Will Dave's voice ever fully come back?

[albany15]

I think everyone realizes Dave's missed a lot of notes this year, but my question is whether or not his voice will ever recover? I know it's been an endless amount of work with last year's studio work followed by a spring and summer tour promoting the album but has his voice ever been this off for an entire tour before and do you think it will come back to normal?

[skippdogg]

look at how he sounded at radio city in spring 2007 and how bad he was before that and after that....he deffinently has it in him it's just rest and good health that brings him there!

[timg1414]

No 20 years of touring and god knows how many years of smoking have taken there toll

[RiotAct]

nope. too old. oh well.

[jcomey]

He definitely had it Hartford N1. Hit all of his falsettos there. PNP>Rapunzel was something to remember for me.

[canes101190]

I heard he has this gene that turns him into a mute when he hits 43 years old.

[crashintonickdm]

Originally Posted by skippdogg

look at how he sounded at radio city in spring 2007 and how bad he was before that and after that....he deffinently has it in him it's just rest and good health that brings him there!

yeah, technoology made his voice sound great on that release. and even still his voice isnt anywhere near what luther college is.

[RiotAct]

Originally Posted by canes101190

I heard he has this gene that turns him into a mute when he hits 43 years old.

could he still use a voicebox then???

[canes101190]

Originally Posted by RiotAct

could he still use a voicebox then???

No, his case is a unique one and absolutely incurable. Looks like you all will have to sell your tickets. Anyone got an extra lawn ticket to WPB N2?

[kjairey]

Originally Posted by canes101190

I heard he has this gene that turns him into a mute when he hits 43 years old.

OOOHHHH NOOOO!!! I think Dave would make a damn funny mime! He is just a goofy guy. For example, the music video for FTWII. Now that is some mime material right there!

[Haney]

Originally Posted by jcomey

He definitely had it Hartford N1. Hit all of his falsettos there. PNP>Rapunzel was something to remember for me.

I can remember during PNP>Rapunzel thinking about how well his voice was that night. Rye Whiskey was A+ that night!

[RiotAct]

Originally Posted by canes101190

No, his case is a unique one and absolutely incurable. Looks like you all will have to sell your tickets. Anyone got an extra lawn ticket to WPB N2?

lol... if he really did lose his voice, people would probably still pay ridiculous amounts of money for lower pav. seats

[Taylor36]

his voice really has changed alot, and like most things the best is somewhere in the middle. Dave's voice 1998-2000 ftw

[kjb12488]

As long as he hasn't developed vocal nodules on his vocal folds (they're like calluses that form from using the voice incorrectly or from straining it) he should be OK. Most musicians have doctors and specialists to make sure they're using their voice healthily...I'm assuming he's got some?

One thing most people don't know: The voice doesn't stop maturing until about age 35. Until then, it's not it's strongest or most developed. Actually, it's extremely rare for opera stars to debut until approximately that age because of that reason.

I'd say as long he doesn't scream out Halloween every night and takes time to rest, sees a doc, etc...he'll be fine for many years to come. But Julie Andrews ended up with nodules, had surgery, and now she's lost most of her range and won't sing :-( Ahh Dave don't overdo it!!!!!!!!!

[scottbtdmb]

I think he is still sounding pretty damn good personally. I mean the man is 42 years old. Comparatively, he sounds a lot better than a couple of other jam band singers that are around the same age. John Popper of Blues Traveler is a perfect example. BT is probably my fave band, but I will be the first to admit that Popper sounds horrible these days. Go to archive.org and download a 2009 BT show and you will see what I mean. Phish is another example. Trey sounds decent, but nowhere near how he sounded in the in the earlier part of the decade. Dave has been working very hard this year and I think really it is more the consistency of the delivery than anything that catches up with you when you get in your 40's. Aside from that, I thought he sounded fantastic at Hershey. My friend that went with me was a big DMB fan in the 90's and hadn't heard Dave's vocals in a long time, and was impressed that he could still hit the notes in Satellite. I also thought he sounded great on 7-28-09, particularly on You Never Know. He hit the high notes with ease. I think that for the next five or six years, it will be give or take with his vocals. My prediction is that he will fizzle out a little towards the end of this tour, rest up for a solid 6-7 months, and come back in 2010 with his vocals in fine form. Just my two cents.

-Scott

[jcomey]

Originally Posted by Haney

I can remember during PNP>Rapunzel thinking about how well his voice was that night. Rye Whiskey was A+ that night!

I have a bunch of videos from that night up on my YouTube. PNP>Rapunzel isn't up yet...but it will be soon.

[zdaddy]

he sounds way better now than in 05 and especially 06. 06 was rough to listen to

[The Mango]

08 was a comeback to his voice. 2000 was pretty beastly too.

[Trippin4136]

Will his voice ever be like it was from 1996-1999?

No. Not a chance.

[The Mango]

Originally Posted by Trippin4136

Will his voice ever be like it was from 1996-2000?

No. Not a chance.

fixed

[Haney]

Originally Posted by jcomey

I have a bunch of videos from that night up on my YouTube. PNP>Rapunzel isn't up yet...but it will be soon.

Yeah I think I came across your videos a few times. Please put that up. I would love to see that again.

[arizza11]

his voice sounded good at blossom lastnight

[crashintonickdm]

his good voice this year and last year dont touch how his voice used to be.

[aelefter]

It really does depend on what you consider to be Dave's voice at 100% Yes, years of such consistent wear-and-tear (from touring, smoking, illness, average everyday conversations spanning a 42 year long lifetime) undoubtedly change a voice, but the effect on the quality of the voice is especially subjective. If you're asking if Dave will be able to hit notes he used to hit when he was younger, it depends on how he's feeling, his diet (for example, sugar, dairy, alcohol all have inhibiting effects on the voice and the vocal chords in both the short- and long-term), and a myriad of other factors. It's important to realize that the factor of his age is actually relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of comparing his vocals. The number one habit in life that can change the voice with severe chance of permanence is smoking cigarettes, which we all know used to be one of Dave's vices. Otherwise, the right vocal exercises, warm-up regimen, diet, sleep pattern, etc. (see where I'm going?) all could allow Dave to hit notes we think he's lost. Is it harder for him? Yes. Will it get easier? Safe bet is no. Will it ever be better? That's a question for every person to answer for him/herself at the time. My guess is Dave's voice will always find a way of fitting perfectly with his and the band's current musicianship, so it will always feel just right.

[Seanieb]

The way Dave sings will always prevent him from staying healthy. His vocal chords can heal, but he trashes his voice when he sings.

Can it come back, yes. Will it happen when they are a band, no.

[chyeachyea552]

i have to say his voice sounded amazing last night at blossom. better than DTE even the night before.

[cworty06]

his voice pretty much sucks now

[Fisherman]

It will if he can go back to being 29 again somehow

[mismetti]

It's getting better. That "Sweet Caroline" on Fenway 06 sounded like someone else even.

[420th jimi]

I think his voice is much different from night to night and that is why we see people saying Blossom was awesome and such. He was hiting the high notes over in Europe, some nights. I feel that with enough rest he still sounds good.

Also, Sweet Caroline was probably meant to mimic the voice of the one Neil Diamond. I heard it in Vegas and that was what I got out of hearing him sing Sweet Caroline.