Some collaborations are business. This one is family.

Fifteen years ago, Grassroots California linked up with a lighting designer named Saxton Waller — the man behind the curtain at Sound Tribe Sector 9, painting arenas in light for nearly two decades. Out of that friendship came one of the most legendary hat series in Grassroots history: the ROYGBIVLSD collection. A hat line as vivid and alive as the light shows that inspired it.

Now, after almost nine years since the last release, the 6th collaboration is finally here: the Saxton ROYGBIV Black 501 Snapback.

This one hits different. And to understand why, you need the full story.

The Man Behind the Light

If you've ever been in the crowd at an STS9 show and felt the lights sync with your pulse — that was Saxton. From 1999 to 2017, he was the lighting director for Sound Tribe Sector 9, building his reputation as one of the most instinctive and improvisational lighting designers in live music. He didn't just run cues. He played the rig like an instrument, reading the room, riding the groove, and making every show a one-of-one visual experience.

Then, after nearly two decades on the road, he stepped away.

No fanfare. No announcement. Just quiet. For almost nine years, Saxton was off the touring circuit — still working behind the scenes in design and programming, but no longer standing behind the console night after night.

Until Billy Strings called.Coming Out of Retirement

We reached out to Saxton to talk about the new hat, the new chapter, and the journey in between. Here's what he had to say.

When we asked what pulled him back into touring, Saxton kept it real:

"Honestly, the Billy camp came to me. I was ok with leaving my touring days behind me but when they called it peaked my interest. I spent a week designing while listening to the past few years of live shows before making a decision. I didn't know if I would be the right fit for this gig but I eventually decided I had to give it a shot."

"They are such an incredible band on so many different levels with hundreds of tunes and a big lean towards improvisation. I knew it would be a very challenging endeavor but I would never forgive myself if I didn't at least try and see if I had some magic left in me."

"Serendipitous is the word I'd use to describe the opportunity. I just couldn't let it pass me by without giving it a shot."

And just like that — he was back. In August 2025, Saxton made his debut behind the desk for Billy Strings in Milwaukee, and the live music world took notice immediately. His first show back after nearly a decade, and it was clear: the magic hadn't gone anywhere.

A Different Kind of Challenge

For fans who grew up watching Saxton paint with light at STS9 shows, the move to Billy Strings might seem unexpected. But Saxton sees the differences as the challenge that drew him in.

"A lot of STS9 is rooted in the groove and pocket. These tunes are all about melody, vocals, and solos that reference the melody. A lot of these tunes demand more nuance, patience, and just an overall delicate touch."

"I could bang away on all sorts of aggressive looking cues with STS9 and it worked because there were no vocals and the lights kind of filled that void. It's a different sport here. There is nothing 'lacking' when it comes to this band. My job here is to highlight what the guys are doing without being a distraction or taking away from the experience."

Then there's the learning curve of absorbing hundreds of new songs — after spending 15+ years with tunes that were part of his DNA at STS9.

"When you grow up and run lights for a band for the first 15 years of your career, the tunes are part of your DNA. There are no second thoughts or learning curves. The music is just part of your being and it's really easy to get into flow state. I've had to dedicate all of my being to learning hundreds of new tunes."

The Discipline Behind the Art

One thing that might surprise people: Saxton is completely sober on tour. No smoke, no substances — just one beer after the show to reflect on the night.

"I'm going for a feeling of homeostasis behind the console during the gig. I don't want my body sending any signals to my brain. I'm looking for flow state so staying sober, healthy, and just feeling good is a big part of that."

And when he's off tour? You'll find him on the water.

"I get off tour and go fishing as much as I possibly can. That is my peaceful happy place. Whether I'm in Colorado or Florida for the break, it doesn't matter. If I can, I'm going fishing."

There's something poetic about a guy who spends his nights manipulating millions of photons in front of thousands of people — then finds his center standing in a river with a fishing rod. That balance, that intentionality, is Saxton in a nutshell. And it's exactly why this collaboration has lasted 15 years.

15 Years of ROYGBIVLSD × Grassroots California

The Saxton ROYGBIVLSD series is one of the longest-running and most sought-after collaborations in Grassroots history. Every version has sold out. Every version is hunted on the resale market. And every version has captured a moment in time — a snapshot of where Saxton was as an artist and where our partnership was as a creative force.

Here's the full timeline:

V1 — September 2011

The one that started it all. The original ROYGBIVLSD Grassroots hat dropped in September 2011 at just $42 — and became one of the most sought-after Grassroots hats ever made. Still to this day. Fifteen years later, it's still one of the most talked-about, most hunted, most traded pieces in our entire catalog. The V1 didn't just sell out — it became a myth. If you had one, you held gold. If you missed it, you've been chasing it ever since.

V2 — May 2014

Three years later, Saxton and Grassroots reconnected for the V2 — limited to just 710 pieces with proceeds going to Conscious Alliance. Same design as the v1 but with a grey bill. The Tribe fam showed up heavy. Gone in a flash.

V3 — October 2014

The "Pyramid" hat. Barely five months after V2, V3 arrived and raised the bar on embroidery and sublimation. Instagram engagement was through the roof. Comments were flooded with people trying to cop. Another instant sellout.

V4 — September 2015

One of the most visually striking versions in the series. The kaleidoscopic sublimated liner became iconic — people were just as hype about the underside of the brim as the crown. The comment sections tell the story: "This is what I've been waiting for."

V5 — June 2017

The last release before the long silence. V5 dropped in June 2017 with a starburst sublimation pattern and a psychedelic liner that became one of the most photographed Grassroots hats at festivals that summer. Limited to 710. And then — nothing. For almost nine years.

V6 — April 2026: The Return

The Saxton ROYGBIV Black 501 Snapback is here.

Nearly nine years between releases. A new chapter in Saxton's career. A new era of light. And a new silhouette for the series — the pre-curved 501 snapback, a first for the ROYGBIVLSD line.

The design channels everything this partnership has always been about: color as energy, geometry as language, light as art. The front panel features a bold, multi-colored geometric burst — Saxton's signature ROYGBIV spectrum exploding from the center in sharp, angular embroidery. Rainbow stitch lines cascade across the brim, echoing the arcs of light that define his rig designs.

The side panel carries the ROYGBIVLSD wordmark — each letter in its own color block, a nod to the full spectrum that has defined this collaboration since day one.

This is the 6th hat collaboration between Grassroots California and Saxton Waller over the course of a 15-year partnership. It's the first since his return to touring. And it's a celebration of the fact that some creative bonds don't fade — they just wait for the right moment to come back to life.

If You Know, You Know

Every version of the ROYGBIVLSD hat has sold out. Every single one. The V1 is still one of the most hunted Grassroots hats in existence — resale prices tell that story loud and clear.

This isn't a hat you think about and come back for later. This is a hat you grab because you understand what it represents: a 15-year friendship, a legendary lighting designer's return to the road, and a series that has never missed.

Six versions. Fifteen years. One legacy.

The Saxton ROYGBIV Black 501 Snapback is available now. Don't sleep.