Minneapolis 1994 - Best JLB performance ever?

[tweeg]

I just came across this concert on Youtube (it was posted a few weeks ago) and I was BLOWN AWAY by James's performance during the entire concert. The accuracy in intonation and the sheer power is incredible. It's obviously pre-poisoning, and I think if that didn't happen he would have gotten even stronger. Here's a track from it, but check out all of the videos from the show. It's utterly amazing. I don't think this has been released by the band, but if it's in violation of the rules feel free to take it down, or tell me to and I will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00L7QEgvJsE (The Mirror)

[rumborak]

I wholly agree. Those concerts (and damn am I happy to have seen them during that time) were the sweet spot where a) he has introduced the raspy edge to his voice, b) he hadn't fucked up his voice yet and c) his vibrato was still reasonably subtle (not the extreme version of these days).
Oh, and d) JP looks still normal.

I also just subscribed to that YT guy's stream. He has a lot of tunes from that era.

[Shine]

Wow that was a thing of beauty. So much power in his voice, James was truly at the top of his game here. Nothing even comes close.

I wish there was an official live album from this era. The closest thing we have is the Marquee, but that has it's own problems (no Awake, for starters! And James sounds good on it, but to be fair he dubbed his vocals). What I would give for a live Awake-era album pre-food-poisoning.

And if someone could clear something up for me: In that video, that's Sherinian, right? It sort of looks like Moore to me, but I'm honestly not sure what Moore looked like in the 90's, and I thought he left the band before they did any touring for Awake.

If the Mirror video tickled your fancy, you're in for a treat: Voices from that same era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFybTiNiE8

James make it look effortless.

[tweeg]

And if someone could clear something up for me: In that video, that's Sherinian, right? It sort of looks like Moore to me, but I'm honestly not sure what Moore looked like in the 90's, and I thought he left the band before they did any touring for Awake.

If the Mirror video tickled your fancy, you're in for a treat: Voices from that same era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFybTiNiE8

James make it look effortless.

Fun fact: the video you posted was Jordan Rudess's first performance with DT. And yes, in the Mirror video, it is Sherinian. KM left the band before the tour started, and they had to scramble to find a keys player.

[Shine]

And if someone could clear something up for me: In that video, that's Sherinian, right? It sort of looks like Moore to me, but I'm honestly not sure what Moore looked like in the 90's, and I thought he left the band before they did any touring for Awake.

If the Mirror video tickled your fancy, you're in for a treat: Voices from that same era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFybTiNiE8

James make it look effortless.

Fun fact: the video you posted was Jordan Rudess's first performance with DT. And yes, in the Mirror video, it is Sherinian. KM left the band before the tour started, and they had to scramble to find a keys player.

Oh wow, you weren't kidding! Here's another performance from that night where you can get a much better look at Rudess during the keyboard solo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgiu4U0LHls

[Madman Shepherd]

And if someone could clear something up for me: In that video, that's Sherinian, right? It sort of looks like Moore to me, but I'm honestly not sure what Moore looked like in the 90's, and I thought he left the band before they did any touring for Awake.

If the Mirror video tickled your fancy, you're in for a treat: Voices from that same era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFybTiNiE8

James make it look effortless.

Fun fact: the video you posted was Jordan Rudess's first performance with DT. And yes, in the Mirror video, it is Sherinian. KM left the band before the tour started, and they had to scramble to find a keys player.

Thanks tweeg for the facts!

[billybobjoe1881]

JLB was poisoned?  Can somebody explain this to me.

[Implode]

Short version: JLB ate some bad shrimp and got food poisoning. He was so violently sick that he injured his voice, and for a long time after, his voice was weak and unpredictable. That lead to him getting lazy with taking care of his voice and almost lead to him getting kicked out of the band. He and his voice as since fully recovered, but some wonder what he might sound like now if he had never gotten sick.

[The Holy Tune]

And if someone could clear something up for me: In that video, that's Sherinian, right? It sort of looks like Moore to me, but I'm honestly not sure what Moore looked like in the 90's, and I thought he left the band before they did any touring for Awake.

If the Mirror video tickled your fancy, you're in for a treat: Voices from that same era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFybTiNiE8

James make it look effortless.

Fun fact: the video you posted was Jordan Rudess's first performance with DT. And yes, in the Mirror video, it is Sherinian. KM left the band before the tour started, and they had to scramble to find a keys player.

I think the concert when Jordan first came on was called "The Rudess Experiment". There was a video of the whole concert, and I'm pretty sure I watched it on youtube.

[Mindflux]

JLB was poisoned?  Can somebody explain this to me.

He got food poisoning while vacationing and it wrecked his vocal cords with all his vomiting and heaving.

[Mindflux]

He and his voice as since fully recovered, but some wonder what he might sound like now if he had never gotten sick.

"Fully Recovered". I dunno about that, he's definitely doing better than he has in a long time though.

[TheAtliator]

THIS SHOW  Yea, I think this might be the best I've ever heard him sound. Although I do love the HUGE vibrato he does now that he didn't do back then.

JLB was poisoned?  Can somebody explain this to me.

He got food poisoning while vacationing and it wrecked his vocal cords with all his vomiting and heaving.

It was December 1994. Basically, is was right after he felt he had finally accomplished the perfect singing technique and could wait to show it to the world on the Awake tour. Then the pork incident happened in Cuba and he said he didn't feel his range really come back until late 2002. It's true, he was able to hit a lot of notes better 2003 and onward than in that 1995-02 span. However that isn't to say other aspects of his voice didn't sound younger and tighter during those years. Certain notes on certain nights came out great on the Awake-6DOIT tours. But overall I'd still say his voice is better now (2005-current).

It's interesting, to me, once I watched enough videos from different tours I noticed that different aspects of his voice have been good in different years. It's more than just an overall scale from good to bad. More like scales of good to bad tone, pitch, high voice, low voice, mid voice, vibrato, distortion/ clean singing, pitch accuracy, phrasing, holding out long notes for the full value, etc.

[billybobjoe1881]

That's crazy.  Glad to see he was able to carry on with DT and not lose his voice entirely

[Daso]

He and his voice as since fully recovered, but some wonder what he might sound like now if he had never gotten sick.

"Fully Recovered". I dunno about that, he's definitely doing better than he has in a long time though.

Cut some slack off me. The guy is 51 years old and he's doing such an amazing job live on an incredibly consistent way, considering the band is playing night after night with An Evening With shows. I'd even dare to say it's my favorite JLB period.

[BlobVanDam]

I can't imagine he could sound much better for a guy of his current age, even without the food poisoning incident. Who knows, maybe the incident made him more aware of taking care of his voice over time, leading to his current top form. Or maybe he'd still be just as good regardless.
But there aren't a whole lot of other singers of his age singing material that difficult on a touring schedule like DT's who still sound that good. There are some good examples, but it's a small group.

[tweeg]

With the exception of Bruce Dickinson, metal singers of the "power-opera" style tend to lose a bit when they age. I'd dare say that JLB would sound very close to how he does now if the food poisoning didn't happen. Which is fine because for his age he sounds pretty great; arguably (for me anyway) the best since SFAM.

Also, Another Day!! (complete with bum keyboard note at 2:27  )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD054EpqtXc

Thanks tweeg for the facts!

Fun fact: Awake was recorded in 1994 (amidoingitrite?)

[wolfking]

I just came across this concert on Youtube (it was posted a few weeks ago) and I was BLOWN AWAY by James's performance during the entire concert. The accuracy in intonation and the sheer power is incredible. It's obviously pre-poisoning, and I think if that didn't happen he would have gotten even stronger. Here's a track from it, but check out all of the videos from the show. It's utterly amazing. I don't think this has been released by the band, but if it's in violation of the rules feel free to take it down, or tell me to and I will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00L7QEgvJsE (The Mirror)

Thanks for the link.  The power in this vocal performance is just mindblowing.

[wasteland]

Too bad for the saturated audio. I'll check if my version of this bootleg is better. Anyone interested in the full show?

[GentlemanofDread]

I'm very interested in the full show!

(also i'm putting this in brackets because this is off topic[ish], What's up with the Stained Glass bootleg, Wasteland? Probably my favourite JLB performance, but it sounds like it was supposed to be a live album?)

[Tomislav95]

Do you have audio bootleg of this show?

[tweeg]

Too bad for the saturated audio. I'll check if my version of this bootleg is better. Anyone interested in the full show?

Yes! Are there more bootlegs around of other shows from that tour as well?

[SpaceCpt12]

This is probably my favorite awake era show. I have a video version that also unfortunately also has the saturated audio, but good video at least.

[TAC]

I wholly agree. Those concerts (and damn am I happy to have seen them during that time)

Were you at the Berklee show too? That was a great show. I still listen to my recording of it all the time.

I always thught it would've made a great Ytsejam release. Especially that it still had Innocence Faded and TOWHTSTS in thie setlist.



James has really been in great form since '04. If anything, I would say he is singing with more confidence than he ever has.

[ReaPsTA]

During Lie, you can see Derek smoking as he plays the keyboards.

Dream Theater was just cooler back in the day man.

[Nearmyth]

You have to admit, JLB's recovery is a crazy sing. He was supposed to never be able to sing like that again after the incident, but he didn't care and kept practicing and here he is now.

[rumborak]

During Lie, you can see Derek smoking as he plays the keyboards.

Dream Theater was just cooler back in the day man.

The Derek phase was performance-wise one of the most enjoyable. Lava lamps, TVs on stage, then the occasional antics (Nightmare Cinema), and even acoustic sets. And Derek himself is coolness in person anyway.
Not that the current stage show is bad, but they lately rely a lot on video screens for their visuals. In the Derek days the stage had a lot going on.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Short version: JLB ate some bad shrimp and got food poisoning. He was so violently sick that he injured his voice, and for a long time after, his voice was weak and unpredictable. That lead to him getting lazy with taking care of his voice and almost lead to him getting kicked out of the band. He and his voice as since fully recovered, but some wonder what he might sound like now if he had never gotten sick.

He would sound more or less the same at this point in his career.

[TheAtliator]

Pork, btw people not shrimp.

And I think if it never happened, that would have affected his performances from 1995-2004, but after that I think he would sound about the same as he did/does in this universe.

[Implode]

Yeah, pork. My mistake.

[RodrigoAltaf]

 I wish the lineup with Derek and Portnoy had a chance at recording another album with DT.

[BlobVanDam]

DT were so lost image-wise during the '90s with Derek, not to mention it was their weakest period performance-wise too. It's like they thought they were huge rock band instead of a struggling prog band. I blame the '90s.
Those earlier JR years were the best all around imo, but the IaW era is great to watch too.

[Rodni Demental]

It does make me wonder what vocals would have sounded like on certain albums like SFAM, SDOIT, TOT /(pretty much everything else) if he was still putting the same amount of energy and aggression into his expression as he did on Awake. Perhaps in an alternate universe DT is immensely popular and stayed in the mainstream since I&W even, but I'm still happy the way it is. JLB never stopped trying to be top of his game even through some tricky times and even to this day he represents so many different styles and has a very colourful vocal pallet. (Perhaps even more so than the Awake days, in the sense that he's got much more control and consistency of the delicate side aswell as the harsher side).

[YtseJamittaja]

DT were so lost image-wise during the '90s with Derek, not to mention it was their weakest period performance-wise too. It's like they thought they were huge rock band instead of a struggling prog band. I blame the '90s.
Those earlier JR years were the best all around imo, but the IaW era is great to watch too.

Yeah, it's interesting that in SFAM tour they were doing some "funny" things during the concerts and the entire feel in the performance was that they just play some music and have fun. Somewhere in SDoIT/ToT era they changed their style to more metal band and more "big concert band" what they had done previously on Awake/FII tour.

[adastra]

Holy shit! This sounds so good.. Propably the best live singing I've ever heard!  JLB <3

[mikeyd23]

Wow, thanks to the OP for the link, great vocals here!

DT were so lost image-wise during the '90s with Derek, not to mention it was their weakest period performance-wise too. It's like they thought they were huge rock band instead of a struggling prog band. I blame the '90s.
Those earlier JR years were the best all around imo, but the IaW era is great to watch too.

I totally agree with this, Derek was really cool, but the overall image of the band was so weird and random during that period.  Say what you will about current DT, but they certainly do have a consistent image.