I love Buddy Strong but...

[sugarwill123]

To synth Boyd's section...I just can't.
I can't.

If we don't bring Boyd back can we not get another violinist?

[kevinmavs]

Lock thread.

[DMBCardinal]

Buddy sounds better than Boyd on Pig.

[lc_2000]

🥱 oh here we go.

[sugarwill123]

not trying to start an argument
but for a band based on musicians...
wouldn't it be better to replace the instrument than synthesize it?
honestly not trying to troll. Been a fan for 30+ years (seen them live +100 times) took a break for a bit cause they weren't hitting the mark for me.
diving back in and just giving my opinion.

[Sabres914]

At first, I hated Buddy for the ballpark organ sound. Felt like he was going to bust into Take Me Out To The Ballgame at any moment. I don't think that meshes well with DMB's sound at all.

Gorge this year changed my opinion on him after seeing his pure, raw talent on display — and the energy he brought the shorthanded band, especially when he was on drums.

I still would be ecstatic to welcome a fiddle back to this band, though. Sorely missing it. Personal opinion.

[SeekUpTheCubs]

I think replacing the violin is key to the longevity of the band. They defined what the DMB sound is and are currently not playing with a crucial component of that sound. I love Buddy's work (Seek Up, Grace, Graves stand out), but the violin is why we're all here. Let's be honest about that

Boyd has been on and off since the start. I was listening to fall 98 this morning and Boyd is mediocre at best on some tunes. He's never had it. I think they'll replace him in the coming years and understand why they're trying to create some separation. But it needs to happen.

If I'm standing on the Gorge lawn in 2025, there be a violin

[crounsa810]

Buddy sounds great with the violin synth. There’s not really any point adding in a violin when he can cover the lines, the violin hasn’t even really been featured in the albums in any significant way since the early 2000’s, and the only thing Boyd really had was the ability to sync up with Roi and complement his lines. In 2022, there’s no reason to have a violin in the band. Besides, Dave seems to be much more interested in a funk and jazz sound now than the country folksy sound that the violin gave them. And really, short of LIOG, Nancies, Billies, and Ants, why would they add a violin player just to cover lines here and there (which Buddy already does?)

[YankeesDMB41]

The 50 other threads about this same topic weren't enough I guess. Buddy has done pretty much everything that he was asked to do, and has done it very well. Boyd was in a drug induced haze, smoking e-cigarettes playing the same one note, out of tune, screechy solos for the better part of his last 5 tours. He was missing his cues routinely, and had the energy of a 90 year old man. The music they make now sounds full, and adding a violin to this group probably wouldn't sound as great as everyone thinks. If this is the final iteration of DMB, that's fine with me. MSG weekend was an absolute blast and they tore the roof down.

[FeelingGood]

The "DMB Sound" includes violin...doesn't get any simpler than that. There are so many qualified musicians who could fill that void and fit in very comfortably in the lineup.

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[crounsa810]

You've gotta look at it too as adding a violin means adding more solos with more intensity. Where the band is now, they're dialing back a bit because Carter is aging and can't blast away for 3 hours like he used to. Buddy not only adds the violin sound with the synth to make up for that absence, but he's also able to add to the rhythm section as well which surely helps Carter. I think it also is a sign of respect for Boyd that while yes, it would be incredibly easy to find a skilled violin player to take his place, leaving that instrument out both leaves the door open for him to return (he won't, but if he was somehow able to do a full 180 and actually contribute something beyond skree-cigs) and they also won't embarrass him by bringing in someone who is much more competent at his instrument. I mean, how would the guy feel if he started seeing that someone else was playing his instrument in his band significantly better than he did? That would wreck him for sure. He might like socks and weird sex shit but the guy still feels things very hard.

[crounsa810]

Originally Posted by FeelingGood

The "DMB Sound" includes violin...doesn't get any simpler than that. There are so many qualified musicians who could fill that void and fit in very comfortably in the lineup.

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It still has that violin sound, it's just from a synth now. And you're right, there are qualified musicians who can fill that void and fit well in the lineup. Buddy Strong, for instance

[FeelingGood]

Such an arrogant Buddy defending position to take. Synth will never replace the real thing and you know that.

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[dmbolp]

Synth everything

[Gunz]

Live and let synth

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by SeekUpTheCubs

I love Buddy's work (Seek Up, Grace, Graves stand out), but the violin is why we're all here. Let's be honest about that


If I'm standing on the Gorge lawn in 2025, there be a violin

Uhh ... what?

[ElijahSoRight72]

I don’t understand OP’s position on what a musician is. Look I wanted a violin replacement too but Buddy using a synth sound is a stupid excuse to question his musicianship.

Clearly Buddy is bringing more excitement and wrinkles to the music than Boyd has in… what, close to 20 years? I’m happy he’s somebody who is helping them stretch in this stage of their career.

[awsomepath]

Buddy is the greatest thing to happen to DMB in a long time.

[Cryfreedom09]

I love it. Don't understand how it can be despised when it sounds better than Boyd. Why, just because it's a synth. I don't mind synths. Just because you give someone a synth doesn't make them Pink Floyd similarly to just because you give someone a guitar doesn't make them Clapton. If it sounds good it sounds good.

[ToySoldier#34]

DMB isn't the only band to ever have a violin in it and Boyd sure as hell was never what got me hooked on them

[FeelingGood]

Synth gonna synth

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[DarkClouds]

Originally Posted by sugarwill123

To synth Boyd's section...I just can't.
I can't.

If we don't bring Boyd back can we not get another violinist?

Here's my thought on it. I agree, I can't synth. It's the opposite of why I like DMB..

However.. I think Buddy's synth skills are some of the best I've heard.. AND it's allowed for songs like Pig to return a bit more often and not just have Tim solo over everything to fill space..

But agreed. If you're going to resort to faking a violin, why not just bring a new violin player in.. Even if it's only on songs like Pig, Ants, Liog.. Kind of like a lovely ladies situation where this person would come out for 2 -3 songs early on, and then 2 -3 songs at the end of the set..

I'd much rather them try to figure out how to play these songs without those parts, and without just turning to Tim and say solo all over Song That Jane Likes until it sounds nothing like the original version.. Try some clean piano sounds, or let Tim play acoustic on somethings.. Just more creativity, rather than just leaving it empty or trying to recreate the parts exactly but failing..

[dmbnut21]

You waited almost 10 years to post anything and this was it? I feel let down.

[Cobo]

I find his presence inconsequential and it sadly happens to be that his “top songs” are tunes no one wants to hear (Bayou, Sweet, etc.) but if the band enjoys have Billy around, I’m all for it.

With that said, and I’ve said it since the day boyd quit/was canned, they NEED a violin. It was a great opportunity to get a true professional. Someone that sounded good, and would do stuff beyond soloing.no need to look like boyd or bring the “energy” he did during solos. What a shame.

[grilldanmo]

The reason I listen to DMB is the music as sung by Dave. Solo Dave as well as D&T show us how great the songs themselves are. The band definitely does far more than just gild the lily, they take everything to whole other level on the best recordings and during their best performances. However, without Dave writing/interpreting AND singing we'd likely not know much about the other folks in the band. Rashawn would likely be the most "famous" musician of the bunch...which is not to say the best.

Boyd was ALWAYS the weakest link. It's the parts he played and, at the best moments, how good Roi made them sound. Roi is still far bigger missing piece than Boyd despite being replaced with a world class wind player.

I was just glad that we got more of "Boyd's" parts back in the songs in 2019 and even more in 2021. I love those parts and don't care if they're played by trumpet, electric guitar, organ, or another synthesized sound from the keys (let alone the myriad of options via instrumentation outside of the band's palette). As I've posted prolly 50-100 times, I do feel bad for the fans that find themselves unable to get past the lack of violin. I actually do understand their POV, I just don't agree with it...

[Melted]

Why can't we have both? Keep Buddy and add a strong AF violin.

DMB would have a mega resurgence.

[Roose13]

Originally Posted by sugarwill123

not trying to start an argument
but for a band based on musicians...
wouldn't it be better to replace the instrument than synthesize it?
honestly not trying to troll. Been a fan for 30+ years (seen them live +100 times) took a break for a bit cause they weren't hitting the mark for me.
diving back in and just giving my opinion.

Yes, that's what a band is.

[jmcniff22]

Buddy on the Stone intro and outro... would I prefer, violin? Of course.

But Buddy sounded FANTASTIC this year.

[dre2142]

this dude thinking boyd is still possibly coming back......

[RSSR]

Maybe this dude is Boyd....