Ever since Mastodon evolved their sound a decade ago, to include more clean singing, it opened up a world of possibility in their music. The problem, for a long time was, they couldn't exactly recreate the experience live. Sometimes, it was almost embarrassing. But, in recent years, I have noticed much improvement from all parties. And it's not coincidential.
Drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor spoke to Rhythm Magazine and while joking about their poor singing skills, elaborated on how the band realized their voices were another instrument that needed practice and training. Here is the full exchange:
“We don’t do any tracks for vocals or guitars or anything. That’s like crossing the line for us. We want it to be our own bad singing! [Laughs] Which I think has gotten way better, actually, and I think that I can safely say it’s the best it’s ever been.”
What do you put that down to?
“Hard work and dedication. Practicing all the time and trying to be as healthy as possible on tour. The last bunch of years of actually taking some voice lessons, learning how to properly warm up and warm down after the show. Really, honestly approaching it as an important instrument. We’re all reluctant singers in the band. We try to pass the buck on every part because you don’t want the pressure live. It’s this added thing, especially when you’re drumming…
“We had a singer when we first started, a guy that would scream into the microphone and roll around on the floor. Then two weeks before our first tour, he quit. Brent [Hinds, guitar/vocals] and Troy [Sanders, bass/vocals] were, like, ‘We’ll just scream shit into the microphone, it doesn’t matter.’ It’s evolved from there quite a bit.
Mastodon are currently criss-crossing the country with Coheed and Cambria. Here are the remaining dates:
06/10 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE – Outdoors
06/11 Detroit, MI – Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
06/13 Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Council Bluffs – Stir Cove
06/14 Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
06/15 Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
06/18 Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
06/19 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
06/20 Salt Lake City, UT – The Great Saltair
06/22 Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park
06/23 Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center
06/25 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
06/26 San Diego, CA – Petco Park – Park at the Park
06/28 Las Vegas, NV – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
06/29 Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
06/30 Phoenix, NV – Comerica Theatre
07/02 Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater
07/03 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
[via MetalSucks]
