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The back to back gigs are about to start for The Rebel Yells!

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James Lugo

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Yeah, it is taking off big time. We are slammed with gigs now and not this weekend but next weekend we have Thursday and Friday night back to back. Both big gigs, Our Thursday night gig is the place to be for NC State students to be on a Thursday, absolutely packed to the gills with drunkin frat kids requesting Come On Eileen and Cupid Shuffle. Yeah baby. But this will be our first back to backer and after that just about every weekend is 2 shows, one of them maybe a Friday night and a Saturday morning gig at a big car race. So I need to step up my commitment to my voice so I can sustain the second night. Right now I am ok the day after a gig but I am usually pretty worn out, I'm the only lead singer in the band so it's pretty intense. Started really dialing in my food this week and staying clear of gluten and dairy as much as possible, those 2 things seem to gunk me up some and force me to over sing. Been doing my warm up, chanting and working my falsetto everyday. Yoga too. Gonna start a cardio regiment today. Also on another note I just landed a gig as the sub guitarist for Rock Of Ages at the The Venetian in Vegas, I will be out there the beginning of July, so it gives me 10 weeks to lean out the best I can. So I kind of have to big things converging that in a sense need similar treatment and attention to accomplishment. Any full-time singers in the forum have any input I am all ears. I think at this point I have it dialed in but sometimes one guy can say one thing that sparks something. I know Dan will have input because he's a Top 40 working singer and is into health and fitness.

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James, it sounds like things are going great. Really happy for you. 

 

I can give you a tip you probably never heard about: I once read an e-book where the vocal coach said that you shouldn't practice pharyngeal voice on days when you have shows.   ;)

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I once read an e-book where the vocal coach said that you shouldn't practice pharyngeal voice on days when you have shows.

 

Hate to butt in here but... that sounds ridiculous... That is like saying, ".. on the day of the big basketball game, you shouldn't take 20 minutes to work on your free throws"... or "... before you go to the body building competition, you shouldn't pump up with the weights before"... ridiculous.

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James, it sounds like things are going great. Really happy for you.

I can give you a tip you probably never heard about: I once read an e-book where the vocal coach said that you shouldn't practice pharyngeal voice on days when you have shows. ;)

I know that guy. :)-

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Hate to butt in here but... that sounds ridiculous.... That is like saying, ".. on the day of the big basketball game, you shouldn't take 20 minutes to work on your free throws"... or "... before you go to the body building competition, you shouldn't pump up with the weights before"... ridiculous.

 

Rob,

 

I don't have your or the other coach's experience but as I know that certain foods, beverages and activities have influence my (and other's) ability to sing, there's no reason to dismiss the possibility that certain exercises are less advisable. It might be debatable but I don't think that it's ridiculous. You gave the basketball example - a friend of mine used to play in a high-school team where they told them to avoid push ups to protect their wrists... I know that in other teams push ups are common. However, they might avoid exercises that might put strain on the wrist before games. Basketball warms ups usually don't include extreme work out - so free throws are more like lip bubbles if anything.

 

BTW, have you made an educated guess about who the other coach is? 

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I know that guy. :)-

 

@ JohnnyZ

 

Point taken... and agreed. I think my response was hasty. If you consider the broad repertoire of possible vocal sounds and workouts someone could potentially do before a show, there must be some that are not a good idea. Pharyngeal workouts, depending on how your doing them, could be fatiguing, yes... 

 

Yes, I think I do know who your talking about which makes it particularly embarrassing for me.   :blink:

 

I just put my foot in my mouth I believe. But I'll own up to it... My apologies Maestro... 

 

LOL... 

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  • 2 weeks later...

So last night was show one, went great. Did a 2 hour straight second set. Slammin dance crowd. Spent much of today laying around and kind of drinking water and not talking. Loaded up and heading out to show 2. Gonna start warming up in the car, falsetto is a little funky but my voice feels good, I think with a little singing I will knock the crust off. Will report back tomorrow. Here’s some clips from last night:

 

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Awesome, James. Props for doing "YMCA." (I am not ashamed to admit that I have the Village People "Live and Sleazy.")

 

And thanks for doing "Surrender" by Cheap Trick. We are near the same age and I am sure it brings back good memories for you, as it did for me. I was young then and I was going to live forever.

 

Along with "Little Red Corvette." One of my favorite lyrics - "I guess I should have known by the way she parked her car sideways that it wouldn't last ..."

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Lol YMCA is one of those songs that always goes over. It was a trip editing the video today and hear myself singing kind of half power, I could especially hear it in Uptown Funk. I would normally unleash on that hook but I am totally holding back. Learning for the first time in my life at 51y/o how to pace myself. I'm at the club now and my voice feels great. Actually better then ever. I'm personally tired but I feel good and singing to Earth, Wind and Fire. Got my head voice and falsetto.

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Cool, way to get out there and do it Maestro! Looks like a fun gig...

Thanks Rob. Half way through the gig. Voice is good. I'm working the mic a little bit more then I usually do. Learning. But my voice is good. Thanks God.

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Lol YMCA is one of those songs that always goes over. It was a trip editing the video today and hear myself singing kind of half power, I could especially hear it in Uptown Funk. I would normally unleash on that hook but I am totally holding back. Learning for the first time in my life at 51y/o how to pace myself. I'm at the club now and my voice feels great. Actually better then ever. I'm personally tired but I feel good and singing to Earth, Wind and Fire. Got my head voice and falsetto.

And singing to an audience young enough to be our kids. To quote Garcia (a modern garcia) "What a long strange trip it's been..."

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I have to agree, James. Much as I love your voice, and I really do like your voice, the girls were prettier. Hope that doesn't hurt your feelings too much. I mean, you are pretty in your own right, I am sure. I just happen to notice young ladies more often.

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