We have worked regularly with Weber State University for over five years, starting back in 2017. WeberStock is the one where the whole rig comes out.
We are involved in a number of events for the school, including Freshman Orientation Late Night, the lighting of the W, homecoming dances and various other dances with live DJs. For two years running we have also produced WeberStock, a live music event followed by the highly anticipated Last Night at Weber.
WeberStock 2023 ran on Friday 14 April at the Shepherd Union Building in Ogden, 9:00am to 2:00pm. The bands were current students, alumni and local groups, ranging from indie to rock to a piano soloist. Alongside the music, organisers line the ballroom with vendors and student organisations: last year there were 50 or so, this year well over 100.
What it takes before anyone hears a note
The physical work started well before the event, which is normal at this size. People are often surprised by how much equipment and how many production hours sit behind a show like this. Our day began early Thursday morning with a gear inventory and loading the truck.
Sound reinforcement
- 4 x dual 18″ subs
- 10 x 10″ line array speakers
- 5 monitors with amps and cables
- 1 front of house mixing console with snake
- 1 monitor mixing console with router and iPad
- 1 split snake
- 1 box of assorted drum mics
- 1 box of assorted vocal mics
- 1 box of DI boxes and instrument cables
- 2 boxes of microphone stands and clips
- 50+ XLR sound cables
- Assorted power distro and extension cords
Lighting production
- 16 glow tubes with wireless transmitter
- 12 glow tube stands
- 20 RGBAW+UV wireless uplights with transmitter
- 16 RGBA front stage wash pars
- 2 T-bar light stands
- 1 lighting console
- Assorted DMX cables, clamps and power cables
The crew was six people for load-in and five for load-out. We arrived at 4:00pm to move equipment from the loading dock up to the third floor, and even with six people it took nearly four and a half hours to load in, dress the stage and sound check for the next morning. Attendees see a few hours of finished show; this is the part underneath it.
Show day
On site at 8:00am for a 9:00am doors, and 9:30 was go time. Adams Coles opened with piano and vocals, followed by Shelly Slaughter, a 70s-style classic rock band influenced by Queen and Van Halen, with lead vocals, lead guitar, keys, bass and drums. Front of house kept the mix clear and loud while the monitor mix kept the band hearing themselves on stage.
If and When took the stage next, then Swerved by Blondes, who had won Weber’s Battle of the Bands to earn the slot and brought real punk energy to it. WeberStock wrapped at 2:00pm.
Then the room becomes a venue
After WeberStock we cleaned up and turned the room over for Last Night at Weber. We treat it as an extension of the same show because it runs on the same production rig, but the ballroom is cut in half and the lighting rig is altered, turning it into a concert venue.
Weber’s team handled the room change through the late afternoon, and around 4:00pm the late-night bands loaded in. Openers were Cardinal Bloom, with local legends Dad Bod headlining. We sound checked both, then the crew got an hour to eat before 7:00pm doors.
Cardinal Bloom are a Salt Lake City indie and alternative band, in the neighbourhood of Cage the Elephant, The Black Keys, Grouplove and the Arctic Monkeys. They kept the crowd engaged and were our crew’s favourite of the night. Dad Bod, formed in 2018 by brothers Michael, Marcus and Matthew Marinos and later joined by Russ Allphin, Jonny Seegmiller and Michael Morgan, closed it out. The night ended at 9:50pm, and after teardown the team got back to the shop around midnight.
We like working with Weber’s team on these, and we would happily do more of them. If you are putting together a festival with bands all day, or a concert, our live event sound and event lighting prices are published, and Ogden is a standard delivery area.
