Eric Church’s ‘Blood, Sweat and Beers’ Tour Hits the Road Showcasing Special Effects from Strictly FX

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Country artist Eric Church goes on a nationwide tour this fall supporting his album ‘Chief’ with lasers, pyrotechnics, flames and custom cryojet effects provided by Strictly FX.

Strictly FX, one of America’s leading suppliers of special effects for the live concert industry, is providing colored lasers, a variety of pyrotechnics, flames, lasers and custom cryojet effects for Eric Church’s ‘Blood Sweat and Beers’ tour which is currently touring U.S. arenas.

The concert production, designed by Butch Allen and Church himself, features 21 songs; effects are featured in seven songs. “Eric is the locomotive that pulls our train into the station every night- the effects are his concept, and Strictly FX wears the engineer’s hat on this train. Apart from Eric, they’re our wow factor,” notes Allen.

The effects includes custom cryojets located inside beer kegs on the stage as well as a custom smoke cartridge gag, both of which are showcased during the song ‘Smoke a Little Smoke,’ which is part of the encore. “Cryojets in props are rare- we usually locate them inside the stage or as free standing units,” explains Strictly FX Partner and Marketing Director Ted Maccabee.

Lasers are featured during the hit ‘Creepin.’ Allen says, “Creepin’ is a standout moment in the show visually because its spine is built of laser.” The production uses three colored lasers on stage- one above Church that creates a cone, and one each on stage right at left; the light they produce is in a variety of shades of green. “The use of lasers in ‘Creepin’ is very specialized; they not only give the song a very Halloween vibe, but they also add dimension to the production as well,” says Maccabee.

There are also pyrotechnics during ‘I’m Getting Stoned ‘and ‘Drink In My Hand’. Flames are featured during ‘I’m Getting Stoned’, ‘Drink In My Hand’ and ‘Country Music Jesus.’

Strictly FX also has several crew members on the road with Church, operating the equipment from show to show. “Working with Strictly FX is a pleasure because of their innovation, attention to detail, and a willingness to find a way to ‘make it happen’,” says Allen.

Eric Church’s ‘Blood, Sweat and Beers’ tour is on the road until December 15th.

About Strictly FX
Strictly FX specializes in pyrotechnics, artfully programmed lasers, cryogenic effects and more for live events. The firm was founded in 1996 by industry veterans Mark Grega and Ted Maccabee, and has grown to include a full team of special effects design experts and in house artists that work with designers to fully achieve their creative vision. Strictly FX is dedicated to client satisfaction and creating long lasting relationships that go well beyond a single project. The firm has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Parnelli Pyro Company of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Clients include Roger Waters, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, the Black Eyed Peas, TV’s NFL Kickoff and more. Strictly FX offers clients a variety of American made, earth friendly effects, as well as customized effects. The firm is located in suburban Chicago, and can be reached online at www.strictlyfx.com

October 15, 2012

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