Labrie's performance in LSFNY

[JimmyJava]

Is it me or does Live Scenes From New York contain James' best performance captured live? Out of all the official DT live albums, this is the best one, vocally. I really think he found the perfect mix between his more growly, rough vocals from the early years and the more falsetto, high-pitch singing that he's been doing for the last couple of years. It's awesome! Anyone else agree? Opinions?

[Miyazaki74]

To me his Score performance was the best. I was there and he sounded great, I doubt he did much overdubbing for the dvd. His LSFNY performace is really good to though.

[cyberdrummer]

It's almost perfect. I just wish he hit the F# in LtL.

[John94]

It's almost perfect. I just wish he hit the F# in LtL.

Exactly, James is perfect on ACOS and I love the extended version of Through Her Eyes with his vocal solos. If only he hit the F# in LtL.

[Jamesman42]

I always thought it was pretty mediocre or "standard" at best.

[nikatapi]

To be honest i consider this the last live documentation of JLB's "true voice". On the following tours, his voice started sounding weaker and more pitchy i think, although he is getting better in the last two tours.
But i absolutely love his performance in LSFNY.

[wolfking]

If it had the F# it would be perfect.  His version of Metropolis on here is pretty damn good too.

[XB0BX]

I got this for Christmas yesterday and haven't watched it yet, but Change of Seasons is 100% perfect on it. I doubt the entire DVD is like that though.

[theseoafs]

Score is the best him.

[The Letter M]

I got this for Christmas yesterday and haven't watched it yet, but Change of Seasons is 100% perfect on it. I doubt the entire DVD is like that though.

"A Change Of Seasons" was the last song they played that night, so if his voice is 100% by the END of a 4 hour show, you can be sure that the rest of the show was pretty damn good, at least 90% or more throughout.

-Marc.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Blind Faith on Chaos In Motion was outstanding

[abydos]

LSFNY is amazing indeed. Did they ever release the full thing on DVD with the whole set in video? I remember only watching the VHS back then which was only the SFAM set, iirc.

[jingle.boy]

I always thought it was pretty mediocre or "standard" at best.

neverknowifjamesisserious.jpg

But either way, I agree.    I actually even like L@B better than LSFNY (except for Pull Me Under ... that was painful).  In LSFNY, he never hits any of those really powerful and memorable notes ... LTL, ACOS, Voices - I understand those are the end of the show, but even during Metropolis Pt 2, nothing really wows me.  Guess I should go back and listen with fresh ears.

Score is the best him.

For me, this is a no brainer.

[SnakeEyes]

Eh..... I think it's one of his worst, but with some of his best moments, if that makes sense.  Overall, I just think his voice sounds really tired, like he can't keep up with the technical demand of the songs.  But, there are a few exceptional moments, such as:  the entire final verse of Spirit Carries On and the outro (amazing), the final verse of the Silent Man, the "Cape Diem" section of ACOS and a few other parts.  But, overall, I think he's pretty miserable on that one.....

[BlobVanDam]

JLB's Score performance thoroughly kicks the crap out of his LSFNY performance. LSFNY was the first I heard of DT live, and tbh I was disappointed by how pitchy JLB was.
He has a lot of cool vocal moments that are better than the studio version of SFAM (which is quite plain vocally), but it also has plenty of "foghorn" moments too. He was completely worn out by the last few songs, as he is on Budokan too, and those ones suffer the most.

I still enjoy listening to LSFNY, but it takes some getting used to. It's not his worst recorded performance (OIALT is much worse), but it's not his best either.

[SnakeEyes]

Completely agreed, Blob. 

edit....

And, let's not forget that when they did LSFNY, he hadn't begun studying with his current voice teacher (Jaime something?). 

[abydos]

James sounds amazing on The Mirror.

[cookienut]

LSFNY is especially special.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Maybe his range was compromised, but the power of his performance is breathtaking.

[El JoNNo]

I don't like this performance. His voice is weak right out of the gate, he spreads his vowels and pulls chest voice almost every time he goes into head voice. As for the F# not being there; he would have had to really power it out that night and possibly he simply couldn't that night.

Edit: I'm just rewatching some parts now and the WAAHO part at the end of Through her Eyes is superb. There are a number of great moments, parts where James just fucking nails it.

Did anyone notice when that chick was singing during the Spirit carries on how she almost loses it? At the end of her phrase before the guitar solo. All you hear is "please never forget, let your memory disappear OHH UGACK!" 

[SnakeEyes]

That was a ridiculous tour, though, in James' defense.  I mean, they were literally doing ALL of SFAM....and.... ACOS .... and a bunch of other really long songs every single night.  If I remember correctly, they had just done the same show either the night before or a couple of nights before in CT or something..... that must be insane for a vocalist, to be out on tour, doing those songs and then to have to film a live DVD on the LAST show.  It's almost a little unfair to ask a singer to be at his very best at the end of a tour like that. 

[SnakeEyes]

Just found it.  Look at these dates:

    Aug 04, 2000 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
    Aug 05, 2000 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
    Aug 07, 2000 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
    Aug 09, 2000 Detroit, MI - Phoenix Plaza
    Aug 10, 2000 Chicago, IL - The Riviera
    Aug 11, 2000 Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
    Aug 12, 2000 Minneapolis, MN - The Quest
    Aug 14, 2000 Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
    Aug 16, 2000 San Francisco, CA - Maritime Hall
    Aug 18, 2000 San Diego, CA - 4th and B
    Aug 19, 2000 Phoenix, AZ - Web Theater
    Aug 20, 2000 Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
    Aug 21, 2000 Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
    Aug 23, 2000 Houston, TX - Aerial Theater
    Aug 24, 2000 Dallas, TX - Bronco Bowl
    Aug 25, 2000 New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
    Aug 27, 2000 Mexico City, Mexico - National Auditorium
    Aug 29, 2000 Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theater
    Aug 30, 2000 New York City, NY - Roseland


Man, two days in a row.  That's crazy. 

edit....

Nevermind.... FOUR days in a row.  I think we should cut him some slack for the DVD.  lol

[El JoNNo]

Hey man, I completely understand what you're saying. I wasn't saying he outright sucked and that he should learn to sing. I and probably others are merely stating what we didn't like about the performance regardless of the situation he was in. I don't think any defense of James is necessary, he still fucking rocks.

[Jamesman42]

I always thought it was pretty mediocre or "standard" at best.

neverknowifjamesisserious.jpg

But either way, I agree.    I actually even like L@B better than LSFNY (except for Pull Me Under ... that was painful).  In LSFNY, he never hits any of those really powerful and memorable notes ... LTL, ACOS, Voices - I understand those are the end of the show, but even during Metropolis Pt 2, nothing really wows me.  Guess I should go back and listen with fresh ears.

Score is the best him.

For me, this is a no brainer.

WTF I agree with all of this

boy and man hand in hand

[obscure]

Score is the best him.

For me, this is a no brainer.

this.

[Blackfield]

A Change of Seasons on LSFNY beats everything he's ever done live on any other live dvd.

[Tomislav95]

His performance on LSFNY was much better then on L@B and on Score DVD he changed style of singing. LSFNY is my favorite just because awesome setlist with all my favorite songs

[olliemedsy]

surely live in tokyo

[angelillo]

the fans do not agree in something!!!!



don't take me worng, I think it is very interesting to see the different opinions about something...

IMHO JLB performance in LSFNY is awesome... has a lot of "passion"... he really transmits the message of the lyrics...

[SnakeEyes]

Hey man, I completely understand what you're saying. I wasn't saying he outright sucked and that he should learn to sing. I and probably others are merely stating what we didn't like about the performance regardless of the situation he was in. I don't think any defense of James is necessary, he still fucking rocks.

I think you misunderstood me.  I wasn't criticizing you at all for your post.... in fact, if anything, I was kind of referring back to my earlier post in which I had criticized LaBrie for a poor performance.  So yeah, sorry - I wasn't talking to you, sorry it came out like that.

[namgalsipsclar]

Live at the Marquee anyone? It may only contain 6 or 7 songs but its a near perfect performance from LaBrie

[SnakeEyes]

It was overdubbed. 

[namgalsipsclar]

It was overdubbed.

Ohhhhhh
Still, it sounds the best

[snapple]

James LaBrie, God-Mode-Engaged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NavgL2L57C4

[bosk1]

James sounded a bit weak at the beginning of the set and took a couple of songs to warm up, but was pretty much firing on all cylinders once he got about 3-4 songs into the set.  I have no issues whatsoever with the fact that he didn't go for the F# in LTL.  He didn't feel like he could hit it, so he went for a harmony line instead of going for it and missing.  That's the mark of a smart singer who is in touch with what his voice is capable of at a given moment, unlike some past performances where James would just go for notes and see what happens.  Overall, very good performance.