In Defense of James LaBrie: A Manifesto

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

It's also futile for anyone to argue that he must've done a million takes just because he could. Maybe he did two or three, maybe one, maybe fifteen. But assuming off the bat that he did more rather than fewer is just assuming the worst.

The point is, he has the notes. Consistent delivery is going to depend now upon whether he fixes his technique.

And I have no reason to believe that, with the 40th anniversary tour upon us, that he won't understand that they need to be at their best and give it his all.

thank you as always for your comforting words. James is going to deliver and it's going to be amazing!

[Dream Team]

Do you work in sales by any chance?

[Puppies_On_Acid]

thank you as always for your comforting words. James is going to deliver and it's going to be amazing!

The naivete is strong here.

[crystalstars17]

Yeah, this is why I'm cautiously optimistic.

I agree with "cautious optimism". The rest is really up to him.

[gborland]

And I have no reason to believe that, with the 40th anniversary tour upon us, that he won't understand that they need to be at their best and give it his all.

Do you think he didn't realise this on the previous tour? Do you think he was getting lazy or complacent, and just not trying hard enough? (Genuine question.)

[efx]

I feel like that quote from him that he can not sing like he used to is the first admission I've really ever heard from him that there might be an issue. At this point, all I want from him is to at least make an attempt beforehand to change what can change, be that alternate lines or whatever. But for me, him just kind of going for it on stage obviously didn't work and I would hate to see that again. If he comes across as being prepared with changes I can more easily live with the fact that he is not perhaps what he was.

[hefdaddy42]

It's also futile for anyone to argue that he must've done a million takes just because he could. Maybe he did two or three, maybe one, maybe fifteen. But assuming off the bat that he did more rather than fewer is just assuming the worst.

I am in no way assuming that he took multiple takes.  I'm just saying that the existence of this clip (which was from 2021, amirite?) doesn't necessarily mean anything because of the possibility of multiple takes.

And I have no reason to believe that, with the 40th anniversary tour upon us, that he won't understand that they need to be at their best and give it his all.

Then I wonder why he didn't feel that he needed to be at his best and give it his all on the last several tours already.

[crystalstars17]

Do you think he didn't realise this on the previous tour? Do you think he was getting lazy or complacent, and just not trying hard enough? (Genuine question.)

Not really. More like he may have been concentrating on the wrong things.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

I feel like that quote from him that he can not sing like he used to is the first admission I've really ever heard from him that there might be an issue. At this point, all I want from him is to at least make an attempt beforehand to change what can change, be that alternate lines or whatever. But for me, him just kind of going for it on stage obviously didn't work and I would hate to see that again. If he comes across as being prepared with changes I can more easily live with the fact that he is not perhaps what he was.

Where is this quote? I don't think I've seen it before

[efx]

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=58544.0

[TAC]

More like he may have been concentrating on the wrong things.

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. I'm not sure I buy it, honestly. James has been a singer/performer for decades and he should be well aware of what to "concentrate" on.

Personally, I just feel that he was cooked. Not as in permanently, but I think he went out on Dreamsonic with nothing in the tank. He was mightily struggling on the previous leg in Europe. Not sure what the business behind Dreamsonic was, but maybe he just took one for the team. In a way, I'd kind of respect that.

[bosk1]

For what it's worth, I've actually felt like maybe that is in fact the case.

But as far as DreamSonic, yeah, I've seen some videos where he clearly struggled, but the show I was at was REALLY good all around.

[Mosh]

I have found that James goes through lulls as a vocalist and then will beat expectations when it really matters. Score is the classic example where he really brought the goods after a few years that were ifffy live. Another great example is when Mangini joined the band and he put in what I felt were some of his best live and studio performances between 2011 and 2014. I wouldn't be surprised if we get something similar this year especially with getting a pretty substantial break from gigs between Dreamsonic and the London show in October. And as MP said, people are going to be dissecting that first show all over the Internet so I'm sure JLB is feeling the pressure in a way he hasn't the last couple years.

[TAC]

I have found that James goes through lulls as a vocalist and then will beat expectations when it really matters. Score is the classic example where he really brought the goods after a few years that were ifffy live.

I don't know. James was outstanding on both the Train Of Thought tour and the 8V tour.

[SeRoX]

I don't know. James was outstanding on both the Train Of Thought tour and the 8V tour.

ToT tour was surprisingly awesome and he was so consistent. I don't agree about 8V tour. Yes, there were several dates he was awesome but overall it was mediocre. I find him outstanding during SC tour, especially 15th anniversary of I&W during that time.

The last time I think he was great is D/T tour back in 2014.

[efx]

ToT tour was surprisingly awesome and he was so consistent. I don't agree about 8V tour. Yes, there were several dates he was awesome but overall it was mediocre. I find him outstanding during SC tour, especially 15th anniversary of I&W during that time.

The last time I think he was great is D/T tour back in 2014.

2014 was such a great tour. He sounded great there. My favorite tour of their since the 90's.

[Trav]

I don't know. James was outstanding on both the Train Of Thought tour and the 8V tour.

From what I remember (take that into consideration lol) it was like SDOIT to 8V was a steady improvement. Then SC forward has been a steady decline. Although there have been sweet spots. Like when I saw him on DOT he seemed better than on TA and the IWandB.

[nikatapi]

2014 was such a great tour. He sounded great there. My favorite tour of their since the 90's.

True, most of the performances I've seen he was pretty great throughout the tour.
From the Astonishing tour and onwards, it seemed that he is in a steady decline.

[EvantheMotel6Owmer]

From what I remember, he sounded really good in 2014 and parts of 2019. 2016 and 2017 were pretty bad, as was 2022.

[crystalstars17]

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. I'm not sure I buy it, honestly. James has been a singer/performer for decades and he should be well aware of what to "concentrate" on.

Well by this I meant, speaking of the last year or two specifically, doing things like making sure he sang louder (pushing his lower register in the process) during BITS to prove he was not lip syncing, or adding too much ornamentation that was stylistically overdone in some songs, or trying to change melodies on the fly... Instead of working on his technical issues from the ground up. Every, literally every singer needs to do that for themselves once on a while.

But I agree with your assessment of "nothing in the tank" for Dreamsonic. Hopefully he's had a good rest and is doing all the right things for his voice ahead of what's coming.

[MoraWintersoul]

Not sure what the business behind Dreamsonic was, but maybe he just took one for the team.

I've thought of this too because it's in character for him. He went out to tour after his food poisoning and sang very demanding shows ever since no matter the condition of his voice, so of course he would go out now too. It's probably just another day on the job for him. I don't really like that he's like that, but he's not gonna change at almost 60 I guess!

[crystalstars17]

I've thought of this too because it's in character for him. He went out to tour after his food poisoning and sang very demanding shows ever since no matter the condition of his voice, so of course he would go out now too. It's probably just another day on the job for him. I don't really like that he's like that, but he's not gonna change at almost 60 I guess!

I think if anything his "taking one for the team" was when he kept on singing and touring on that injury when he should've been under the care of a good ENT and on vocal rest! He may be in a much better place now had he given himself that rehabilitative time then, but also the other side to it is that history could've looked very different for his career and for DT.

I think it was a no win situation and they did the best they could with it all. Now the Gandalf quote fits perfectly here: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us". He only has today, and here's hoping he makes the healthiest decisions going forward.

[TAC]

Gandalf sounds like a black metal band guy. I don't know who he is.

[crystalstars17]

Gandalf sounds like a black metal band guy. I don't know who he is.

Haha, lol not quite but I love it 😂 He's a character in the Lord of the Rings.

[Metro]

Gandalf sounds like a black metal band guy. I don't know who he is.

The Wizard from Lord of the Rings.
Old guy, big gray hat.
Ian McKellan
"You shall not pass"

Hopefully one of those rings a bell 

[Stadler]

Gandalf sounds like a black metal band guy. I don't know who he is.

[MoraWintersoul]

HOW MANY TIMES

I am Astounded never change TAC!!!

[efx]

Sorry, had to

[crystalstars17]

 

[hefdaddy42]

FFS TAC

[crystalstars17]

Where's my Fun Committee president?! He's missing ALL the fun! 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Gandalf sounds like a black metal band guy. I don't know who he is.

One Ring To Rule Them All
One Ring To Findom Them
One Ring To Bring Them All,
And In The Darknest BIND Them

[crystalstars17]

James...as a Dwarf?!? 😲 No no no, ELF! Elf prince, no less. When I see footage of the I&W days with that mane of red hair, all I can think is "Maedros"..

ETA We really need a "Tolkien fans" OT thread..!

[Setlist Scotty]

HOW MANY TIMES

I am Astonished never change TAC!!!

FTFY 

[MoraWintersoul]

One Ring To Findom Them

50 Shades of LotR