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All Access: System & Sound Team For 2009 Green Day Concert Tour

Analog console for FOH, digital desk for monitors, and the key components from stage to the air

Touring in support of their latest album release, 21st Century Breakdown, Berkeley-based band Green Day crossed North America for several months this past summer, with Clair Global provided the sound reinforcement system, which was under the direction of System Engineer/Crew Chief Jason Vrobel.

“We’re using Clair’s I-5s with I-5Bs beside them,” explained Vrobel. Clair I-3s are used for side hangs, with BT-218 sub-bass cabinets. “Initially we tried hanging the BT-218’s, but it simply wasn’t happening. It was affecting the main PA more than anything else. It was giving us great low end everywhere, but it was smearing the rest of the rig.”

Vrobel’s solution was to use the well-tested method of ground-stacking the subs, eight per side. Amplification was Lab.gruppen PLM 10000 and 14000 units, with Lake processing built into the amp racks, all of which were controlled by a control tablet.

Front of House Engineer Kevin Lemoine has toured with the group for nine years now and is a fan of analog consoles. “I’m using an ATI Paragon II console. I tried another manufacturer first, but when we tried it for rehearsals, it simply wasn’t happening. Clair Chicago had this console available, and I feel it sounds a lot better,” he said.

Monitor Engineer Beau Alexander has toured with Green Day since 2004, and for this recent tour, he mixed on a Studer Vista 5. “I need the outputs and I didn’t want to use a larger console,” he explained. “The Studer has all the outputs and inputs I need in a small footprint. I’m glad I went with it because it sounds amazing.”

This is the first time the principal members of the band – Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool – have used in-ear monitors. On the previous tour, backup musicians used in-ears while the others used wedges.

“It’s better for their hearing, number one,” stated Alexander. “We’re using Ultimate Ears UE 11 Pros, paired with Sennheiser G2 transmitters.” On stage sidefills are used only for when audience members are pulled up to perform with the group.

Wireless microphones include Shure transmitters with Telefunken capsules inserted in the Shure shells. Additional microphones on stage include a mix of products from Shure, Neumann, Audio-Technica, AKG, and Telefunken.

Alexander is also responsible for scanning each environment for wireless channel availability. With 20 channels being used on stage, and an additional 20 channels for backline production, he’s found it challenging to find open space. “You’re always going to find a problem in every venue, especially if you’re running 40 channels of wireless,” he noted.

Take our PSW Photo Gallery look at the Green Day 2009 concert tour.

2009 Green Day Tour Equipment List

Main PA
28 Clair Global I-5 with I-5B (mains)
24 x Clair Global I-3 (sides)
16 x Clair Global BT-218 Subwoofers
10 x Clair Global P-2 (front fill)

Power Amplification
Lab.gruppen PLM 10000 and PLM 14000

FOH Console
ATI Paragon PII

FOH Outboard Gear
2 x Lexicon PCM 42
1 x T.C. Electronic 2290
1 x Lexicon 960L
3 x Smart Research C2 Compressor
1 x Clair I/O
1 x BSS 901 Series II
5x Empirical Labs EL-8 Distressor

Monitor Console
Studer Vista 5

Microphones
Shure UR1 Wireless with Telefunken M-80 Capsules
Variety of Shure, Neumann, Audio-Technica, AKG and Telefunken

IEM
Sennheiser G2 Wireless

Jeff MacKay is Managing Editor of Live Sound International magazine.

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