GETTING THE CHEMISTRY RIGHT

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Chris Devlin and company are out to change all that. Devlin, a veteran nightclub manager and a musician, is the driving force behind the new String Chemistry Café in Mesa, AZ. The café is pretty much the antithesis of what one would expect from a blues/jazz nightclub. The club has an open, airy feel that's more reminiscent of a coffee house, and a dinner chef recruited from one of Phoenix's famed resort hotels.

But most of all, it's about the music. As Devlin explains, "I've been surrounded by musicians all my life, and the one thing that always struck me is how tough it is for most of them. These are people who work hard to show everyone else a good time, and they're never paid what they're worth. They have to constantly put up with bad sound, crummy food, and no dressing rooms. They deserve better."

And what could be better than a sound system that's head and shoulders above their expectations based around QSC Audio's AcousticDesign™ S282H two-way loudspeakers. House Engineer and system designer Jesse Newsome chose the QSC speakers based on a combination of factors, including styling, directivity, and of course, sound. "We don't have a very high ceiling, and we needed speakers that wouldn't compromise anyone's sightlines," he explains. "I was able to mount the ADs on the ceiling and they're almost invisible. But their output is just unbelievable — we've got three, placed left, right, and center, and they cover the whole room." Delays are covered by a distributed system of six AD-C52T two-way ceiling speakers. Two PLX 2402 amps provide power for the mains, while one CX-302V covers the 70V distributed system. Additional AD-C52Ts are installed backstage and on the outdoor patio.

"We had some problems with our local dealer and ended up getting the wrong speakers; not something you need when you're already stretched thin trying to make an opening-day deadline," Newsome continues. "I contacted QSC directly, and they jumped through some serious hoops to get us replacements. Their support is just phenomenal. I couldn't have asked for more."

Devlin's long-time friendships in the industry will also benefit club guests, by bringing in some well-known international stars, including B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Chico Chism, and George Benson. "There's been a tremendous influx of people moving to the Phoenix area over the past few years, including a lot of musicians and even more music lovers," he remarks. "We wanted to create a home for them all."