USA – Following their sold-out U.S. debut tour two years ago, Mexican band Grupo Firme is back with their new tour “La Última Peda,” produced by Live Nation. This ambitious 31-date tour kicked off at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center and is set to conclude in November at Los Angele’s BMO Stadium, consolidating the band as one of the leading acts in Latin music.
More details from DAS Audio (www.dasaudio.com):
Blending regional Mexican music with modern influences, Grupo Firme has connected with a loyal international audience, earning multiple awards along the way, including a Latin Grammy. Their record label, Music VIP, founded by Isael Gutierrez, has been instrumental in their success, offering an innovative vision that has led the band to sell out arenas across the U.S. and Latin America.
Music VIP: Key to Grupo Firme’s Success
The independent label Music VIP, founded by Isael Gutierrez, has been pivotal in Grupo Firme’s meteoric rise. Gutierrez’s 360º business model goes beyond music production and also encompasses promotion and tour management. “What sets us apart is how we work closely with artists from the ground up, helping them grow and develop,” Gutierrez explains. “We don’t cut corners on production, we want to deliver an exceptional show. We have received a lot of praise, especially for sound quality, which at the end of the day is what connect us to the audience.” With this vision at heart, Grupo Firme has filled stadiums in both Latin America and the U.S., setting a new standard for regional Mexican music.
To deliver world-class audio on this tour, the production team has opted for DAS Audio’s cutting-edge LARA system. The main system consists of 32 LARA tops, 24 LARA-SUB subwoofers and 24 LARA for out fills, along with 8 SARA for front fills, 8 monitors ARA M-210, 4 AERO-20 for side fills and the control and monitoring software ALMA, ensuring exceptional coverage at every venue.
The Family Behind FOH
The high-quality sound on this tour is also due to the teamwork of FOH engineer Baldemar Vicente and his son Axel Ely Vicente, who oversees monitors. With years of experience working together, their synergy results into an impeccable mix for a band with 17 musicians and 7 live vocalists. “The LARA system provides coherence and flat response, allowing each voice and instrument to stand out clearly. The coverage is outstanding, maintaining the same energy throughout the venue. At Grupo Firme concerts, the sound is key to making the audience feel part of the family. We have received plenty of compliments on the quality of the audio.”
Baldemar continues: “Both me and the systems engineer were impressed by how quickly the LARA system can be set up. From cabling to software, everything is very intuitive and efficient, allowing us to be fully operational in record time. The system’s performance has really exceeded my expectations”.
“Every venue presents unique acoustic challenges,” says Juan Manuel Avila, systems engineer for the ‘La última peda’ tour. “LARA’s cardioid directivity allows us to adapt easily to different spaces, while providing exceptional coverage.”
Axel also highlights the system’s versatility: “The cardioid characteristic significantly reduces noise on stage, providing exceptional clarity for the musicians”. With a monitor mix consisting of nine ARA-M210 systems distributed across the stage, the system delivers an optimal listening experience for both the performers and the audience.
Rodrigo Rodríguez and Music VIP: A Successful Partnership.
Rodrigo Rodriguez, MUSIC VIP’s production manager, chose DAS Audio’s LARA system for its superior performance and efficiency. “LARA is a game-changer”, he explains, “it integrates DSP processing and is extremely easy-to-use for a tour of this magnitude. LARA is unlike anything DAS Audio has done before. We tested it and it sounded amazing; the band loved it.”
The LARA system’s compact design and powerful performance made it the ideal choice for Grupo Firme’s demanding tour. Its advanced technology offers significant savings by optimizing truck space and streamlining loading and unloading, ultimately reducing costs. Rodriguez continues, “Everything is self-powered. You simply plug in the Cat-7, the Socapex and you’re good to go. Having the DSP built into the cabinets is an incredible advantage.”
Ramon Franco, pro-audio sales director at DAS Audio, shares his enthusiasm: “We are honored that Grupo Firme and their team have trusted us for this tour. The LARA system is showing its full potential, and I am confident that its success in the U.S. will lead to more opportunities in Mexico, where we have a strong partnership with Hermes Music”.
