Country Music Pyro? Help

[PyroFL]

I think I could learn mandarin by New Years better then I could pick out country music to do pyro to.

I’ve been requested/told we need to do country music for New Years and this is one type of music I do not listen to.

Been playing music for weeks and am not any closer now than when I started.

Any country music pick would be great!!

The only song I have picked is the last song with a mini finale:

Devil went down to Georgia by Nickelback

[displayfireworks1]

Might be a good time to play some patriotic country type songs. I think those may go over well

[PyroFL]

Great idea Dave

I had thought of that as I found of lot of country songs like that. Being a New Years show with leftovers I don’t believe I would do it justice, plus it’s not a patriotic holiday.

Thought I would post here to see what others have done.

[Icooclast]

Might be a good time to play some patriotic country type songs. I think those may go over well

i also find this to be a good idea. wish i could help, but i only know of a few metal ones. but here they are in case you need them for future shows (all 3 performed by a band called "Iced Earth") the star spangled banner (metal version) when the eagle cries, and last but not least "The Ghost Of Freedom" all great patriotic songs. (and i usually don't like patriotic music)

not a country fan, either; but you can try this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VypgS7Gp4Pw
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VypgS7Gp4Pw

[PyroFL]

Funny, I actually went to that Ice earth concert when it was on tour.

Underrated and missed band by most

[displayfireworks1]

Just don’t play Kate Perry “Firework”. I don’t know why but that song aggravates me. I want to like any song that addresses fireworks or a pyrotechnic related theme. However for some reason that song does not fit well with me. When you do a professional fireworks display and leave it up to the sponsor provided DJ to provide music accompaniment to go along with the display they always seem to want to include that song.

[BMoore]

I’ve seen Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks used a few times.

[PyroFL]

I’ve seen Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks used a few times.

Just put it on the short list to come back to. Thank you !!

My niece gave me this one I’ll be adding. Seems to have a lot of highs and lows that will work out great!

https://youtu.be/FyC0INPp1AE?si=3stqKYT2Hzn5fWrb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyC0INPp1AE

Keep the ideas coming

[rthruska]

listen to

Toby Keith courtesy of the red white and blue
Zac brown band chicken fried, used this song once but wouldn't be a high cue song, some nice slow crescendo/decrescendos
luke combs beer never broke my heart

In general I don't think country songs lend themselves to high cue songs but I try to include 1 or 2 for the crowd

[PyroFL]

Super!

Just added Zac brown chicken fried to the short list.

As for cues, I am more limited by the crew telling me don’t go CRAZY! lol

They have limited me to 3 stations, up to 3 racks (150 singles), 3 slice racks (24 slices) and 3 boards (54 cakes). I have 576 cues to play with so I’ve got that part covered.

I just may have to sneak in 7 fuel mines for the final which am sure they will not mind. Who doesn’t enjoy 100’ fireballs in the winter to warm things up

[Salutecake]

Red White and Blue one of my favorite by Skynyrd not sure how it fits into a musical?

[MontanaMike]

Modern country music has many of the same characteristics as 70s and early 80s rock and roll does. You could use things like "Rock'N Me" by Steve Miller Band, or "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol, etc. I've used "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue for a finale song a couple of times, it works great.

A "non-hit" song that I have used is "Light This Party Up" by Rick Springfield.

I would advise AGAINST using nothing but patriotic country songs because a lot of them are slow and draggy. You want something upbeat and partyish for fireworks.

The bottom line is, once the sparks start flying, your crowd isn't going to give much of a crap about what genre the music is. My suggestion is: Start off with everything dark, with "God Bless the USA" played to some small fountains or something. When the song climaxes at the ending "God BLESSS, THE, U.....S.....A," that's when you hit some big stuff. The crowd will go nuts. Then throw a couple of patriotic songs in, mix in some uptempo tunes that have party-themed lyrics, and end with a good rocker that has a concert-style ending, and you're good to go.

[Icooclast]

Modern country music has many of the same characteristics as 70s and early 80s rock and roll does. You could use things like "Rock'N Me" by Steve Miller Band, or "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol, etc. I've used "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue for a finale song a couple of times, it works great.

A "non-hit" song that I have used is "Light This Party Up" by Rick Springfield.

I would advise AGAINST using nothing but patriotic country songs because a lot of them are slow and draggy. You want something upbeat and partyish for fireworks.

The bottom line is, once the sparks start flying, your crowd isn't going to give much of a crap about what genre the music is. My suggestion is: Start off with everything dark, with "God Bless the USA" played to some small fountains or something. When the song climaxes at the ending "God BLESSS, THE, U.....S.....A," that's when you hit some big stuff. The crowd will go nuts. Then throw a couple of patriotic songs in, mix in some uptempo tunes that have party-themed lyrics, and end with a good rocker that has a concert-style ending, and you're good to go.

this is good advice. it's not like you hear much of the songs anyway, the fireworks are the main show, with them and music the fans won't hear much of the music with the fireworks going off; drowning out the music mostly is what the likely out come would be. happens to my town's display every year.

you can only hear bits and pieces of music over the fireworks (which is as it should be) let country music mark a special show after the country music awards or something (no offense meant) but who knows you may start a new trend for our country fireworks friends

[PyroFL]

Thanks everyone for the your input!

I’ve got a good list together of songs that I can coordinate pyro to. Going to send over to the guys who request country for New Years and let them pick which ones.

One of there request was no patriotic country music as it’s not a patriotic day. I 100% agree all the songs that would had been easy to do were all country patriotic song.

@MontanaMike & Icooclast

This is a small private show this year for our pyro team and families only.

Everyone is very much into music so it’s very important to have the music so everyone can hear it at the same time. Plus my shows are very synchronized to single shots to emphasize the over all feeling of the show.

With the QSC 12.2 K2 I have I can tell you they will rip your head off if you turn them past 80% volume. I try to keep them around 3/4 of volume or it’s just to load for the people seating in front.

My first time using them the fireworks were background noice … LOL … learned fast to turn them down.

We’re just using leftovers so the show will not be anywhere at the caliber of show we normal do. Plus I don’t have 3 months to program the show like the 4th.

https://youtu.be/3QD9PLcQXXw?si=afBiwYiCHbC_UFyk

https://youtu.be/WPb1nBxz264?si=2DX8J0MsGyBV0KEu

[PyroFL]

This is from this year 4th. Not 100% the full script but fun to watch

https://youtu.be/a5MDkMH3WwM?feature=shared

[rthruska]

Thanks everyone for the your input!

I’ve got a good list together of songs that I can coordinate pyro to. Going to send over to the guys who request country for New Years and let them pick which ones.

One of there request was no patriotic country music as it’s not a patriotic day. I 100% agree all the songs that would had been easy to do were all country patriotic song.

@MontanaMike & Icooclast

This is a small private show this year for our pyro team and families only.

Everyone is very much into music so it’s very important to have the music so everyone can hear it at the same time. Plus my shows are very synchronized to single shots to emphasize the over all feeling of the show.

With the QSC 12.2 K2 I have I can tell you they will rip your head off if you turn them past 80% volume. I try to keep them around 3/4 of volume or it’s just to load for the people seating in front.

My first time using them the fireworks were background noice … LOL … learned fast to turn them down.

We’re just using leftovers so the show will not be anywhere at the caliber of show we normal do. Plus I don’t have 3 months to program the show like the 4th.

https://youtu.be/3QD9PLcQXXw?si=afBiwYiCHbC_UFyk

https://youtu.be/WPb1nBxz264?si=2DX8J0MsGyBV0KEu

I agree with you on this. I also use Qsc, a couple of 153's and adding two kw181s for next fourth. I refuse to have my music not be heard

[topshelfpyro]

Thanks everyone for the your input!



With the QSC 12.2 K2 I have I can tell you they will rip your head off if you turn them past 80% volume. I try to keep them around 3/4 of volume or it’s just to load for the people seating in front.

My first time using them the fireworks were background noice … LOL … learned fast to turn them down.

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I use 4 K12.2 and 1 KS118. I set the gains on the speakers to 0 and use the mixer as a volume control. 0 issues of not being able to hear the music and always test at full volume before the show to make sure they don't go into clipping. The last musical I did in 2022 I was told by some of the front audience members that "those speakers are loud as F***" to which I just smiled and said thanks I am not unhappy with that purchase. LOL

I do announce that "it's time to go to pyro volume (which means loud)" before I have everyone stand and do the anthem lol

When you say 80% volume what do you mean? What do others set the K12.2 speaker gains to?

[rthruska]

I use 4 K12.2 and 1 KS118. I set the gains on the speakers to 0 and use the mixer as a volume control. 0 issues of not being able to hear the music and always test at full volume before the show to make sure they don't go into clipping. The last musical I did in 2022 I was told by some of the front audience members that "those speakers are loud as F***" to which I just smiled and said thanks I am not unhappy with that purchase. LOL

I do announce that "it's time to go to pyro volume (which means loud)" before I have everyone stand and do the anthem lol

When you say 80% volume what do you mean? What do others set the K12.2 speaker gains to?

i misspoke, getting two KS118s also. I made the mistake of just running through my audio box last year with the gains cranked up and not getting enough volume. Now I have a mixer to fix that problem

[PyroFL]

@topshelfpyro

80% am using as a general term to others to understand.

I set everything up by db level and spacing so I don’t get audio delay and so I don’t have to setup delays for speakers … easier to say 80% of volume level setting without going into high detail.

I’ve worked in production most of my life and started off doing live sound in
Venues and very large outdoor events. This is why our audio has to be at certain quality level to be acceptable.

Go Big or Go Bigger!!!

[topshelfpyro]

@topshelfpyro

80% am using as a general term to others to understand.

I set everything up by db level and spacing so I don’t get audio delay and so I don’t have to setup delays for speakers … easier to say 80% of volume level setting without going into high detail.

I’ve worked in production most of my life and started off doing live sound in
Venues and very large outdoor events. This is why our audio has to be at certain quality level to be acceptable.

Go Big or Go Bigger!!!

How many heads are you currently using? Subs as well or no? I used 2 heads for a couple of years and they were fine but got 2 more and the sub and they are really more than the sum of the parts now. 1 more 118 (just for fun) and that's plenty for the 200ish people I have.

Yes, go as big as you can and then a bit more! That's what I do, much to the detriment of my checking account, but Visa loves me!

[topshelfpyro]

i misspoke, getting two KS118s also. I made the mistake of just running through my audio box last year with the gains cranked up and not getting enough volume. Now I have a mixer to fix that problem

I will get another KS118 but not this year, I bet those 153's sound great being a 3 way!

[PyroFL]

@topshelfpyro

I’ve looked at adding 2 KS118 to the three 12.2 I have but honestly I have zero space for storage without selling the Harley, which isn’t happening.

When we use to shoot at the HOA with the lake I had 4 10.2 to make up for the 603 m/s delay around the lake but I’ve sold those.

2025 is going to be quite the overall production. I’ve teamed up with a guy that has a full rig.

Which will be perfect to have 2 full stacks in front of the 32’ tall towers. Then I’ll use the 12.2 as fill to make up for the 450 m/s I need.

We will see what happens am running out of space for this show and setting things up so everything is safe.

Adding 10 fuel mines to the 7 I already have is kind of complicating the lay out with safe spacing.

I need to seat down with Rick in Tampa and see how many “No you can’t do that” I get.

[topshelfpyro]

@topshelfpyro

I need to seat down with Rick in Tampa and see how many “No you can’t do that” I get.


You can do anything you want! at least 1 time! what size mines? I've shot 12" 50' from my speakers without issue.

[PyroFL]

I can do anything want!

Tell Rick that then … LOL

When he first had taken me under his wing I used to get a lot of “No” mostly because of my ignorance and experience and not knowing any better.

Rick is a front line safety guy for PGI so I value his input a lot. Now it’s more a standing joke between us. Which is a good thing as I reflect back as I could of flatten my city with some ideas I had

Fuel mines:

1 12” 5 gallon
6 6” 2 gallon

About to order 10-12 of the 4” which are 1/4 of a gallon. Plan to set them 8’ apart. Just not sure how many I need yet and need to speak to Brain Craig more about it to see what I need. I did speak to Bill Corbett about it and he thought 8’ “should work”. So we will see …

Idea for this order is to do what am calling a napalm run. Think Apocalypse Now with the napalm on the tree line.

That’s my opener for next year right as Let the Bodies Hit the Floor by Drowning Pool starts. There is more to it what I have plan but that’s the main part of the idea.

Should get everyone’s attention right away!!

[topshelfpyro]

I can do anything want!

Tell Rick that then … LOL

When he first had taken me under his wing I used to get a lot of “No” mostly because of my ignorance and experience and not knowing any better.

Rick is a front line safety guy for PGI so I value his input a lot. Now it’s more a standing joke between us. Which is a good thing as I reflect back as I could of flatten my city with some ideas I had

Fuel mines:

1 12” 5 gallon
6 6” 2 gallon

About to order 10-12 of the 4” which are 1/4 of a gallon. Plan to set them 8’ apart. Just not sure how many I need yet and need to speak to Brain Craig more about it to see what I need. I did speak to Bill Corbett about it and he thought 8’ “should work”. So we will see …

Idea for this order is to do what am calling a napalm run. Think Apocalypse Now with the napalm on the tree line.

That’s my opener for next year right as Let the Bodies Hit the Floor by Drowning Pool starts. There is more to it what I have plan but that’s the main part of the idea.

Should get everyone’s attention right away!!

that sounds like a nice assortment of mines! You probably already know but if you do 2 of the 6's together its not far off from a 12 (looks the same) but less fuel and less powder cost. I have 1- 12 but its the executioner from Gary Steele, 60" and 30 gal. quite the site. I've done 5,10,20 and 30 gal out of it so really versatile. 5 gal comes out like a shotgun using the same powder charge as a short 12.

[PyroFL]

Sounds like something fun to play with and I like you can choose what effect you would need.

I’ve always wondered how do you get the charge to the bottom?
…..

Last year I used 4 two gallon at 20’ apart to build an amazing wall of fire 100’ wide. It worked so good the fire department showed up.

Unfortunately I couldn’t use anything that has to go into the ground. Our shot site is swamp land and anything you put in the ground is very difficult to get back out.

It’s almost like quicksand that cements our fire machine towers in the ground 3’. We have to use a tractor to get it back out. I can’t even imagine trying to get a 5’ 12” pipe out.

[topshelfpyro]

Sounds like something fun to play with and I like you can choose what effect you would need.

I’ve always wondered how do you get the charge to the bottom?
…..

Last year I used 4 two gallon at 20’ apart to build an amazing wall of fire 100’ wide. It worked so good the fire department showed up.

Unfortunately I couldn’t use anything that has to go into the ground. Our shot site is swamp land and anything you put in the ground is very difficult to get back out.

It’s almost like quicksand that cements our fire machine towers in the ground 3’. We have to use a tractor to get it back out. I can’t even imagine trying to get a 5’ 12” pipe out.

Yea the big 30 gal fuel mine is kinda neat. The first time I shot it full the 24"x24"x4" wood platform I put it on sank 5" into the packed GA red clay ground (AKA red concrete lol) I had a pick somewhere that someone shot 5 of the 30 gal mines on the ground without bases underneath and they sank 7 or 8' into the ground. May have been Bill Corbett that posted that, not him though. I did a 90' fire wall this year using 6 of the 6" mines 15' apart and 10 gal in the center big mine. It was hot. lol