Like most rock bands, Keane has seen its share of ups and downs. Currently however, the band is definitely on an up. Following a successful 2004 UK tour, the commercial success of the band’s debut album Hopes and Fears, and BRIT awards for Best Album and Best British Breakthrough Act, Keane decided to hit the road with a series of European and US dates throughout 2005. Lighting Supplier for the European dates was by Lite Alternative of the UK with lighting design by Paul Normandale and lighting direction by Rob Sinclair. Lighting Technician is Mick Stowe.
Paul’s design impresses despite a relatively small MAC moving light rig, chosen for its reliability and worldwide availability. The entire package is Martin and consists of 10 MAC 500 profile spots (MAC 550s for the UK shows), 3 MAC 2000 Profile, 7 MAC 2000 Wash and 4 Atomic Colors plus some conventionals which they pick up locally for each show.
“At the outset Keane wanted a show that was both large scale and diverse visually hence the use of integral video and lighting plus moving set elements,” comments LD Paul Normandale. “This attention to the visual excitement of the band has extended through the scale of the production as it rises across territories.
Keane played to packed houses all across Europe (with a load in that reportedly took less than three hours), performing a selection that included current hits along with new material from their forthcoming album. The band then embarked on a US tour at the end of April which will be followed by appearances at various international festivals throughout the summer months. The US shows feature a larger rig with 2000s replacing the 500s to accommodate larger venues with lighting supply by Upstaging.
And more good news for the band - Keane has been announced as U2’s support band for a series of shows when they return to Europe.