Skan sub-hired an EAW KF850 system from Villa Audio to fulfil the requirements of the band's front of house engineer Mike Hornby, which it combined with its own amplifiers and control system. The front of house system included a Midas Heritage 2000 console and EAW KF853 mid-high and KF852 low boxes with SB1000 subs powered by Lab Gruppen amplifiers, together with a Midas XL3 monitor console and Turbosound TFM-450 biamped 2-way wedges. Skan also supplied manpower in the shape of full-time employees Matt Vickers and Ant Carr.
This combination of equipment and talent proved such a hit with Hornby and monitor engineer Gerry Wilkes that they have requested the same control system and staff for the Supergrass dates scheduled for January 2003. Although maintaining a preference for Skan's Turbosound system, Vickers comments: "I really enjoyed the challenge of working with a different speaker box. It also provided us with an opportunity to prove that the time we have spent on designing a flexible control and cabling system has been worthwhile."
And it wasn't just the audio industry that appreciated the quality of sound Skan brought to the Supergrass gigs, with The Times music reviewer claiming that "....Supergrass have never sounded so tight, nor gelled quite so seamlessly before." The January leg of the tour is set to include dates at Wembley Arena, Edinburgh Corn Exchange and Manchester Apollo Theatre.
(Ruth Rossington)
