United States. After two years of their first tour of the United States and with all tickets sold out, the Mexican band Grupo Firme returns to the stage with their new tour "La Última Peda", produced by Live Nation.
This ambitious series of concerts, which includes 31 dates, kicked off at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and will culminate in November at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, consolidating the band as one of the benchmarks of Latin music.
With an unmistakable mix of regional Mexican music and modern influences, Grupo Firme has managed to connect with a loyal international audience, garnering multiple awards, including a Latin Grammy. Their record label, Music VIP, founded by Isael Gutierrez, has been key to their success, offering an independent vision that has led the band to fill arenas in the United States and Latin America.
Music VIP: The key behind Grupo Firme's success
The role of Music VIP, the independent label founded by Isael Gutiérrez, has been decisive in the meteoric rise of Grupo Firme. Gutiérrez has established a 360º business philosophy, where the label is not only in charge of music production, but also of the promotion and organization of tours. "We are unique because we work with artists from the ground up, helping them grow and develop," says Gutiérrez. "We don't skimp on the production because we want to offer an exceptional show. We have received numerous accolades, especially for the audio, because it is key to connecting with the audience." Under this vision, Grupo Firme has managed to fill stadiums in both Latin America and the United States, marking a milestone in regional Mexican music.
On this tour, the production team has opted for DAS Audio's LARA system, with the aim of offering a high-level sound experience at each concert. The main system consists of 32 LARA tops, 24 LARA-SUB subwoofers and 24 LARA as out fills, as well as 8 SARA for front fills, 8 ARA M-210 monitors, 4 AERO-20 as side fills, and the ALMA control and monitoring software, guaranteeing impeccable coverage in each venue.
The family behind the mixing table
The sound quality on this tour is also due to the teamwork of Baldemar Vicente, FOH engineer, and his son Axel Ely Vicente, responsible for the monitors. With years of combined experience, this synergy translates into an impeccable mix for a band that has 17 musicians and 7 live vocalists.
"The LARA system is very consistent and offers a flat response, allowing every voice and instrument to stand out clearly. The coverage is spectacular, maintaining the same energy throughout the venue. In Grupo Firme's concerts, sound is key for the audience to feel part of the family, and we have received many compliments for the quality of the audio," Baldemar added: "Both I and the systems engineer have been pleasantly surprised by the speed with which they work with LARA. From the wiring to the software, everything is very intuitive and efficient, allowing us to configure and adjust it in record time. Really, the performance of the system has exceeded my expectations."
"Each venue is a different acoustic challenge," says Juan Manuel Ávila, Systems Engineer of the "La última peda" tour. "The cardioid directivity of the LARA system allows us to easily adapt to any space, always offering exceptional coverage."
Axel also highlights the versatility of the system: "The cardioid feature reduces noise on stage, providing incredible clarity for the musicians." With a mix of monitors made up of nine ARA-M210 systems, distributed throughout the stage, the equipment ensures an optimal listening experience for both the audience and the performers.
Rodrigo Rodríguez and Music VIP, a collaboration success
Rodrigo Rodríguez, production manager of MUSIC VIP, opted for DAS Audio's LARA system for its performance and efficiency. "It's a revolutionary system, with seamless integration of DSP processing and great ease of use on tours of this magnitude," says Rodriguez. "The LARA system is completely different to anything DAS Audio has done before. We did a test and it sounded fantastic; the band loved it."
The efficient design and powerful performance of the LARA system made it the perfect choice for Grupo Firme's ambitious tour. Its cutting-edge technology and compact size offer significant savings in truck space, making loading and unloading easier, and reducing costs. Rodríguez emphasized: "Everything is self-amplified. You simply plug in the Cat-7, Socapex and you're done. The DSP processing is built into the boxes, which is amazing."
Ramón Franco, director of pro-audio sales at DAS Audio, shares his enthusiasm: "We are proud that Grupo Firme and its team have trusted us for this tour. The LARA system is demonstrating its enormous potential, and I am sure that its success in the United States will open the door to new opportunities in Mexico where we work with the best possible partner, Hermes Music."
