Back to the music... I'm really nervous about the vocals. My opinion of LaBrie is akin to Bosk's for MP; I think his voice is crucial and integral to the sound of DT (and part of the reason I even got into the band) though my personal feelings for the guy are not all that high (and I don't think he's really a good front man at all. "Let's RAAAAAAWWWWWKKKKKKKK!" doesn't make you a good frontman.)
I'm worried that the vocals are not going to do justice to the material. Having said that, I'm not sure I want to see any of the videos before the show. I know the setlist, and that's fine, but I want the experience... any thoughts?
Actually I think JL is a good front man. The Haken guy doing the vocals for Shattered Fortress is going to be acceptable, I think. I actually don't know the whole setlist, but have watched a few videos of 12 step songs plus 1 more. He is capable of hitting the notes; in some of the videos he struggles but more than OK for a live show. I don't like his voice for the DT songs, and on the videos I'd say it doesn't do it justice 'cuz I just don't like the way it sounds. However - when you are there live and in person? Might be OK. You know?
I do know. I've seen David Lee Roth and Brian Johnson live.
Another thread - and I'll repeat, his voice is why I got into DT to begin with - but compared to Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie Dio, Paul Stanley, Freddie Mercury, Bono, hell, even James Hetfield and the aforementioned Roth... James is not a great frontman.
I suppose we look for different things in front men. I've never seen Bono or Freddie Mercury, but as for the rest, I'd only maaaayyyyyybe have conceded Bruce Dickinson but I also think CB was 100% right when he said:
"IMO a great frontman is a singer who is perfect for the band he's in. I really don't think that, for example, Bruce Dickinson would be a great frontman for DT. The band wouldn't be a unit on stage, JP, JR and JM would totally be pushed into the background. That's not the way DT works. Also, I always have the feeling that JLB is totally reflecting the meaning and the mood of the songs with his voice, that's the most important thing for me anyway."
James would look ridiculous if he tried to act like Bruce Dickinson. I do think he is perfect for DT. Knows when to get off the stage, has crowd participation at the right times in DT's music, knows how to get a response from the audience. Always thought he was good, but he stepped it up even more on the last few tours, especially TA.
Back to your original question - I suggest not watching much of the videos and in the heat of the moment Ross will probably sound fine at the show. Plus MP will be there being MP and if you don't quite like the vocals you can focus you're attention elsewhere.