God Lives Underwater Forum

I mostly like his voice. I watched those live Arizona videos though, and I kinda did a double take, he can't hit many notes very well... Also, the vocals on "Fool" off of Empty always realllllly bugged me, he is straining his voice too much. I really like his vocals on the new myspace stuff and Fluzee, and pretty much every other GLU song, but I have to say they must've done a lot of vocal tuning in the studio, cause he can't do it live. At least not in those videos... Any of you guys seen other GLU shows where he is in good vocal form? Just wondering. I just read a review of GLU (I think it's actually on enjoyglu.com) that said something about them having a severe lack of vocal talent and a bad live show, but I've never seen them for myself so I thought I'd ask you guys what you think. (BTW I don't mean to be dissing D.R., especially cause of the recent tragedy)

not that im biased, but i've seen em once in 96 and solo in 04, and his voice is nothing short of amazing...

That's good to hear, he must've just been having a bad day during those Arizona videos.

I saw them twice (Both in 1996 if I'm not mistaken), as well as David Reilly solo just this past year (I think it was last year, I lose track of time so easily) and I know for a fact solo he was right on the money, sounded good. The GLU shows in 96 from what I remember were good too. Of course, that was almost a decade ago, and I think I was not very sober at all.

I saw GLU twice and everything (including his voice) was amazing. Great shows! I never got to see David solo, but I would have loved to. I was going to see him on the 19th...guess not

:::troy:::

I always wish I could've seen him. after hearing all this stuff over the past year. I would have loved to seen him perform "keep dreaming" or "1 foot in the grave" live. 2 of my favorite songs from him. it does pain me to know that he's gone. but he was doing what he loved when he passed. If he was in the midst of a carpentry job when he passed...

I don't know where I was going with this.

All I know is he had this talent, and it was taken from us before it was ripe for the picking, before it's fruition. it's tragic, but we'll always have this fantastic music he has on myspace. it's such a leap from the stuff we heard months ago. I really hope this soundtrack of his life is released. I think I'm done for now. I don't know what to say anymore.
Josh.

note to the guy who started this thread:

wait a minute you might not liek the vocals or whatever but did you know that whole entire album was recorded in his bedroom? or someone's bedroom...what did it say on the wbcn interview? eithway its pretty damn good to me esp since i t got on american.

note to the guy who started this thread:

wait a minute you might not liek the vocals or whatever but did you know that whole entire album was recorded in his bedroom? or someone's bedroom...what did it say on the wbcn interview? eithway its pretty damn good to me esp since i t got on american.

David's voice was fantastic, and his control over it was equally so. He was a fine vocalist.

The venues GLU were forced to play at, however, were not always quality venues. I saw them at the height of their career in '98, and they were playing a club I've even played at ferchrissakes. When you're playing #### venues, with #### accoustics, a #### PA with #### monitors, and/or a #### sound guy, hearing yourself becomes a serious issue as a vocalist. I wouldn't be surprised if this accounts for most of the sour notes you speak of; coupled with the fact that when you're a rocker, playing dates every night, you're bound to hit some sour notes. No live performance is studio-perfect. That's why half the act is stage presence and crowd feedback; David and Jeff had that in spades, as well. Of course, GLU had good enough material that they didn't have to resort to stage antics to put on a good show; they just poured their souls into the music and the crowd was mesmerized (me included).

thats very true...not only can it be an off day vocally...but every day your in a different club with a different PA and in a different mood...plus ive seen bands play through songs not being able to hear your own instrument...so that could be a problem as well...there are a lot of little issues that bands have to deal with day to day playing live shows...

HAHAHA...this is soo funny.
What a great topic though!
I agree with the the person who made the first post...
only for the fact that David didn't always sound the same LIVE as he did on a record.
But that is the case with most bands....right?!
Anyway....David ruled.....and watching the live concert from arizona sent chills up my spine....
it's hard to look at pics of him without feeling horrible....
but i smile too....
cuz he was soo great!
Even though he didn't sound the same live/record doesn't really matter to me at all....hearing his voice...and certain arrangements of certain songs are what I love......i loved GLU...and I loved David.
goodnight ladies and gents!

Empty was recorded in a bedroom??
Or were you talking about his solo stuff?

Anyway, I think the Arizona videos definitely show that David couldn't hit any notes that night, I don't know about other shows though. Does anyone agree with me??

And, I still am annoyed by the vocals in "Fool". Does anyone agree with me??

I'm really really picky about vocals though, cause I was in choir and stuff, and I can hear the smallest trace of flatness or sharpness, or just plain wrong notes like David had in the Arizona videos. I think this might be a tad insensitive in wake of the tragedy, but I assure you I am just being hyper critical--I love David Reilly and his music, and GLU's music, they're one of my favorite bands. So I apologize if this rubs anyone the wrong way.

medicatedtotheoneilove wrote:Empty was recorded in a bedroom??
Or were you talking about his solo stuff?

"yes thats why american likes us so much" ~david reilly in interview on WBCN. i got the mp3 of it too. they mixed all the songs themselves too. his solo stuff i think he had access to a studio im not shure your gonna have to ask rooster that

Yeah from what I read back in the day Empty was pretty much recorded off a 4 track in a bedroom at not sure if it was Jeff's house or something.... But they did it very well with the recording and the mixing.... His current solo tracks Dave did them in a studio.... Actually there is pictures of him and Sherman around at the studio..... BTW you hav to remember usually singers when they first start to play can't sing and they learn through time.... Obviously like someone said he wasn't sober either so that didn't help him during live shows.... But you can see and hear the difference of his voice as the albums were recorded....