All Be Alright Without You - Journey w/ JSS soundcheck clip

[Liam]

Been to soundchecks (Journey was the first in '99 @ the Woodlands TX) but I just never heard the metronome so prominent before as it is on IBAWY. Other than that....Sounds FUCKING GREAT for a Soundcheck.

The metronome being so loud in this mix should be a clue for you to figure out where this recording came from. If you think that met is loud... you should hear Deen's or John's mixes. These recordings can be HARSH and are not a true representation of how it sounds live in the arena. I think JSS sounds KILLER on these clips for what it is.

Same here....but the met is the loudest thing. THAT'S what I was getting at.

[Deb]

Remember these are first runs at these songs. Just the band messing around at soundcheck.

This is true. Still, Jss is straining to hit the notes. Listen to the 'I keep telling Myself...." sections.
JOURNEY, LOWER THE SONG KEYS!!!

By the way, thanks for posting this stuff!

Ummm, even lowered a whole step there would be a strain before I or anyone is warmed up...dude, ease up on the tuning down thing, it aint gonna happen, doesn't need to happen, if some nights are on & some aren't, it's live, there are other reasons for strain that have to do more with putting on a live show than worrying about every note sounding like the record....thanks for the concern but bro, I'm fine, no need to keep harping on lowering the keys, u sound like my mom

JSS - are you going to be singing "Raised on Radio" songs in concert? Or were you just playing IBAWY and GCHI for a laugh at the soundcheck?

I thought IBAWY sounded great, especially for just a soundcheck. Would love to hear more Raised on Radio stuff from Jeff too!

[treetopovskaya]

thanks for the clips!

"i'll be alright without you" sounds really good... "day dream" was... well... it was just soundcheck. };C)

[ddregs]

My personal thought about those songs with JSS is
they are nothing but spectacular. Great great job, great Perry renditions, but come on, JSS was and is a singer with a lot of talent.
Daydream is one of my favorite songs, I used to play it a lot of times on my guitar 10 yrs ago. Love it.
Journey, get back to Europe

[treetopovskaya]

My personal thought about those songs with JSS is
they are nothing but spectacular. Great great job, great Perry renditions, but come on, JSS was and is a singer with a lot of talent.
Daydream is one of my favorite songs, I used to play it a lot of times on my guitar 10 yrs ago. Love it.
Journey, get back to Europe

love evolution.

i hope we get to hear jeff sing "day dream" for real in concert... although deen has been doing an awesome job singing this song. }:C))

[Matthew]

Journey, get back to Europe

Yes - and no more hick towns either this time. Capital cities only!

[Deb]

i hope we get to hear jeff sing "day dream" for real in concert... although deen as been doing an awesome job singing this song. }:C))

Deen has sang Daydream? Would love to hear that!

[bionic]

A few posts here from folks that have obviously never been to a soundcheck.

That time is for fucking around...seriously...time to have fun and be loose, free of expectations and just jam...all while the road crew do their thing and get sound levels right.

Not too often will anyone get a clip of anything from a soundcheck, so enjoy it for what it is. I DIG IT!

I agree it sounds amazing one of my favourite Jouney songs!

[Liquid_Drummer]

JSS,

With all due respect,

Why is the band so closed to lowering the key just a half step? I have heard countless boots and it sounds to me like you are straining a lot. Your gonna break it! Then what ? Your a killer singer man and your probably on a big high right now playing with "those" guys and singing "those songs". Not trying to "sound like your mom !" or anything dude but I swear your gonna end up like Brain Johnson if you do this long enough. HE sounds like one pissed off chipmunk these days. Good luck to you man and I hope I am wrong about the straining part. Wouldnt want you to get a "throat infection" !

Journey's music is almost custom made to end a vocalists career. RIP Vocals of Steve P and Steve A. Who will be the next lucky guy that will end up sounding like Rod Stewart taking a shit.

[conversationpc]

Who will be the next lucky guy that will end up sounding like Rod Stewart taking a shit.

OK...I don't necessarily agree with your point but that's funny.

[The_Noble_Cause]

!
Journey's music is almost custom made to end a vocalists career. RIP Vocals of Steve P and Steve A.

Ain't that the truth.
Neal, Cain, and JSS can probably make some pretty cool new Journey music together, that's god willing the Perry dozen doesn't drag him down first.
For Augeri, being bound to the hits served as an impasse to musical evolution and then ultimatelty was the coup de grace.
Even Perry was brought to his knees by his own catalog over time.

[Abitaman]

.
Even Perry was brought to his knees by his own catalog over time.

so true-ERIC

[whocares]

Certainly different hearing JSS doing the vocals on these songs, that's for sure.

Nice though.

by the way , what are u singing in that chair?

Billy Joel "Just the way you are"

[Matthew]

JSS,

Not trying to "sound like your mom !" or anything dude but I swear your gonna end up like Brain Johnson if you do this long enough. HE sounds like one pissed off chipmunk these days..

Now that was funny too!

[cudaclan]

Aint it the truth... Too damned aggressive on these vocals Jeff. Burn like a candle not a stick of TNT.

JSS,



...Journey's music is almost custom made to end a vocalists career. RIP Vocals of Steve P and Steve A. Who will be the next lucky guy that will end up sounding like Rod Stewart taking a shit.

[Vladan]

A few posts here from folks that have obviously never been to a soundcheck.

That time is for fucking around...seriously...time to have fun and be loose

Lol no shit. I know man, it's like that with film rehersals aswell, people expect you to do it 100% sometimes, its like "wtf man? im just walking through it, chill".

[Liquid_Drummer]

Well seeing that it happened to Steve P and Steve A both at one time being powerhouses it’s just a natural idea to assume that our vocal muscles are not made to do that. You could also point the finger at management. They basically force the band to tour nonstop after an album release. Singers doing high tenor night after night are going to burn it out. I know one guy that did it night after night for years and it never seems to affect him and he was Jason Kelty of the old Escape tribute band. The guy was superman vocally ! I had the privilege of speaking to him yesterday after I decided to look him up. A lot of people seem to bring him up from time to time wondering what happened to him. For the record, he found god or god found him and he is born again big time. He said that he doesn’t view singing Journey as a violation of his new found morals because Journey has such a positive message. At the end of our conversation (and btw I had met him a few times in the past so I felt that contacting him out of the blue wasnt too weird) he said he had just recently sang oh sherrie in a karoke contest so he obviously still has some drive to sing. I closed by saying "I hope to get to hear you sing again someday." and he said "You just might." I would go see Escape before I would go see the real Journey. I know that might sound crazy to some of you but as far as I am concerned they sounded more like Journey than Journey has since Perry left. Anyone that saw them can attest to the fact that if you closed your eyes you would be hard pressed to tell the difference and a novice listener would fail the pepsi challenge ! The guitar player had all the chops note for note and the tone too. The formula that made Journey what they were is gone. It doesnt have to be a perry clone but it needs to be close. Journey equals Schon's style + soaring crystal clear high tenor. While JSS is a vocal bad ass he in my eyes does not fit that formula and im my eyes with out that formula its a diservice to the name to call it Journey. Everyones says they dont want a perry clone yet most compare every singer Journey has had to Perry. If Jason Kelty was Journeys frontman all he would have to do is approach it as he would an original band. Dont try to look, dress or move like perry but use that GOD given voice. Thats my opinion and im sticking too it. This is Barney Rubble singing off.

[treetopovskaya]

sp mentioned that he has allergies. so i wonder like me (used to) if he has really bad post nasal drip? i've been taking flonasa for about 2 years & it has really helped me. stomach problems can effect the throat too.

i used to get sick a lot too... catch colds real easily. drinking vitamin water (defense) really helps! 1 or 2 a day... i'm hardly ever sick now & if i do catch something i fight it off in a day or 2. }:C)

in some of the boots you'll see bottles of gatorade... not good... switch to vitamin water... DEFENSE! i swear by it! }:C)

[brywool]

Remember these are first runs at these songs. Just the band messing around at soundcheck.

This is true. Still, Jss is straining to hit the notes. Listen to the 'I keep telling Myself...." sections.
JOURNEY, LOWER THE SONG KEYS!!!

By the way, thanks for posting this stuff!

Ummm, even lowered a whole step there would be a strain before I or anyone is warmed up...dude, ease up on the tuning down thing, it aint gonna happen, doesn't need to happen, if some nights are on & some aren't, it's live, there are other reasons for strain that have to do more with putting on a live show than worrying about every note sounding like the record....thanks for the concern but bro, I'm fine, no need to keep harping on lowering the keys, u sound like my mom

Hey, sorry to sound like your mom, now eat your vegetables!
It's your voice "dude" . If straining is your thing, great, but with these songs in these keys, straining during your sets on this tour will only hurt you in the long run. The band can just walk away from it, but you will be left with the fallout (or blow out) if you're not careful. I'm sure you're aware, it's just concerning to me as a vocalist. I had no idea that you hadn't warmed up as many singers warm up before singing period. Everyone should.

On the key lowering, nobody has said that it wouldn't happen until now, so it doesn't need to be mentioned again, though why it wouldn't happen (in light of the past) is silly to me.

Regarding "some nights are on, some nights are off .... it's Live and the notes sounding like the record..." I don't care if it sounds like the record or not. Perry had many nights when it didn't sound like the record, but it was always on pitch. I care if it's out of pitch, out of the singer's range, or if it sounds painful.

Good luck on your path.

[Chevypv]

Remember these are first runs at these songs. Just the band messing around at soundcheck.

This is true. Still, Jss is straining to hit the notes. Listen to the 'I keep telling Myself...." sections.
JOURNEY, LOWER THE SONG KEYS!!!

By the way, thanks for posting this stuff!

Ummm, even lowered a whole step there would be a strain before I or anyone is warmed up...dude, ease up on the tuning down thing, it aint gonna happen, doesn't need to happen, if some nights are on & some aren't, it's live, there are other reasons for strain that have to do more with putting on a live show than worrying about every note sounding like the record....thanks for the concern but bro, I'm fine, no need to keep harping on lowering the keys, u sound like my mom

Hey, sorry to sound like your mom, now eat your vegetables!
It's your voice "dude" . If straining is your thing, great, but with these songs in these keys, straining during your sets on this tour will only hurt you in the long run. The band can just walk away from it, but you will be left with the fallout (or blow out) if you're not careful. I'm sure you're aware, it's just concerning to me as a vocalist. I had no idea that you hadn't warmed up as many singers warm up before singing period. Everyone should.

On the key lowering, nobody has said that it wouldn't happen until now, so it doesn't need to be mentioned again, though why it wouldn't happen (in light of the past) is silly to me.

Regarding "some nights are on, some nights are off .... it's Live and the notes sounding like the record..." I don't care if it sounds like the record or not. Perry had many nights when it didn't sound like the record, but it was always on pitch. I care if it's out of pitch, out of the singer's range, or if it sounds painful.

Good luck on your path.

I think without an indepth discussion with JSS about his vocal techiques and the intent of his use of the word "strain" we really shouldn't be so harsh, that post basically says, "I know more about taking care of my voice than you, a proffessional singer for 20 years does." And JSS is always as on pitch as SP ever was from what I have heard, listen to some SP RoR tour boots, now those are rough...JSS is leaps and bounds above what those performances were in terms of vocal consistancy...and its quite obvious in the boots of the soundcheck that JSS isn't pushing his voice due to the fact that he hasn't warmed up, all they are doing is checking levels for a few minutes, they aren't performing, if we had recordings of you in your shower would it sound excellent? no, probably not, boots are what they are for a reason, they really werent inteded to be released and taken out of context...

good lord, JSS has been singing since I was born, and he still sounds as good now as he did then, so whats the big deal...

[brywool]

I think without an indepth discussion with JSS about his vocal techiques and the intent of his use of the word "strain" we really shouldn't be so harsh, that post basically says, "I know more about taking care of my voice than you, a proffessional singer for 20 years does."

Excuse me Chevypv- but I'm 43 and I've been a club singer since I was 17. That's 2 nights a week singing 4 1/2 hour shows both nights for 26 years. I know about vocal blowout and what to do about avoiding it. Jss probably does too. I didn't say I knew more than him. I said I'm concerned about what I'm hearing as a fellow vocalist. I've heard all the boots out there because this whole thing is REALLY interesting to me (again as a vocalist more than a Journey fan). I mean no disrespect to him, but anybody who's listened to the recordings can hear the strain.

And JSS is always as on pitch as SP ever was from what I have heard, listen to some SP RoR tour boots, now those are rough...

The notes are rough. Never are they flat. They do actually crack a few times too. I've heard them. And if you look back, Perry KNEW he was losing his voice "I really was toast"- Steve Perry, from Behind the Music. That's why he quit the ROR tour mid stream and his own solo tour midstream.

JSS is leaps and bounds above what those performances were in terms of vocal consistancy...

That's your opinion. Are you a singer?

and its quite obvious in the boots of the soundcheck that JSS isn't pushing his voice due to the fact that he hasn't warmed up, all they are doing is checking levels for a few minutes, they aren't performing, if we had recordings of you in your shower would it sound excellent? no, probably not, boots are what they are for a reason, they really werent inteded to be released and taken out of context...

I'll give you that. In fact I said that in my reply that "I figured he warmed up as many singers do prior to sound checks and all of them should"- Actually it does sound like he's pushing his voice to me. But you're right,they weren't intended for release and so I should let it go. HOWEVER, everything else that I've heard from the Journey tours points to serious vocal problems just waiting to happen.

But what do I know?

good lord, JSS has been singing since I was born, and he still sounds as good now as he did then, so whats the big deal...

The big deal is that the Journey tour could toast his voice. Maybe not concerning to you, but it is to me.

[Chevypv]

JSS is leaps and bounds above what those performances were in terms of vocal consistancy...

That's your opinion. Are you a singer?

and its quite obvious in the boots of the soundcheck that JSS isn't pushing his voice due to the fact that he hasn't warmed up, all they are doing is checking levels for a few minutes, they aren't performing, if we had recordings of you in your shower would it sound excellent? no, probably not, boots are what they are for a reason, they really werent inteded to be released and taken out of context...

I'll give you that. In fact I said that in my reply that "I figured he warmed up as many singers do prior to sound checks and all of them should"- Actually it does sound like he's pushing his voice to me. But you're right,they weren't intended for release and so I should let it go. HOWEVER, everything else that I've heard from the Journey tours points to serious vocal problems just waiting to happen.

But what do I know?

good lord, JSS has been singing since I was born, and he still sounds as good now as he did then, so whats the big deal...

The big deal is that the Journey tour could toast his voice. Maybe not concerning to you, but it is to me.

in fact I am a vocalist, but thats beside the point....Ive heard people who sound as if they are destroying their voices day in and day out, and they never lose them...What im saying is, if JSS decides that what he is doing with his voice is ok, with all of his experiance, than thats ok.

On a side note, i am also a guitarist, and the concept of downtuneing isnt as easy as some people think.
Take a song such as "Stone in Love", That song would be impossible to drop without physically downtuning the guitar, due to the fact that it uses standard chords at the low end of the fretboard...chords that if you try to drop them any farther down youll run into the headstock. This would mean different strings, a new setup, and an overall strange sounding guitar... not to mention the other instruments involved...

PS. I didn't mean to assume you didn't know what you are talking about, i don't know everyones background here as I am new....

[brywool]

On a side note, i am also a guitarist, and the concept of downtuneing isnt as easy as some people think.
Take a song such as "Stone in Love", That song would be impossible to drop without physically downtuning the guitar, due to the fact that it uses standard chords at the low end of the fretboard...chords that if you try to drop them any farther down youll run into the headstock. This would mean different strings, a new setup, and an overall strange sounding guitar... not to mention the other instruments involved...

I also am a guitarist and it's easier to lower a song key than it is to replace a ruined singing voice which can get ruined for good (not speaking of JSS here, just in general). Rather than lowering the keys, what about tuning down the instruments (again, in general terms)? Van Halen did it. Poison (blech) did it. Many have. I wonder if Perry's band did it that way? Everything's played in the same position, but that 1/2 step could save a singer's voice for a long tour. Only thing that'd have a problem with that approach is Cain's Whale.

But if you like what you're hearing, great! Personally, the stuff I'm hearing floating around out there doesn't entice me to see a show.

[Chevypv]

On a side note, i am also a guitarist, and the concept of downtuneing isnt as easy as some people think.
Take a song such as "Stone in Love", That song would be impossible to drop without physically downtuning the guitar, due to the fact that it uses standard chords at the low end of the fretboard...chords that if you try to drop them any farther down youll run into the headstock. This would mean different strings, a new setup, and an overall strange sounding guitar... not to mention the other instruments involved...

I also am a guitarist and it's easier to lower a song key than it is to replace a ruined singing voice which can get ruined for good (not speaking of JSS here, just in general). Rather than lowering the keys, what about tuning down the instruments (again, in general terms)? Van Halen did it. Poison (blech) did it. Many have. I wonder if Perry's band did it that way? Everything's played in the same position, but that 1/2 step could save a singer's voice for a long tour. Only thing that'd have a problem with that approach is Cain's Whale.

But if you like what you're hearing, great! Personally, the stuff I'm hearing floating around out there doesn't entice me to see a show.

My big deal about lowering a song is the fact that i have...well...its not really perfect pitch(cant tell you the note name necessarily just by hearing it), but I can tell when a song isn't in the original key, and can pull any note of any song out of the air. and if they lowered a song even a half step, it wouldn't sound right at all...but thats just me being picky.

[brywool]

My big deal about lowering a song is the fact that i have...well...its not really perfect pitch(cant tell you the note name necessarily just by hearing it), but I can tell when a song isn't in the original key, and can pull any note of any song out of the air. and if they lowered a song even a half step, it wouldn't sound right at all...but thats just me being picky.

I would agree with you there too, but you'd get used to it. It'd only take a few times of doing it. I used to sing Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and we lowered it a half step. At first, it sounded funky, but I got used to it. Same with the Chick parts in "Love Shack". It believe that's in C and we lowered it to B to make it easier for me to sing the girl parts. I don't even notice it now. When we do "Crazy Train" that's in the original key though as is "Another One Bites the Dust"- yeah, hey! I just through these into the conversation so that you know that we also play stuff with balls! It's a tough market out here for clubs! Gotta do everything.

[Chevypv]

My big deal about lowering a song is the fact that i have...well...its not really perfect pitch(cant tell you the note name necessarily just by hearing it), but I can tell when a song isn't in the original key, and can pull any note of any song out of the air. and if they lowered a song even a half step, it wouldn't sound right at all...but thats just me being picky.

I would agree with you there too, but you'd get used to it. It'd only take a few times of doing it. I used to sing Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and we lowered it a half step. At first, it sounded funky, but I got used to it. Same with the Chick parts in "Love Shack". It believe that's in C and we lowered it to B to make it easier for me to sing the girl parts. I don't even notice it now. When we do "Crazy Train" that's in the original key though as is "Another One Bites the Dust"- yeah, hey! I just through these into the conversation so that you know that we also play stuff with balls! It's a tough market out here for clubs! Gotta do everything.

sounds like alot of fun actually, and your right, i would prolly get used to it...although when i was in high school my entire choir program, from 7-12 grade did "come sail away" as a mass choir, just for fun, but the director lowered it 1.5 steps, and it never sounded right, even after singing it 25 times in rehearsal, although, thats probably becuase he used one of those dumb key lowering machines on the original.....

[Carlitto H@kk]

Only thing that'd have a problem with that approach is Cain's Whale.

I'm not jumping in this conversation; you guys are doing great on your own, good points on both sides. I am a vocalist and guitarist as well and can see both sides of this (I prefer all my tunings at 1/2 step down).
I did just want to point out that, if the guys ever did decide to do this, The Whale would actually be easier than Neal and Ross' guitars; The Whale, from what I understand and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, has been pretty much gutted out and is basically an elaborate midi board. With that said, Jon could easily go into Global settings and, with the tap of a few switches, knock the whole thing down 1/2, 1, 1 1/2 steps all at once without changing any 'physical' playing arrangments.

[Chevypv]

Only thing that'd have a problem with that approach is Cain's Whale.

I'm not jumping in this conversation; you guys are doing great on your own, good points on both sides. I am a vocalist and guitarist as well and can see both sides of this (I prefer all my tunings at 1/2 step down).
I did just want to point out that, if the guys ever did decide to do this, The Whale would actually be easier than Neal and Ross' guitars; The Whale, from what I understand and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, has been pretty much gutted out and is basically an elaborate midi board. With that said, Jon could easily go into Global settings and, with the tap of a few switches, knock the whole thing down 1/2, 1, 1 1/2 steps all at once without changing any 'physical' playing arrangments.

OK, The whale is actually still a fully functioning mechanical YAMAHA baby grand, he just had MIDI triggers installed in it, so if he wants a different sound, since the crowd cant actually hear the piano anyway, we hear the different sound, he still hears the Whale...(and the other sound through monitor). The soundboard and hammers and such are all still there and functioning though.