Pioneer Productions is the creative studio of Bobby Mathias, crafting cinematic environments for performance and experience.
With roots in live concert production and visual storytelling, Bobby leads the design and direction of large-scale environments that merge light, motion, and narrative. His work spans touring, broadcast, and immersive spaces — always grounded in the emotional connection between artist and audience.
Selected Credits
Leon Bridges
Creative Director / Production Designer / Lighting & Video Programmer
2015 – Present
Developed and directed the full visual identity across multiple touring cycles, most recently the Crooner & Cowboy U.S. amphitheater tour — a cinematic homage to mid-century Americana. Oversaw creative direction, set and lighting design, camera integration, and color story across a 40’ upstage LED wall and live IMAG system.
The War on Drugs
Lighting Programmer / Operator · 2023
Programmed and operated lighting systems for the band’s North American, Europeans and Australian tours, emphasizing organic texture and evolving color palettes inspired by analog film and landscape photography.
Fleet Foxes
Lighting Programmer / Operator · 2017
Created a touring visual environment built around naturalistic light and compositional balance, translating the band’s layered harmonics into visual form.
Maggie Rogers
Designer / Programmer / Operator · 2016
Crafted a minimalist yet emotive lighting design for Rogers’ first headline tour, establishing her early live visual identity.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Lighting Programmer / Operator · 2019
Programmed and operated the band’s global tour and the Red Rocks Live Stream/DVD performance, coordinating multi-camera and broadcast lighting integration.
Additional Touring + Festival Work
TV on the Radio · Lord Huron · Modest Mouse · Sleigh Bells · Iron & Wine · Neon Indian · Araab Muzik · CSS · Beach House · Galactic · Big Head Todd & The Monsters · Fun Fun Fun Fest · Wakarusa · Austin City Limits Festival
Film & Broadcast
Lighting and visual design for televised and digital performances on:
Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live from the Artist Den, VEVO Presents, and Pandora Discovery Den (SXSW) among others.
Highlights include Leon Bridges on SNL and Colbert, Maggie Rogers on The Tonight Show, and Sleigh Bells on Letterman and Kimmel.
Earlier Work
Ilios Lighting Design — Austin, TX
2007–2010
Early experience designing and operating at the festival scale, shaping stage environments for Austin City Limits, Wakarusa, and Fun Fun Fun Fest. Established foundational skills in site layout, fixture integration, and live show programming.
Core Capabilities
Creative Direction & Visual Storytelling
Stage, Environment & Experience Design
Lighting, Video & Real-Time Visual Integration
Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Concept Development & Client Collaboration
Technical Direction (GrandMA3, Notch, Unreal, Resolume)
Budgeting & Vendor Management
Leon Bridges (2015 - Present ) Designer/Programmer /Operator
Dolby Atmos Visualizer - CES Las Vegas 2024
The War on Drugs (2023) Programmer/ Operator
Nathaniel Rateliff (2019) Programmer/Operator
Fleet Foxes - (2017) Designer/ Programmer /Operator
Maggie Rogers (2016) Designer/ Programmer/Operator
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Red Rocks 2016 Live Stream/DVD shoot Programmer/Operator
TV on the Radio (2015) -Designer/Operator
Lord Huron (2015) Designer/Operator
Guitar Center Drum Off (2014)- Club Nokia, LA. Designer/Operator
Modest Mouse (2014) Designer/Operator
Beats Audio Music Launch - The Belasco Theater. LA. (Jan 2014) Designer/Operator.
The Armory - Ft Collins .CO. (Jan 2014) Designer/Operator.
Sleigh Bells (2011 - Present) Designer/ Operator.
Iron and Wine (2013)Designer/Operator.
Pandora Discovery Den (SXSW 2013) Designer/Operator.
Araab Muzik :(2012) Designer/Operator
Neon Indian: (2011) Designer/Operator.
CSS: (2011) Designer/Operator.
Galactic: (2010/2011) Designer/Operator.
Beach House: (2010) Operator.
Crystal Castles: (2010) Designer/Operator.
Big Head Todd & The Monsters: (2009) Designer/Operator.
Fun Fun Fun Fest- Austin,TX. (2008-2011) Festival Site Designer/ Main Stage- Designer/Operator.
Wakarusa Music Festival (2009-2010) Designer/Operator.
Austin City Limts Music Festival (2008-2009) - Austin Ventures Stage- Designer/Operator.
Ilios Lighting Design - Austin,TX. ( 2007-2010) Site Manager/ Designer/ Operator.
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Film Work
Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon: Maggie Rogers (2017)
Late Show with Steven Colbert: Leon Bridges (2015)
Saturday Night Live: Leon Bridges (2015)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Leon Bridges (2015)
Conan Obrien Show: Lord Huron (2015)
Saturday Night Live: Sleigh Bells (2014)
Late Show with David Letterman: Sleigh Bells (2014)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon : Sleigh Bells (2013)
Jimmy Kimmel Live : Sleigh Bells (2013)
VEVO Lift: Live from Chicago: The Neighborhood, HAIM, & Krewella- Park West. Chicago,IL (2013)
Showcobra/ EVNTLive Present: Slash & Myles Kennedy - HOB. Las Vegas,NV. (2013)
Live from the Artist Den: Ed Sheeran - New York, NY. (2013)
Sleigh Bells - Demons (Official Music Video) 2012
Vevo Presents/Show Cobra: Rita Ora - New York, NY.(2012)
Showcobra/Converse Presents: City Carnage - Sleigh Bells - New York,NY. (2012)
Showcobra/Bowery Presents: You Tube Live - Sleigh Bells - New York,NY. (2012)
VEVO Presents: Live from SXSW - Sleigh Bells - Austin, TX. (2012)
Pandora Presents/Show Cobra: The Roots & The Hold Steady – The U.S. Intrepid. New York, NY (2011)
Bowery Presents/Show Cobra- Heineken Presents: The Hold Steady – Brooklyn,NY. (2010)
Spin 25th Anniversary Week: Flaming Lips, Black Keys, The National, Spiritualized -T5/ Radio City Music Hall. New York, NY (2010)
IFC Presents: SXSW 2011 - Austin, TX.
IFC Presents: SXSW 2010- Austin, TX.
References Available Upon Request