Chances of MP/JP vocals on new album?

[nikatapi]

So given that MP was always contributing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals, what do you think are the chances that he gets back on the microphone for this album?
Also, JP didn't really do any backing vocals in the post-MP era (studio at least), do you think we will get the trio of vocals back on the new album the band is working on?

[wolfking]

I would be shocked and disappointed if we don't hear MP doing vocals.  I'd even love a call and answer section in the vein of TGP.

[MirrorMask]

I would be surprised if there wouldn't be any backing vocals.

Also, I remember MP was adamant about having their own voices on the album, so that when they would do backing vocals live "it wouldn't sound like an inferior version of James", so I assume he would push / suggest for that to happen again.

[Sycsa]

"I'm coming hooooomeee"

[Kocak]

I am probably in the minority here but I would like both of them to concentrate on their instruments and stay away from the vocals.

[Zydar]

I just hope they go back to singing backup vocals live, it's weird watching JP miming to the vocals on the recent concert DVDs.

[Stadler]

So given that MP was always contributing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals, what do you think are the chances that he gets back on the microphone for this album?
Also, JP didn't really do any backing vocals in the post-MP era (studio at least), do you think we will get the trio of vocals back on the new album the band is working on?

I hope Mike sings; I think he's really progressed as a singer and I like his voice as a contrast to James.

[WilliamMunny]

So given that MP was always contributing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals, what do you think are the chances that he gets back on the microphone for this album?
Also, JP didn't really do any backing vocals in the post-MP era (studio at least), do you think we will get the trio of vocals back on the new album the band is working on?

I hope Mike sings; I think he's really progressed as a singer and I like his voice as a contrast to James.

I will second this.

JP is totally fine, but MP has a voice that sticks out in the mix.

I suspect I am in the minority, but I've always appreciated his vocals on the albums (and especially live)–the contrast is very appreciated and adds something intangible to the band's sound.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

We'll probably get them, but also maybe not. I don't know why he started doing them back in the day. I always felt he was trying to make up for something he felt was missing from DT. He might just stay out of James' way and that would not surprise me either.

[hefdaddy42]

I would be shocked if they didn't both supply background vocals both in the studio and on tour.

Which would remove one need for the click track live.

[Setlist Scotty]

I would be surprised if there wouldn't be any backing vocals.

Also, I remember MP was adamant about having their own voices on the album, so that when they would do backing vocals live "it wouldn't sound like an inferior version of James", so I assume he would push / suggest for that to happen again.

This!
 
 

I just hope they go back to singing backup vocals live, it's weird watching JP miming to the vocals on the recent concert DVDs.

Pretty sure they will. In fact, even during the entire run of shows in 2023 (not just DreamSonic), they got rid of the taped backing vocals and JP sang back up live (and audibly). I can't imagine them going back to the taped vocals now.
 
 

I suspect I am in the minority, but I've always appreciated his vocals on the albums (and especially live)–the contrast is very appreciated and adds something intangible to the band's sound.

Same for me. The only exception was *that* section of ANtR, which I thought it was completely unnecessary to do. I always figured if JL used his "Awake" voice for that section, it would sound great, and as can be seen on the 2019-20 tour, it was. Otherwise, I always welcome his (non-harsh) vocals.

[nikatapi]

Just to add to the conversation, this is a thought that came to my mind after revisiting the MP-era albums.
And overall, apart from some cringy moments (ANTR for example), i also like his vocal contributions most of the time.

On the click/backing track discussion, it will definitely be a challenge for the band, as i think they tied their sound changes to the track (at least JP) so it would be "harder" for them to go back to the previous way of playing live.

[HOF]

I really like MP's vocals, both in a backing and lead setting (at least on projects like TA and FC). It was a part of the band's sound from FII onward, and I would hope we hear more of it going forward, since I think Mike has only improved as a singer over the years.

[hefdaddy42]

On the click/backing track discussion, it will definitely be a challenge for the band, as i think they tied their sound changes to the track (at least JP) so it would be "harder" for them to go back to the previous way of playing live.

I don't think they did.  That would introduce a single point of failure.  They still make their changes, or at least retain the ability to make their changes.

[Kyo]

The chance of hearing them on the album is 100%. And I think this is where Portnoy's return will have the biggest positive effect - their vocal arrangements have been quite lackluster since he left, rarely doing anything meaningful with vocal harmonies or counter-point melodies. So the band's move to ditch the live backing vocals was almost logical given that development. Mike, on the other hand, has always been a big proponent of using as many voices as possible (starting with the "Del Fuvio Brothers" in DT when recording FII, but also in Transatlantic) and working so much with Neal Morse after quitting DT will have reinforced that.

[Mladen]

If their backing vocals are anything like on SFAM, I'm all for it. 

[porcacultor]

I'm hoping and wishing for MP and JP backing vocals, both in the new album and live.

I have this unsourced, gut impression that JP is self-conscious about his own vocal abilities (given the tours where they went with him miming over a pre-recorded track, or the autotune effect applied to the released Wither demo), and that kind of sucks because he's actually got a very enjoyable voice with a lot of character. Solitary Shell wouldn't be what it is without his parts, for instance.

To have him AND MP doing the backing for James again would not only be a very cool part of the proceedings, but something we really haven't experienced in any capacity since MP left (by that I mean: we haven't been DT-less in that time, and both "sides" have played Dream Theater material... but I think the "gang is back together" sentiment will get even stronger when we get, say, JL, JP and MP singing the Fatal Tragedy chorus together or another part with that kind of effect).

[JiM-Xtreme]

+1 for getting both JP and MP back on the vocals. Both really added contrast and something you just can't capture with pre-recorded backing vocals.

Hell, I would give JM and JR a mic as well.

[Stadler]

On the click/backing track discussion, it will definitely be a challenge for the band, as i think they tied their sound changes to the track (at least JP) so it would be "harder" for them to go back to the previous way of playing live.

I don't think they did.  That would introduce a single point of failure.  They still make their changes, or at least retain the ability to make their changes.

Um, I'm guessing there was no click on the solo tour, and yet John was just fine with the changes.  I understand he had a guy on the side of the stage helping him with some of that.

[Samsara]

On the click/backing track discussion, it will definitely be a challenge for the band, as i think they tied their sound changes to the track (at least JP) so it would be "harder" for them to go back to the previous way of playing live.

I don't think they did.  That would introduce a single point of failure.  They still make their changes, or at least retain the ability to make their changes.

Um, I'm guessing there was no click on the solo tour, and yet John was just fine with the changes.  I understand he had a guy on the side of the stage helping him with some of that.

My guess is, MP will lobby for no click. And provides for a looser and more energetic performance, which frankly, I think has been missing from the band since they went to a click.

[MirrorMask]

The only time I felt the presence of the click in all the Mangini years was during A Change of Seasons in 2017. Boy, Innocence DRAGGED. I was so used to the way Portnoy was ramping it up, that hearing it play at studio time felt so slow.

I suspected the song was in the set but I didn't outright knew, so I hoped for it in the break before the encore; I didn't even look at the stage in case I would spot someone first and realize if it was or not JP with the guitar, then the song started, I was so happy and ecstatic, and when after the clean intro it kicked in I got wild and...... it seemed the band couldn't keep up with me. As I said - I went along to the live tempo that Portnoy ingrained in my head, the studio tempo felt slooooow.

Aside from that, the click track, or the knowledge there was one, never bothered me.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I haven’t had the privilege yet of seeing Dream Theater with Mike Portnoy, but I did see Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress show, which means I can compare the seven songs I’ve seen performed by both bands, and both performances were absolutely incredible, the energy of the performance at the Shattered Fortress show was much higher, and I have a feeling that the lack of click had to do with that. I will say though that I preferred Dream Theater’s performance of The Shattered Fortress.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

So given that MP was always contributing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals, what do you think are the chances that he gets back on the microphone for this album?
Also, JP didn't really do any backing vocals in the post-MP era (studio at least), do you think we will get the trio of vocals back on the new album the band is working on?

I hope Mike sings; I think he's really progressed as a singer and I like his voice as a contrast to James.

agreed with this. MP did lead vocals on a Procul Harem cover on one of the Transatlantic albums and it was really good

[bosk1]

And he has also done lead vocals on a lot of things that didn't suck too.

[Samsara]

And he has also done lead vocals on a lot of things that didn't suck too.

MP has worked really hard at his vocals. When he first noticed him taking some notable lines live, it wasn't great. But he's really become a good singer. He'll never be rangy, or be the kind of singer that all of us stand up and go wide-eyed at, but he's learned how to stay on key and knows his range. I welcome MP doing some vocals here and there as songs call for a call and response, or a different voice.

[JeopardousRaven]

The only exception was *that* section of ANtR, which I thought it was completely unnecessary to do. I always figured if JL used his "Awake" voice for that section, it would sound great, and as can be seen on the 2019-20 tour, it was. Otherwise, I always welcome his (non-harsh) vocals.

That section is the reason I exclusively listen to the Berlin 2019 version of ANTR (The Distant Memories version is way too overproduced for me).

[jimgolf]

Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci have come a long way as backing vocalists. Their harmonies/backing vocals on Black Clouds sounded excellent. Really the only time I haven't liked a vocal contribution from Mike Portnoy has been the "Day after Day ROARRR" section of ANTR. So as long as there isn't anything as silly as that, it's A-Okay by me. I even think Mike did a great job singing Fool in my Heart for Flying Colors and the A Salty Dog cover with Transatlantic. Some of my favorite harmonies were the stuff that Transatlantic did with Mike/Neal/Pete/Roine.

I've never been opposed to the backing tracks they used live. The problem with them is when they are when they way too loud and match/overpower the lead vocals. The other problem is when Petrucci's mic began to be set at .001% in the mix, so it looked like he was just miming vocals. It was so refreshing to finally hear his voice on the last tour and he sounded great, although they didn't need to drop the piped in James backing vocals completely.  I think it would sound great and help James live if Mike and John did backing vocals, and they had like a 20% mix of some of the piped in James backing vocals to fill out the harmonies in the chorus. The combination of James lead vocals, a backing harmony of James, and Mike and John singing backing vocals would sound great and go a long way to helping out the vocals. Also, I'm just kind of a sucker for harmonies. 

[Pebsie]

I think I'm in the minority in liking all of MP's contributions to the vocals, even (and especially) on ANtR!! Really hope we get some more as he's really strong vocally on his work with Neal Morse.

[nobloodyname]

Yeah, I've always liked his voice and contributions, too. I also like the delivery of the contentious part in A Nightmare to Remember. For me, it's a problem of the lyrics not fitting the music rather than the delivery itself.

[WilliamMunny]

I think I'm in the minority in liking all of MP's contributions to the vocals, even (and especially) on ANtR!! Really hope we get some more as he's really strong vocally on his work with Neal Morse.

I'm with you on ANtR–I'll never forget when he posted the three different versions on his forum back in the day, and one was a combo of him and James at the same time (if I remember correctly), and I really thought that would've been the way to go. OR, the full-on death growl version–go big, or go home.

[Stadler]

And he has also done lead vocals on a lot of things that didn't suck too.

MP has worked really hard at his vocals. When he first noticed him taking some notable lines live, it wasn't great. But he's really become a good singer. He'll never be rangy, or be the kind of singer that all of us stand up and go wide-eyed at, but he's learned how to stay on key and knows his range. I welcome MP doing some vocals here and there as songs call for a call and response, or a different voice.

I agree with this. He really came into his own with the Neal Morse Band; I LOVE the way that band spread the vocals out to all the members (except for Randy). 

It's the one downside of this reunion; I'm going to miss NMB. A LOT.

[energythief]

I am probably in the minority here but I would like both of them to concentrate on their instruments and stay away from the vocals.

I am with you.

[hefdaddy42]

It's the one downside of this reunion; I'm going to miss NMB. A LOT.

I think we will see them ride again.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I am probably in the minority here but I would like both of them to concentrate on their instruments and stay away from the vocals.

I am with you.

I too am with you. The backing vocal worked on some songs like Rite of Passage, but taken as a whole it was unnecessary, intrusive on JLB, and even forced sounding. I would prefer a very modest sprinkle of backing vocal from MP. I don't need to hear him enter into JLB's territory every other tune.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i prefer when there are multiple, different, voices singing the harmonies. it makes it feel more organic and then they don't have to use backing tracks live since obv 1 person can't sing 2+ parts at once, etc.