What Live Release was Dave's Voice the "Best"

[karczews41]

With all the dialogue on Dave's voice, whether it's being up and down, whether it be certain years for certain reasons, young vs. old, voice coach vs. not, beginning vs. end of tour, etc., it got me thinking: What live release in your opinion is the BEST example of his voice? Any live officially released show is in play.

[seanbrutus]

I don't know if it would win out amongst everyone here, but Central Park was the first time I heard Dave's voice hit the note above the note he usually sings at the end of Watchtower. Also he managed to yell the "take these chances" part of Ants, and didn't lose steam the whole show. My pick at least would be this show.

[maythekarma1]

Live at Luther College is pretty damn good.

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[TSTJL40]

Listener Supported

[currupt3d**]

There's a bunch of releases that come to mind, but I'll pick LT 3. His voice was at it's prime 98-04 imo.

[dmb417]

Not a fan of his pre-BTCS voice

Seeing that Dave's voice is my main criterion for listening to DMB these days, I'd put Listener Supported and Live at Radio City at the top

[ToySoldier#34]

Early 2000's, take your pick

[TheStone91]

LT 3 or 8

[IndyDMB]

Red Rocks 95 and Listener Supported come to mind.

[aaronvl]

I don’t think his voice ever sounded better than on Live at Luther College.


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[Cptn. Monkeyman]

Red Rocks 95

[haiku.warrior]

LT3 or 7

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by haiku.warrior

LT3 or 7

His voice is borderline bad in LT7, have anyone who isn't obsessed listen to LT7 Two Step, then have them listen to Bartender from Folsom Field

[chrisjuniper]

Radio City and I don’t think its close

[LaLaLaLaHey]

Originally Posted by dmb417

Not a fan of his pre-BTCS voice

Seeing that Dave's voice is my main criterion for listening to DMB these days, I'd put Listener Supported and Live at Radio City at the top

Originally Posted by chrisjuniper

Radio City and I don’t think its close

Regarding Radio City:

His voice must’ve had major issues that night because they way way way overcompensated on the auto tune and vocal corrections. I have trouble listening to Radio City without fixating on how corrected his vocals sound. Don’t think I could include that one anywhere near the top. They completely killed the natural sound of his voice. I wish there were an audience tape to compare it to, because I’m doubtful his voice was very “on” that night.

Listen to #41 right when the vocals come in and at 0:50. It’s almost annoying
And then listen to the first chorus - you can hear underneath the layer of corrections that his voice is crackling and sounds broken (second verse too).

[mthawk07]

Radio City is autotuned like crazy (still love the show). I know Central Park has its moments of autotuning, but holy shit he sounds good from beginning to end.

[YankeesDMB41]

Originally Posted by chrisjuniper

Radio City and I don’t think its close

Autotune will do that.

[LaLaLaLaHey]

Originally Posted by mthawk07

Radio City is autotuned like crazy (still love the show). I know Central Park has its moments of autotuning, but holy shit he sounds good from beginning to end.

I don’t even mind very slight vocal corrections when they enhance his voice and they aren’t noticeable. But Radio City sounds like Dave became part robot haha

I think the Live at the Hollywood Bowl release is a good example of an appropriate use of vocal corrections. Barely there, and just help support his voice on a few notes.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by mthawk07

Radio City is autotuned like crazy (still love the show). I know Central Park has its moments of autotuning, but holy shit he sounds good from beginning to end.

There is a note towards the end of DDTW on CP where he sings "dead" on "cuz you're all dead now" that is absolutely nuts to me.

[seanbrutus]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

There is a note towards the end of DDTW on CP where he sings "dead" on "cuz you're all dead now" that is absolutely nuts to me.

Stuff like this is why this album is the clear winner to me. His voice was just POWERFUL during this show. Not to say it wasn't great elsewhere, but he fucking belted the chorus of Ants, the end of Watchtower, What You Are, and then of course DDTW. I remember picking up the three cd set and the dvd from Media Play and just being blown away.

[mthawk07]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

There is a note towards the end of DDTW on CP where he sings "dead" on "cuz you're all dead now" that is absolutely nuts to me.

To borrow a phrase I saw during the Drive In thread, that DDTW performance is “god tier” DMB.

[dmb417]

Idk I've just accepted the fact that Dave needs autotune (and a new vocal coach ASAP), so I don't mind it

In fact, while it may be autotuned, I absolutely enjoy the Sledgehammer track on the Live at Mile High release (and that's just about the only thing on the release I like)
Actually, autotune may be the reason the Live on Lakeside "release" is thoroughly enjoyable for me. His voice sounds great(ly tampered with). My favorite Idea of You is on there



Also, there are great vocal tracks on the Dave&Tim Lost Acoustics compilation. Absolutely LOVE the wailing on that Warehouse

[SeeMoreDMB]

Originally Posted by dmb417

Idk I've just accepted the fact that Dave needs autotune (and a new vocal coach ASAP), so I don't mind it

In fact, while it may be autotuned, I absolutely enjoy the Sledgehammer track on the Live at Mile High release (and that's just about the only thing on the release I like)
Actually, autotune may be the reason the Live on Lakeside "release" is thoroughly enjoyable for me. His voice sounds great(ly tampered with). My favorite Idea of You is on there



Also, there are great vocal tracks on the Dave&Tim Lost Acoustics compilation. Absolutely LOVE the wailing on that Warehouse

I'm curious what your expertise is on vocal coaching and why you think Raab is doing a poor job? I think you might be underestimating how much damage Dave did to his voice over the years and how limited his abilities are these days, regardless of who his coach is.

Personally, I think he sounds like he has more control than he has in years. Quieter settings suit his range these days, but even at the Vegas show that was full band he sounded great.

He's never going to wail on Bartender, Seek Up, or ABI the way he did 10 or 20 years ago, and that isn't because of his coach, it's years of cigarettes and screaming without proper training.

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[YouNeverKnow25]

I like live in chicago

[ToySoldier#34]

I've had the discussion with Snow before but I'm interested in hearing more about why people have early to mid 90's as Dave's best vocals, what specifically stands out as being better than the rest of his career vocally?

[Cscottrun]

Yea Raab definitely has helped his voice for the long term but I do think the way he sings now adds a certain weakness to his voice. I wish he would use Raab's tactics and combine it with whatever medicine he used to take (steroids maybe?) that helped his voice.

[dmb417]

Originally Posted by SeeMoreDMB

I'm curious what your expertise is on vocal coaching and why you think Raab is doing a poor job? I think you might be underestimating how much damage Dave did to his voice over the years and how limited his abilities are these days, regardless of who his coach is.

Personally, I think he sounds like he has more control than he has in years. Quieter settings suit his range these days, but even at the Vegas show that was full band he sounded great.

He's never going to wail on Bartender, Seek Up, or ABI the way he did 10 or 20 years ago, and that isn't because of his coach, it's years of cigarettes and screaming without proper training.

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Well I'm no vocal coach but I've done a lot of phonetics throughout the years and I've never seen Dave so visibly strained before. Granted, he may just be ignoring the stuff Raab's teaching him, but his jaw and throat muscles are consistently tense, he's not breathing smartly and he keeps leading with his chin up. He also doesn't allow space or width (most of the time) when he sings his vowels.

I also haven't seen him fix any of the squinting he's known for - I even recall on the Storytellers 1999 video that he makes a joke about how he looks like he's taking a "steamer" while singing.
But most importantly, he still hasn't adjusted his songs according to his current range. He insists on writing and singing songs he can basically only hit while in his head voice. And that to me is such a waste.

I keep waiting for him to do the Leonard Cohen thing and just accept that he has a very limited range but a very rich vocal timbre. Early Cohen and late(r) Cohen are worlds apart and his music benefited from it IMO. Could be a quite interesting musical departure for DMB as well

Personally, seeing Samurai Cop on the setlist always makes me just slightly anxious because I always prepare myself for the cringe. Because that song is NOT suited for 2020 Dave.