Thanks for posting this, Soda! It seems interesting. I'm going to check out the film. I'm a fan of all type of comics or animated films
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Thanks for posting this, Soda! It seems interesting. I'm going to check out the film. I'm a fan of all type of comics or animated films
It definitely is unique. Be aware that it's R-rated not only for violence but for partial nudity, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by takeiteasy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkLuo7Wi30https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkLuo7Wi30
Don is using an iPhone to read lyrics off of for "The Long Run". It's plain as day. I'm sorry, but that's hilarious. :lol: How long have you been "singing" this one Don? Really?! I know you didn't write the lyrics or sing it with the guys, but holy moly at least use a teleprompter on the floor like most other acts. Most frontmen have teleprompters but very rarely look at them because those words are ingrained into the lead singer's mind. I know Don isn't a singer firsthand (despite trying to do it all himself in his self-titled band), but I can't believe he needed to hurry up and scroll on that phone so he could finish the first verse. Luckily though it didn't affect the performance and there wasn't any missed lines or lyric. Man is Don trying to micromanage and multitask or what? Please Don - get a singer! If for any reason than to just free you up to focus on those fingers on the neck of that Les Paul for an ENTIRE show. Don't be tied to a mic or a teleprompter. Let someone (who hopefully can sound like DH) sing, and you focus on killing everyone dead with those licks that we all love you for. It's such a shame, not only to see his show brought down by vocals, but moreso that we can't watch him focus on his guitar and just focus on being Don Felder. A guitarist! If Don would get a singer and at least cut back on the singing duty and just focus on playing more guitar, I would go see him again and again because he's truly a great guitarist. That's all I want to hear from DF.
On a different note, I see Don is playing a Goldtop Les Paul now. He's always been associated with Sunbursts so to see him with a Goldtop or Black Beauty is weird to me but very cool. Would love to know about it.
I've often said that IMO Don has been lip syncing for a few years, but this seems live to me. There's even one note badly out of tune in the first verse. The scrolling is hilarious, yeah. 😂
What's weird is that he had a large prompter at his feet too but it can be distracting to see a singer squinting down to read lyrics and not being sure what he's doing. At least here it's pretty obvious. David Myhre the guitar player had the same phone setup .
BTW here's that same TLR video dubbed with better audio :
https://youtu.be/L1zAaOkS16M
It's funny because when I saw him live you could literally hear the plastic in his voice with the amount of Auto-Tune he was using on almost every song, even moreso the DH songs than the GF ones. It sounded like Cher's "Believe". Which was her smash pop/dance breakthrough hit that really put Antares Auto-Tune on the map. It was brand new technology at the time and she wanted a drastic effect on her vocals. It wasn't used as Antares intended. Antares created it to "fix" a singer's pitchiness and off-key performances both live and on record. She set it to an extreme setting that no longer sounded realistic and went with it. I have a major problem with Antares for creating that. Basically the labels and big companies pick their new artists based on looks, likability, celebrity image, and stage presence. They can "fix" the pitchy vocals (aka lack of real talent). Another rant for another day, but I DO hate what Auto-Tune has done to the music industry. There was nothing like it before Antares created it. They were key in a bad domino effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaim
This song, on this clip, doesn't sound Auto-Tuned and you make a great comment about the off tune note. I'm not sure if they were having technical difficulties that day with their electronics in Paris. Maybe both Auto-Tune and Teleprompters were down that day. ;) I think I would be too proud if I were Don to go out there, and scroll on my phone while swaying side to side, singing while looking down and not play guitar.
I think if someone had a great quality pic of Don scrolling on his iPhone as he's singing it would make for a gut-busting "Caption This" thread, lol. "I'm so bored singing this damn song I'm just gonna embarrass myself making people think I'm scrolling for lyrics to sing but I'm actually scrolling through Pinterest trying to find a great Zucchini recipe to cook for when I get home. They will never know I'm just bored..." :lol:
I'm sorry Don if you are reading this (he actually might while singing "Take It Easy". :grin:), but you make it too easy sometimes. I love ya and you are a hero but I can't help but to shake my head at you sometimes.
I almost wonder if right before the show started that the big prompters quit working right so they had to hurry up and default to a backup that was likely in place which was to use their phones on the mic stands.Quote:
Originally Posted by webvan
Thanks for that link!
Haha, that Pinterest thing was hilarious, Austin!
Here's a dubbed version of Heavy Metal :
https://youtu.be/grR-XG9KIHc
Oh my gosh, an iPHone? NO NO NO NO NO NO. I mean, use a teleprompter if you have to because those grey cells can get a bit unreliable as one ages, that's fair enough, but an IPHONE?! That's just freaking unprofessional.
I'm just hoping the teleprompter system was down and this was a last minute backup solution and not the norm for Don's shows going forward. One can hope!Quote:
Originally Posted by sodascouts
Don actually sings live here because the vocal track didn't kick in at the beginning of the song, so they had to turn his mic on. For some reason, the backing vox are also live, which doesn't seem usual for this song. He also messed up the ending to the third chorus (he started to sing "woo hoo hoo" instead of "already gone"). In his current band, I don't begrudge him for lip-syncing because he has to play very complicated guitar parts (which he does do live), but imo he ought to hire a lead singer for his band. I also don't know why he uses additional guitar tracks in HC, TIE, and Those Shoes; all of those additional tracks could be removed from his show by hiring the right singer/guitarist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMix1XZqUWM
When was this? Don's singing is so terribly out of tune in places that it must be live. The first lines can't be heard for some reason.
https://youtu.be/hMix1XZqUWM
Quote:
Originally Posted by chaim
Hi, Chaim! I found another video that seems to be identical stage but different person posted. It's "One of these Nights" and in the description of states "Don Felder One Of These Nights at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento At Fire Mountain opening Wheatland Ca on November 2nd 2019"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ88P0SciY8
If you adjust your YouTube settings to "past/this month" a few others pop up including "seven bridges road".
Here is another better quality same concert "Heavy Metal (Takin a ride)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEsrJBqOPSo
So it's from a recent concert. Thanks!
Autotune must have been down that day. Last month it was the teleprompter system. Now it's the Autotune.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaim
Without both Don's concerts aren't passable IMO. At least it's bearable when he remembers the lyrics and tunes his voice, lol.
IMO, Don has a choice to make if he wants people to enjoy his concerts IMO. Especially if the concertgoer values the vocal qualities of Henley and Frey. In this current state, I would never go see him again unless he was an opener for an act I really loved. Depending on how he was singing that tour I might show up late and skip it. ;) It saddens me. I so wanted to believe the lies I had told myself about his voice. Then I saw him live, heard it front row through a PA. No YouTube compression, no editing, no distant audio. Up. Close. And. Personal. And his voice was more processed than Cheese Whiz. I was sick. I realize most that would go see him by himself are going for his guitar playing. But as an Eagles tribute or as an opener or whatever - you can't be this unprofessional and you can't butcher songs vocally by two of the greats, IMO.
Option A (the likely choice) - fire your soundman/men and stage people. Whoever runs the Autotune and runs the teleprompting system and stage equipment need to be GONE. They need to be up and running if you insist on singing every song, Don. No exceptions. If you want to not do the next option, please make sure your Autotune is working (which is still noticeable and annoying, but at least it's not pitchy) and that your teleprompter is on the ground where it should be and that it works. No music stands. No iPhone/iPad mic stand mounts. Or, better yet - start to learn to remember lyrics to songs you've been performing since the 1970s. I know you haven't sang them since then, but you've heard them since then and you've "sang" most of them for long enough now in your self-titled band that you can surely remember them by now.
Option B (one can only hope) - hire a singer. Point blank. Stop singing Eagles material. Sing your solo songs. But leave the Eagles songs to a singer who can do them justice and gracefully. Maybe get two singers or find a band member who can do the other part. Find one that can handle Don's style first since that's the one you struggle with the most. And ideally find one that can do Glenn's voice justice. You would have not only a better band, but part for part the best Eagles tribute band out there. I mean you would actually have a band not only worth seeing as an opener, but one that could headline more (and I don't mean at your local jazz club), and be well loved by everyone especially hardcore Eagles fans. I would certainly go see you again if this were the case. You would take your band to new heights and likely reap the benefits.
One possibility that came to mind is that for whatever reason the "tape" didn't work and he had to sing it live. If he started to lip sync, but noticed that the "tape" wasn't playing and started singing. I can't see his face when the first verse starts so I can't tell if he simply forgot to start singing. He does wslk to the mic in time IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by WalshFan88
Whatever's happening I would support your option B.
Like I said months ago. Don came to my state in September for a concert at one of the casinos on the coast. I wanted to go, but I was very hesitate to drive the 3 hours to see him after hearing stuff about how he sounded in concert. It was a good decision to not see him. Plus I didn't have any money to buy a ticket at that moment. Their were a lot of concerts I turned down because I didn't have the money at that moment.
And that's yet another necessity to Don's shows of late. Vocal tracks. I think he was definitely having trouble with that system too..Quote:
Originally Posted by chaim
I would not recommend going unless he was an opener for another act you also liked. Otherwise, save your money. It's sad to have to say that, but it's true.Quote:
Originally Posted by shunlvswx
Don plays "Hotel California" at the opening of a Rock HOF exhibit. I think he is actually singing live here (he forgets a word and sings his harmony part instead of the melody during the chorus). It's not too bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hOc-rtuYaE
Definitely sings live there and without tons of autotune and other effects. That singing was nice to listen to, because it sounded so spontaneous. But he probably couldn't sing like that for a whole show (let alone tour) at his age. All those aggressive endings in the verses. Very cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebagels
I hear ya, Shun. My concert budget is pretty much busted right now. Don is coming to play near me for 2 nights next month and I'd like to go. It's small enough that it should be easy to tell if he's really singing live or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by shunlvswx
Not sure if I'll be able to swing it. I already missed JD Souther. 🙁
Honestly at this point, as much as the Autotune bothered me when I saw him (and you could tell - it has a metallic almost robotic hint to the sound of the voice when Autotune is used), I think I'd rather hear him WITH it than without it. The clip Chaim posted of him clearly singing live was dreadful. I really would like to think that he would use the Autotune. He needs it. Trust me, lol. He's no singer, but a top shelf guitarist.
If you go, definitely report back. Personally for the sake of anyone going I hope that the teleprompter and Autotune are in working order. It makes it bearable. It's still not a great vocal performance by any stretch, but it is better than his real unaffected voice. I used to hate the fact he Autotuned - but I think now until he wisens up and hires a singer or two, Autotune is at the very least making it passable and decent lol.
I've changed my stance on Don and Autotune. I think he NEEDS to Autotune if he isn't willing to put the ego aside and get someone who can sing to be in his band. Otherwise it's just going to spoil it, no matter how great he plays, how tight the band is, or how the other musicians play. And if you are a Don Henley fan, you won't like it. He simply cannot sound good (even with Autotune IMO) doing DH songs. It's not great when he sings Glenn songs like Take It Easy or Peaceful Easy Feeling, don't get me wrong, but it's not as bad as his renditions of Witchy Woman, One Of These Nights, etc. Even a Glenn Frey fan wouldn't like his voice on GF songs, but it is still IMO better than when he tries to sing DH songs. Autotune does help, but if you love the vocals you'll be disappointed. I'm a guitar first guy, and even I was disappointed in the vocal performance. But I have a feeling someone who really sees the Eagles as a strong vocal band and loves the voice of Don and Glenn and maybe isn't a guitar fanatic or one to care more about guitar will be upset.
I’ve seen Felder perform solo already so unless his vocals have really gone downhill in the last couple of years, I doubt I’ll be surprised by anything I hear. Not like with Kevin Cronin when I saw REO Speedwagon, now that I wasn’t expecting.
It seems lots of people use Autotune these days, even the younger artists, unfortunately. If I do end up going to his show, it would be preferable that Felder not use it but if he does it’s really not going affect my opinion of his vocals. He’s a passable singer who is getting on in years. He never was a strong vocalist.
When it comes to Felder's (lack of) vocal prowess - it's damned if you do, damned if you don't with regards to Autotune. Either way it's not good. At least with Autotune his voice would be in tune.
I think the prevalence of younger artists using Autotune is a direct reflection of the state of the music industry. Right now they'd rather you be a pitchy singer that looks good and can eat up a crowd and have a good social media presence. They'd rather Autotune the voice of the above person both live and on record than choose a singer that sings well but maybe isn't as visually stimulating or has as good of a presence.
It's funny you mention Kevin Cronin. I agree his voice has changed a LOT but I still love seeing that band! Me and my folks have seen them 3 times now, every time they come through Peoria, IL where we live (which is also close to their hometown of Champaign) we go see them. I love the Kevin era material on record and while his voice has definitely changed, I guess it hasn't to the point of affecting the show. I've never walked away disappointed, let's put it that way. I didn't notice much difference between the first two times I saw REO, but this last time I could see a little more decline in vocal strength, admittedly.
There are very few bands I've seen more than once (Eagles, AC/DC, Styx), and only two I've seen more than twice - Journey and REO. I've seen Journey twice but I will be seeing them next June front row. They put on such a great show but so many have hangups about Steve Perry's absence. So in June it will make #3. I love seeing Journey. Neal Schon is one of my favorite guitarists and he does well running the band.
Apparently communication between Don and Joe isn't necessarily stagnant.
https://youtu.be/Cd18W5CG3KM?t=738
Thanks for sharing that. I’m not surprised they have spoken to each other. Don has said in other interviews that they have been in contact. With both collaborating with so many other artists these days, it’s a shame they can’t do something together.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebagels
It sounds like Don doesn’t like snow ones, lol. And that was a funny James House story.
Well, I daresay there's a reason for that, but it's good to know that they are still friends.Quote:
Originally Posted by Delilah
His discussion of "musical migration" is interesting. I had no idea the order of the guest appearances was that considered!
I had read about Don lip-syncing on this forum before, and he is lip syncing in the video below. But the extent of using prerecorded tracks seems to go deeper than just Don's vocal (at least in this video). The background vocals seem to be largely prerecorded (lots of compression--Don's bass players seem to sing live though), there is a prerecorded acoustic rhythm guitar track playing throughout, and (most conspicuously) a banjo track starts playing at 2:55. If Don's game plan is to lead audiences to believe that what they are hearing is live, why would he sabotage that already-flimsy illusion with an unseen banjo? Do large portions of his audiences really not notice?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgHUJA_1rEM
I have a great deal of admiration for Don's guitar playing, and he seems to have a much more peaceful personality than DH and GF. Don's playing is very smooth and toneful when he plays electric, and I suspect that he is a fair bit better than we know from his recordings with the Eagles and others (based on some shows he did with CSN and Styx). But I don't know why he feels the need to include so many prerecorded elements in his live shows. Hiring the right guitarist/lead singer would render all of his prerecorded tracks unnecessary. Either way, I'm sure the musicians in his band are fairly happy playing the exact same backup to the exact same vocal tracks and exact same solos from Don every night (which I don't understand either since Don always speaks of how much fun it is to improvise and make licks up off the cuff--apparently, a grievance that Don had in the Eagles is that GF and DH made Don play the exact same solos every night, but this situation hasn't changed much even after Don has set out on his own).
I wouldn't be surprised if there are backings vocals coming from "tapes". That's more common than the lead singer lip syncing. It's me who has been suggesting here that he's lip syncing, but I don't think he does it always. But Paul Stanley from one of my favorite bands (because they were the first I listened to) is lip syncing too now, so...
I'm thinking playing pre-recorded backing vocals is a lot cheaper than hiring vocalists to go on tour with you!
Exactly, soda.
And I think even more than money, Don Felder would have to admit defeat in the vocals department, lose the ego about his singing, and be ok with being just a guitar player. That's all he is. And that is perfectly ok and cool, but Glenn Frey or Don Henley he is not. In Glenn's case - he had it all. Great vocals, great writing and arranging, and more-than-competent guitar playing. He is still IMO jealous of that and never got over being snubbed on singing Victim Of Love (which was to our benefit, I might add!). He needs to do it though. He is grasping for straws on being the singer in his own band, and is willing to use tracks/autotune.
walshfan88, I think you are right regarding "victim of love". I also get this feeling like he has this chip on his shoulder, and constant need to prove his worth. He is a great guitarist, I don't get the hang up, that he has with this. It's a shame.
I think he has chronic insecurity and as a result has an ego in defense of that.Quote:
Originally Posted by KingWalsh
I think he needs to get over it and come to realize his strengths and weaknesses and maybe learn to let it go. It is a shame. He compared himself too much.
I agree with what has been said, but I doubt it would really cut into Don's budget to hire a vocalist/rhythm guitarist. He probably makes money on his shows based on the ticket prices, and he's apparently worth $60 million anyway. Also in 2008/2009, he had an additional percussionist and his daughter doing backing vocals. This does appear to be largely about his ego, but unfortunately imo he's not serving the music when he uses prerecorded vocal tracks, banjo tracks, etc. I am quite surprised that his audience seems to be fooled based on the standing ovations he gets at every show.
Walshfan88, couldn’t have said it better. Insecurity. It’s like man, just go out and shred! We know you can! I get so annoyed with how he has to bring up Hotel California all the time too....we know already! I wish he was still in the band, would love to see Walsh/Felder tearing it up again, but then again If this is how he wants to work......
thebagels....to me it seems like a lot of work too to get the backing vocals tracks, loops possible auto tune and everything! Didn’t he complain about the inability to play freer in the Eagles, and now he has everything cookie cutter with tracks and all. It just doesn’t make sense except the ol chip on his shoulder thing. And I agree it isn’t helping anything. It’s a musical disservice and doesn’t boost his cred. It weakens it, in my opinion. He shines without all that stuff.
As a person who has suggested several times that he's lip syncing (based on words heard but not sung, identical phrasings in several performances and clearly a "tape" being out-of-sync once), I'm not saying he has always done that. I don't think he has. I don't remember the dates of the performances I have referred to, but I think they have been from the last few years. So it's possible that it's an age thing. The autotune, however, seems to have been there for years