The Saviors Tour by Green Day, which kicked off in Spain this spring, blends classic punk rock with high-level production. Equipped with a powerful d&b audiotechnik sound system, the tour captures the raw and energetic essence of punk, offering fans a unique sonic experience.
FOH sound engineer Kevin Lemoine has been working with Green Day since 2000, noting how the band's live evolution has grown while always maintaining a close relationship with their audience:
They have evolved a lot. The early tours were, compared to today, much smaller. Clubs, theaters, small stadiums, and festivals were the norm, but the spirit remained the same: a few band members giving it their all and living and breathing this, just as they do today, he begins.
A review in Variety echoes Kevin’s thoughts on the subject, stating: "By performing both 'Dookie' and 'American Idiot' in full—the first released in 1994 and the second a decade later—they did so with intensity and absolute loyalty to the original records, showcasing the same energy from their early years as if time had stopped, if only for one night."
Enhancing the energy of punk rock with authenticity while mixing sound for tens of thousands of people is no easy task. As Kevin says: "I don’t want fans to be distracted from what they already know; everyone knows the lyrics, the instrumentation, the riffs, the mixes... and my job is to make it sound as they remember."
Working with audio rental partner Eighth Day Sound, Kevin can meet the tour's demands.
"Everything I can think of to make my artist stand out and look better has always been met with professional support and no judgment. Every crazy idea I’ve had has been welcomed with a smile and a 'Yes, let’s do it!'. Their technical support is unparalleled, and their management is very efficient."
Kevin’s most common choice is a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 console, and for an aerial concert, a Trident 88 or an Avid S6L takes over.
The Trident is excellent; it’s a compact 24-channel analog console we’ve used since 2021. Now, both analog consoles share the same plugins and the analog vocal rack. My favorite plugins are the Black Salt Audio Silencer and Soothe Live. These features aim to keep the audience from being distracted from what they already know. Fans are very familiar with Green Day’s material, and I’m highly aware not to simplify it. Fans pay a lot of money and invest their time in Green Day. That means a lot to me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure it translates perfectly, exceeding their expectations.
To capture the characteristic melodic tones of vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong, Kevin and the singer of Welcome to Paradise have concluded that a DPA 2028 capsule is the ideal choice. "We’ve found it works great for several reasons, but for me, the most important is the tone: it’s dynamic, clear, and smooth."
Another key piece of gear for the band’s signature sound is the PA system of choice, a d&b audiotechnik GSL, designed to handle large audiences—up to 90,000 people at Italian shows—as Kevin explains: "It keeps the energy off the stage, which is a critical factor."
Systems engineer Clark Thomas describes the GSL PA system as "powerful and articulate." He states: "It’s excellent for punk rock. The GSL does a great job of keeping everyone close to the PA sound, even when they’re far away."
The system setup is simple: main speakers, sides, ground subs with fills, and a set of small delays. "We have a set of 270-degree hang arrays for certain markets, but the goal here is to keep the PA as simple and effective as possible." Baseball stadiums in the U.S. are a favorite venue for this engineer. "In my opinion, baseball stadiums are some of the best-sounding and most consistent venues to tour."
The GSL is powered by DirectOut Prodigy.MP at the front end, using Globcon software along with Smaart V9, d&b R1, and d&b ArrayCalc for precise calculations.
