The high desert region of southern California is home to a growing community of artists and musicians drawn to the area’s feeling of creativity centred around Joshua Tree. Its close proximity to Los Angeles further promotes this artistic vibe, and it’s not unusual for major touring artists put in ‘surprise’ performances at a local club – especially during the lead up to the Coachella Festival. The newest venue in the area is the AWE Bar, a mid-sized live music bar and restaurant in Old Town Yucca Valley.
To say that AWE is architecturally interesting is an understatement. One publication described the live music room this way, ‘The warm wood framing of the room looks like the inside of an acoustic guitar, and the curves of its wave-shaped ceiling reflects sound energy and gradually changing angles, breaking up the floor-to-ceiling reflection that give square rooms a boxy tone. The acoustically damped flooring helps absorb standing waves as well.’
When it came to installing a sound system, AWE Bar Director and a professed vintage guitar and gear nut Clark Fyans didn’t look for vintage and instead used top-of-the-line elements. He installed a PR comprising Meyer Sound X40 cabinets with 1100-LFC subs, a Midas X32 mixing console and a mic package – PR37s, PR31BWs and PR40s – from Heil Sound.
‘At AWE, we are trying to build a community of like-minded folks who love music and who “get it” when it comes to production,’ Fyans says. ‘Earlier in the year Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs shot a video here for their ‘Wicked’ single. Our lineup of performers is growing fast and the Heil Sound relationship fits the AWE Bar well.’
‘I immediately noticed a difference when we tried the Heil mics, especially with the PR37s on vocals,’ says Luke Dawson who along with Pat ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson and Tygh Runyan mixes sound at AWE . ‘In fact, early on, one of our artists asked at soundcheck what mic we were using, commenting on the good sound through his monitors.’
More: www.heilsound.com
