No one could have faulted Rodger Pugh if he wanted to kick back for a while. The owner of Devus Designs, the Tempe, AZ-based designer-director had just completed long run with Static-X and Sevendust, when he had a small break in his schedule. Now, a chance to enjoy some time off!

But like any eager LD, Pugh is always ready to answer when opportunity knocked. In this case, it knocked three times, in the form of phone calls from different industry colleagues, each of them telling Pugh that he would be a perfect fit for Halestorm’s upcoming tour.

The legendary Grammy winners would be embarking on a North American tour, sometimes as headliners or co-headliners, others in support of bands like Evanescence, playing at venues like Bell Centre in Montreal, and Rogers Place in Edmonton. Pugh had never worked with the rockers from Red Lion, PA before. It sounded like fun.

So…. Who needs to take a break, anyway? Pugh hoped on board, becoming the co-designer, director and programmer of the tour. Working with the team, he added some evocative design elements, creating a look that he described as combing an 80s rock show with a 90s high school prom. The lightshow was exciting. The experience was fun. And Pugh says he grew as a lighting designer. He shared his story with us.

How did you hooked up with Halestorm for this tour?
“At the time, I had just wrapped up a busy year working with Static-X and Sevendust, and my schedule was looking pretty open. Then, I had an interesting turn of events—three industry colleagues, Jason Giaffo, Jake Tickle, and Brotay Sparks, reached out to me on the same day. Initially, I thought each of them was offering me a different gig, but it turns out they were all calling about the same opportunity—the chance to work with Halestorm. It was one of those perfect timing moments, and I’m grateful it all came together.

How many dates was the tour?
“This last leg of the tour consisted of 19 dates, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, with a heavier focus on the Canadian dates.”

When you came on board for the first tour (a coheadline run with I Prevail), you worked with a preprogrammed file from Mathias Kuhn. On the recent run you also worked with PM Joey Dileo and other team members. What was the collaboration like?
“The design was truly a team effort, with input from myself, the band, and my PM. We all collaborated on the set and fixture choices to ensure everything aligned with the band’s vision. Each of us brought our own creative approach to the show’s flow and energy.”

What was the vision you and the rest of the team shared?
“For a rock show, you naturally want those big, punchy, high-energy moments, but we also wanted to give the audience room to breathe during the softer, more introspective parts. For the high-energy, punchy parts, we leaned into bold, saturated colors—like deep reds, electric blues, and intense purples—to give the space a sense of urgency and power. At other points we went with more subtle tones. With this tour, we tried to balance the two elements.”

Were there any special surprises or challenges in this tour?
“There were definitely a few surprises and challenges along the way. The first 10 shows included some festivals, which always bring their own set of unique dynamics—lots of quick turnarounds and unpredictable weather, for example. The second half of the tour was a bit different, as we hit the road with two other bands where we were direct support. That came with its own challenges, especially in terms of balancing time and resources between multiple acts. But overall, the energy and excitement of the crowd made it all worth it, and we adapted as we went, making sure each show delivered.”

How has this tour influenced you as a lighting designer?
“This tour has been a great opportunity for growth as a lighting designer. The diverse range of venues, festivals, and varying production setups really challenged me to think on my feet and adapt quickly. It’s always different when you’re working with other bands, especially as direct support, where you have to fine-tune your design to complement the headliner while still making a statement.

“The experience also allowed me to experiment with new techniques, refine my workflow, and collaborate more closely with the team. Each show taught me something new about managing time, creativity, and expectations, and I feel like I’ve really expanded my skill set through this tour.”