Where in the world is Boyd...in the live mix???

[adamsok]

Has anyone else taken notice that there are times that distinctly call for Boyd's instrument to be present in the live sound mix, but he is noticeably absent? For example the transition in Mercy from the last chorus to the outro jam, there is a distinct violin part. Nope. He's playing it, and I hear nada!

I've been to over ten shows thus far this year and it's a repeated issue on many songs. Anyone else nice this or is my hearing going??? Anyone know why he may be being muted?

[recentlyJTR41]

He's in Narnia, breaux

[BTBaboon]

This is not new to this tour. Been a few years now

[DMB1983]

Originally Posted by adamsok

Has anyone else taken notice that there are times that distinctly call for Boyd's instrument to be present in the live sound mix, but he is noticeably absent? For example the transition in Mercy from the last chorus to the outro jam, there is a distinct violin part. Nope. He's playing it, and I hear nada!

I've been to over ten shows thus far this year and it's a repeated issue on many songs. Anyone else nice this or is my hearing going??? Anyone know why he may be being muted?

There's been a lengthy discussion about this since about 2011. Reasons are the elbow he had surgery on, being out of tune, not paying attention to where the song is at, being stoned, over-caffeinated, possible hearing loss, narnia, loVe... Not being into what the band is doing, Rashawn, Coffin and Tim taking over much of the solos that he and Roi used to share. He was not all that involved in AFTW or Big Whiskey. I think losing Roi did a number on him.

I've been to shows the last few years where he was unreal. Just on fire. And then I've seen some where he just stands in the dark with his head down looking sad and depressed. My opinion are that he and Dave were in a spat for awhile. The Gorge 2011 videos show them onstage together playing, doing their usual duel/dance and Dave not looking into it at all. Like, get the hell away from me.

[DMB1983]

As far as muting from the sound crew, I really don't get it but it's very obvious whether they want to believe it or not. How could we not notice when he is playing, but there's no sound. I wonder if he sometimes gets fucked up before a show or something, and they know to turn him off. But some nights he isn't fucked up, and they leave him on.

[Timebomb07]

Boyd is one of the main reasons I love this band. Stinks to see, but I try not to let it bother me. Band still sounds great and Boyd has been playing better in recent years than 2011-2013 ('13 was especially bad with his injury #bowdrops).

[DC Greg]

I've definitely noticed this at a few shows. It's odd, because when you could hear him, he sounded pretty damn good. Rashawn and Jeff's "who can go higher" duels have not left as much room for Boyd in today's DMB, but that doesn't really explain why he would be muted on parts when he is playing. Too bad. I miss the violin.

Agree with the comment above about how sometimes he is just on fire and incredible in his solos, then at other shows he barely plays the entire time. Not sure what the reasons are, but it is unfortunate to see. Really makes me appreciate when I get an amazing LIOG or something like Bristow last year or Ants this year at Blossom. Those were a couple of the best Boyd solos I've seen in recent years.

[Dannyyankou]

He sounds good when he's turned up, it's a shame.

[bbqguy1962]

I was on the sunglass hut side at Starlake and couldn't hear Boyd or Tim and was blasted by muddy Stefan. Last night I was on the horn side. Stefan was crisp and clean, Boyd and Tim were better and I couldn't hear the horns for the most part. Maybe they need to go back to soundchecks. You know, so the customers can hear the show.

[hailtopitt]

Originally Posted by Dannyyankou

He sounds good when he's turned up, it's a shame.

meh, it's hit or miss nowadays

[adamsok]

Originally Posted by bbqguy1962

I was on the sunglass hut side at Starlake and couldn't hear Boyd or Tim and was blasted by muddy Stefan. Last night I was on the horn side. Stefan was crisp and clean, Boyd and Tim were better and I couldn't hear the horns for the most part. Maybe they need to go back to soundchecks. You know, so the customers can hear the show.

Most of the mixes have sounded pretty good to me this year. I did notice that on SPAC n1 that it was rather hard to hear both Rashawn and Jeff while sitting on stage right.

[bustedstuff88]

Stage left at Alpine N1 this year and there were several moments Boyd appeared to be rocking out and......no audio.

[dklein]

Is there anything we as fans can do, like write a petition to the soundboard engineer and ask them to stop muting Boyd? Hearing the violin in a rock band is what first got me into DMB and it's a shame the muting is happening.

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[bustedstuff88]

Originally Posted by dklein

Is there anything we as fans can do, like write a petition to the soundboard engineer and ask them to stop muting Boyd? Hearing the violin in a rock band is what first got me into DMB and it's a shame the muting is happening.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

We could try writing the Warehouse!!

No in all seriousness, I don't think its accidental. These are professional sound people. There may be things happening we don't understand. Maybe Boyd is struggling with something and if the sound guys determine its going to be an "off night" they turn him down, whether it be from depression, being strung out, laziness....whatever.

Please come back though Boyd. You were the driving force for me getting into this band.

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by bustedstuff88

We could try writing the Warehouse!!

No in all seriousness, I don't think its accidental. These are professional sound people. There may be things happening we don't understand. Maybe Boyd is struggling with something and if the sound guys determine its going to be an "off night" they turn him down, whether it be from depression, being strung out, laziness....whatever.

Please come back though Boyd. You were the driving force for me getting into this band.

This. If they are muting him, it is intentional and for a reason.

[TheLastPig]

I find it strange that he's muted. Simply because of how active he has been recently outside of DMB. Playing/creating with Crystal Garden, playing with Phil Lesh & Friends, you know he's not muted at those shows.

Something just doesnt seem to add up. But I agree for the most part he looks very solemn and disinterested at shows.

[bustedstuff88]

Originally Posted by TheLastPig

I find it strange that he's muted. Simply because of how active he has been recently outside of DMB. Playing/creating with Crystal Garden, playing with Phil Lesh & Friends, you know he's not muted at those shows.

Something just doesnt seem to add up. But I agree for the most part he looks very solemn and disinterested at shows.

I noticed at DC N1 he had a Crystal Garden t-shirt on. Kinda struck me as odd that he would do that...some bands in this world, the band that you were in that got you to the point you are now, would take that as offensive I have to believe.

Lets hope Boyd doesn't say "eff it" in his downtime in 2017 and decide hes done.

[TheLastPig]

Originally Posted by bustedstuff88

I noticed at DC N1 he had a Crystal Garden t-shirt on. Kinda struck me as odd that he would do that...some bands in this world, the band that you were in that got you to the point you are now, would take that as offensive I have to believe.

Lets hope Boyd doesn't say "eff it" in his downtime in 2017 and decide hes done.

These guys have been together for 25 years. I dont think any of them give a flip about what the other is wearing. If anything Im sure they would encourage it.

And it made sense he wore it because Crystal Garden played a show at one of the campgrounds with him that night after the DMB show.

He's doing all he can to promote a band he created. I dont think anyone in the band would take any kind of issue with that. That arent pretentious douches.

[dklein]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

This. If they are muting him, it is intentional and for a reason.

What do you think that reason is?