Kings of Leon played the UK twice previously, but used house systems, and this time they stepped up to touring their own production. When Rawlings was casting around for a sound company, Entec was recommended by several sources, so he asked them - and others - to bid, and Entec won that process. He specifically wanted a d&b system because they'd used one when supporting The Strokes earlier in the year, and were impressed by the system. There was the additional benefit of it being a sensibly-sized system, and versatile and adaptable enough for the wide variety of venues they were playing - ranging from London's Brixton Academy to Nottingham's Rock City.
Entec's Dick Hayes managed the tour from their end, supplying 20 d&b boxes - a mix of 402 subs and tops and B2 subs, plus C7 tops and subs for the side-fills. The consoles were both Midas XL3s, and the monitor system was an Entec APW wedge system, two for each band member and a third - with the top end de-selected - for the drummer.
Out front, Rawlings mixed the sound as "pure" as possible, with very few effects, just one repeating delay, used once: "I take their sound and just make it bigger," he states, adding that d&b is the ideal system for helping make this happen. He used standard KT graphics, which were touched as little as possible.
The band themselves also get very involved with how they want to sound through the PA, "They are highly descriptive about what they want", says Rawlings, who then interprets this technically and sonically through the desk. They all play vintage 1970s guitars, which sound rich and beautiful, and enhance the overall roundedness of the sound. Loud is the order of the day on-stage: the monitor system also features KT graphics, and Entec's Liam Halpin, co-opted as monitor engineer, utilized Presonus gates on some channels, and a CL44 compressor featuring an optical emulator giving the sound of a valve device.
Rawlings is impressed with the service from Entec, who he says, have paid plenty of attention to the small details as well as the bigger picture, and all the equipment has been in excellent condition. Entec's systems tech and FOH babysitter was Spike Maloney.
(Lee Baldock)
