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Post by nicholascanada on Apr 6, 2009 8:57:08 GMT -5
I have been singing professinally and touring for many years. I have smoked cigarettes, weed and done just about everything one can do to damage a voice. Anything can effect a vocal chord. If you smoke, it will effect it. If you quit smoking it will effect a vocalist in terrible and unpredictable ways. I have quit smoking then started again. each time my voice was stronger as a result!! I was at a meet and greet/question/answer session and somebody asked me how I was able to sing so loudly and in such a high register for so long. I told the audience it's because I took up smoking again!! It was true. I had to wait for a break in my schedule before I could quit to allow my throat to adjust. Each voice is different. Even the smoke used for smoke machines can be worse than cigarettes. Second hand smoke is a killer as well. Here is the big one..... Nobody has mentioned alcohol. It has the most detrimental effect of any substance in my experience. Also, if you smoke weed, the type of weed will effect the voice. Sometimes it's harsh, sometimes it's beneficial. In my opinion the fatigue of singing everyday, not adequately warming up and drinking were the leading cause of Travis' voice loss over the course of the touring. That and no rest combined with smoking, partying and extensive touring will do it every time.
Seriously, smoking wasn't the reason. Perhaps a factor. Not the reason.
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Post by vicki on Apr 6, 2009 9:34:01 GMT -5
I have been singing professinally and touring for many years. I have smoked cigarettes, weed and done just about everything one can do to damage a voice. Anything can effect a vocal chord. If you smoke, it will effect it. If you quit smoking it will effect a vocalist in terrible and unpredictable ways. I have quit smoking then started again. each time my voice was stronger as a result!! I was at a meet and greet/question/answer session and somebody asked me how I was able to sing so loudly and in such a high register for so long. I told the audience it's because I took up smoking again!! It was true. I had to wait for a break in my schedule before I could quit to allow my throat to adjust. Each voice is different. Even the smoke used for smoke machines can be worse than cigarettes. Second hand smoke is a killer as well. Here is the big one..... Nobody has mentioned alcohol. It has the most detrimental effect of any substance in my experience. Also, if you smoke weed, the type of weed will effect the voice. Sometimes it's harsh, sometimes it's beneficial. In my opinion the fatigue of singing everyday, not adequately warming up and drinking were the leading cause of Travis' voice loss over the course of the touring. That and no rest combined with smoking, partying and extensive touring will do it every time. Seriously, smoking wasn't the reason. Perhaps a factor. Not the reason. I actually remember seeing an interview with tanya donnelly (anyone remember her?) and she said she needed to have a cigarette to "smooth her voice out", and I remember being mystified by it. for the record, nobody said travis is the devil because he smokes.
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ladyjane
Porcupine
I Want To Believe
I feel a calm melting over me, as he hands me a cup of equality.
Posts: 418
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Post by ladyjane on Apr 6, 2009 10:05:25 GMT -5
Btw, I think his voice was strained because he was chain smoking cigs. Read that somewhere. Travis strained his voice because he was singing Shannon's songs night in and night out, anyone who trys to do that is going to have vocal problems, especially if your touring for two years straight. Travis didn't fucken chain smoke. He smokes a half a pack of cigarettes a day. He smokes just as much a Brad, Rogers, and Christopher (he smokes at night). So "Chain Smoken" wasnt the problem. It was the wear and tear of night after night for two years of tryen to belt out Shannon songs. And anyone whose tired to do so can tell you the same thing. And the new singer that they get is going to have the same problem. Theres not a single person in this world who can sing like Shannon and not expect to have vocal problems every now and then. WTF! I went to sleep, woke up, and there's poop everywhere. Btw, did anyone read the bands own myspace blog, Heartbreak Hotel? "God dropped a Stradivarius down Travis' throat, but the reality is that he treats it like a broken pawnshop fiddle. It is very difficult to maintain a rigorous touring schedule while chain smoking." That quote by the band! Don't shoot the friggin' messenger!
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tamara
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( . )( . )
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Post by tamara on Apr 6, 2009 20:22:04 GMT -5
Travis strained his voice because he was singing Shannon's songs night in and night out, anyone who trys to do that is going to have vocal problems, especially if your touring for two years straight. Travis didn't fucken chain smoke. He smokes a half a pack of cigarettes a day. He smokes just as much a Brad, Rogers, and Christopher (he smokes at night). So "Chain Smoken" wasnt the problem. It was the wear and tear of night after night for two years of tryen to belt out Shannon songs. And anyone whose tired to do so can tell you the same thing. And the new singer that they get is going to have the same problem. Theres not a single person in this world who can sing like Shannon and not expect to have vocal problems every now and then. WTF! I went to sleep, woke up, and there's poop everywhere. Btw, did anyone read the bands own myspace blog, Heartbreak Hotel? "God dropped a Stradivarius down Travis' throat, but the reality is that he treats it like a broken pawnshop fiddle. It is very difficult to maintain a rigorous touring schedule while chain smoking." That quote by the band! Don't shoot the friggin' messenger! You never 100% what happens unless you were there. There are people you are more likely to believe because of their closeness to a situation. Travis' band was there. I still wasn't, but you'd think they would be a reliable source. Perhaps Travis has slowed down on the smoking now.
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ladyjane
Porcupine
I Want To Believe
I feel a calm melting over me, as he hands me a cup of equality.
Posts: 418
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Post by ladyjane on Apr 6, 2009 22:09:37 GMT -5
I woulda thought the band would be a good source, indeed.Who knows. I actually remember that I read that post here, in this forum, written by Rogers himself. That's solid enough for me. Geez, wish I had been there! I just think it's crazy that anything positive in my post was ignored, (except by you, Tamara) and the footnote, my afterthought, was jumped on like a fly on poop!!
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Hoonaholic
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Pockets full of crappiness piece together my day
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Post by Hoonaholic on Apr 6, 2009 22:47:27 GMT -5
Yeah, guess these days we have to take everything with a grain of salt. I woulda thought the band would be a good source, indeed.Who knows. Geez, wish I had been there! I just think it's crazy that anything positive in my post was ignored, (except by you, Tamara) and the footnote, my afterthought, was jumped on like a fly on poop!! I wasn't jumping on you, I'm sorry that it came off that way. I was just saying the whole chain smoken thing was just said to make Travis look bad when the band was extremely pissed off at him, So they threw the whole book at him and tried to discredit him in anyway possible. I guess my whole point is Travis smoken was the least of the problems that the band had and is pretty much irrelevant. That's all, I didn't mean for you to take it to heart, or as a personal attack.
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ladyjane
Porcupine
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I feel a calm melting over me, as he hands me a cup of equality.
Posts: 418
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Post by ladyjane on Apr 6, 2009 23:02:13 GMT -5
No problem. I'm not getting hung up on it, and yeah, I don't know anyone personally and I wasn't there.(You posted while I was adding more stuff to mine,haha)I wasn't in that situation,right. I just figured if it came from the guys then it must be true; but I didn't expect it to turn into a big debate, that's all. So no biggee; we're cool.
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Post by ishbell on Apr 25, 2009 14:36:59 GMT -5
I admire your honesty Kristian, even though it comes across as a bit confronting... in my opinion you make some very good points, and some poor ones too, but i think that is the point of forums, letting things out and being honest... if everything was sugar-coated, what would be the point, there is only so much u can say how much u miss Shannon for instance... i have recently seen a few threads started up to debate a topic and there has been not one person to take the other side, in essense, starting a one-sided argument, which is hilarious to read... think Jim Carrey in Me, Myself and Irene, if u are acting positive all the time u are goin to blow at some point, and it is not healthy to think on those terms... furthermore, citing another Carrey film, the Yes Man, i think that too many people are too quick to say Yes to whatever decisions the boys make... it seems on concensus that every song they release is better than the last... i think it is unfair for Kristian to claim Rogers is a dictator without knowing him personally... to me he seems a good bloke with a great sense of humour... however i also think it is unfair for the vast majority to kid themselves that this new incarnation comes anywhere close to Shannon's era, or anywhere close to its potential... i seriously couldnt do that, lie to myself that is... Kristian said it perfectly that there is much better music out there than the new Blind Melon, and depriving yourself of it by thinking BM is the benchmark, i feel really sorry for u, whoever you are... they may have been the greatest thing in the 90s, but they have a long way to get back to the top, and Travis in my belief is not the key... for those who say, "there so much shit out there on the radio at the moment, how can u say there is anything better then the FMF record" should get off ur arses and do a bit of searchin cause there has been no such thing as good radio music since the 60s... there are plenty of decent bands out there if u look... the original members however do have the potential to make great music again, they can be the best again... the BM boys deserve the right to hear the absolute truth when they put something out, cause it represents them... they are professionals, they can handle it, that is the only way they will make better albums... there HAS to be more people out there who feel the same, but are too afraid to come forward, i know i didnt want to originally, i wanted to believe they would come good, but it had nothing on the old stuff, and i expected nothing less... i agree that Travis is attempting to be too much like Shannon, and it doesnt work the next time around... why not do your own take on the vocals to old tunes, change it a bit... use Out on The Tiles as a precedent, Shannon (and the band) took that song to a different place ocally and musically when they could have easily produced a carbon-copy... i did enjoy how the guys branched out onto new instruments on FMF, like they had started to do in Soup, but in my opinion Travis' raspy vocals, and the bands focus on reworking mostly Travis' solo stuff couldnt match the charm, talent and natural twang of Shannon... in conclusion i believe his vocals dont match BM's sound... he may be good on his own, or reproducing old songs pitch perfect in a live situation, but that is not BM, as Kristian says, it is more like a cover band... I have expressed before my curiousness to hear Shinn, and i accept they didnt want to go on with him, but there has to be a vocalist out there that can bring originality to the band, and grow with them... Travis seems more occupied with writing solo stuff, as witnessed in the flurry of new songs, and coupled with his little premature postings, this reflects he has his priorities elsewhere... about the Cody thing Kristian, he was justly dismissed for threatening physical violence against a moderator, not because of his opinions... I'm really late on this pooping thing. Leigh you're absolutely right about being honest, you don't tell your best friend she or he looks great in something when you're actually thinking wtf is that? You can disagree with someone and remain civil though sometimes it takes a lot of self-control. In the beginning of this reformation I had an issue so I went right to the source, Rogers, I sent him a message stating my reservations and he replied, was civil, respectful and I felt a lot better about the whole thing and was sooooo excited when I saw the video with Nico and Nel at the first show in Chicago I was so envious of all the melons who were able to be there. I missed the rest and recently came back to the forum and Travis is gone and the whole thing is over......... I love the guys and I think that all of us here should maybe start thinking outside of the box. I've got time on my hands and have been looking up and listening to a lot of early 90's bands I've also been listening to newer stuff, there is someone out there that can do this, nope he won't be Shannon and I don't even want the person to try, there's no other voice like Shannon's. But I still think it would be a good idea if they find someone it should be introduced as Blind Melon (because they are) featuring so and so on vocals and blow us away then reform IMO anyway. SO PEOPLE HELP ME, THEN WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GUYS AND AN IDEA CAN TURN INTO REALITY MAYBE, IT'S WORTH A TRY. JUST AS AN ASIDE IF ANYONE CALLS MY RECOMMENDATIONS A JOKE, I'LL KICK THEIR ASS RIGHT WALTER
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~LoveJoy~
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the way it looked before felt better from the window..now that its fadin away...i feel it everyday..
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Post by ~LoveJoy~ on Apr 25, 2009 16:19:15 GMT -5
i totally agree. ive posted my pick and even made suggestions to the band....rogers was kind enough to even reply back. i hesitate to do so now because there are some people on here who purposefully or out of honest ignorance have 0 tact and are down right hateful and hurtful. i would hate for my pick to get negativity from someone who doesnt have an open enough mind to even consider their talent and lacks the willingness or ability to be tactful and respectful when making their opinions known. so if youd like to know my pick again please pm me. i welcome opinions, but not flat out bashing other's creative endeavors!! #hoonsmiley#
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