long period of time. (I wasn't sure if I would actually do it during the show...I did and it came off great!)

The sound check was done at 6pm, the show started at 10. I had time to kill. We had some great food at The Stone Pony. I had time to meet their staff...I think I met everyone who worked there. I must say, I don't think I ever met a friendlier staff at a club in my life!! It had been raining since I arrived in Asbury Park, but finally it stopped. Jesse and I went up on the boardwalk to check out the ocean. It was pretty windy and cold, but it's always nice when you're by the ocean. It also helped me relax before the show.

The warm-up band started at 9. I just put a few lights on the stage for them...there wasn't any light changes during their show. The band was different to say the least. They played a little over a half hour and only did one song. (I think, it was hard to tell).

It's 10pm, the band is ready to come on stage. Dim down the stage lights. The crowd roars...the band is coming onto the stage...now I'm nervous. I actually forgot how the first song started. The band starts the first song...I turned on the right lights...now I'm OK! I felt comfortable with the light system & the music in a very short time. Tony told me after the sound check that they were going to be doing an instrumental version Black Dog by Led Zeppelin and that I could go crazy in that song. I guess I did go crazy in that song, but it was easy because I was so familiar with it and it was not as complicated Tony's songs. They also did songs by Peter Gabriel, King Crimson and Genesis. The band put on a great performance as they always do!! I really love the music they do! I had a lot of fun! I didn't do any major mistakes. Tony actually commented during the show that there the band had a guest LD and he couldn't help but notice the nice job he was doing. The audience also gave nice applause. The band did 2 songs for an encore...it's now midnight.

While the band was doing their autograph signing after the show I had a light man from the audience approach me and give me a nice compliment. He has & still does work with several big acts...I can't remember his name...sorry...I met so many people that night. He told me Mick Brockett was also in the audience that night. Mick is the GrandDaddy of lighting having done lights with Nektar and Pink Floyd and being listed in The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock under Nektar for lights and being the first light musician. I saw him do lights for Nektar in the 70's and was amazed! He uses a lot of liquid & slide projectors during his shows. (It's not my style, but he does do an incredible job with effects to the music) As the night went on I met Mick and he complimented me on the lightshow. Mick, the other light man and myself traded war stories for a while...they used a lot professional lighting terms that I didn't know since I never did it pro, but I figured out what they meant. He liked the idea I depended on just lights, no special effects, and that I had a theatrical approach. I still can't believe he was in the audience & I got to meet him! We are going to stay in touch by email. (Click here to go to the Unofficial Mick Brockett web page that is part of a Nektar page)

I'm also meeting people from the audience and actually signing some autographs. I don't think I've ever been asked for my autograph before except when I use my credit card!

I'm saying the final Good Byes to the great staff at The Stone Pony. The band is just about finished getting the van loaded...time for one final walk to the boardwalk with Jesse, Larry and his wife Phyllis before heading home. I did the final Good Byes with the guys in the band. Left for home with great memories of the music, show and people I had met!


The main light boards...I used the single scene board at the top the most	Overall view the the light control panels (Left & center were intelligent light controllers)

Photo during show (I forgot to set the camera for incandescent lights...whoops)	Another photo (I was also using slow shutter speeds...no flash)

One final shot of the show (Sorry about the poor band photos, I was concentrating more on the lights)	A scan of my pass for the show

Photo of Stone Pony promo poster	Photo of Tony Levin tour promo poster

Photo of front of tour t-shirt	Photo of back of tour t-shirt (Asbury Park not listed...it was added later in the tour with other dates)