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Drummer as Lead Singer?

#21
mancefine said:
= Our current drummer can't keep us on tempo, he has a click in his ears yet our songs are constantly 15-20 bpm too fast live.
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?!?!?!?!?!

He's listening to a click that he's just flat out ignoring? Figure out the singing later and get rid of that dead weight IMMEDIATELY.

No one cares if your singer is free to engage the crowd or not if the entire band sounds like crap.

Having a frontman who is free to roam the stage and engage the crowd is undoubtedly a bonus, but certainly not mandatory; having a drummer who can actually play is.
 
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#26
+1 to the consensus here. Seems like a no-brainer. I would suggest that you other two a) think about stage presence, and how to make the show visually interesting without upstaging him while he's singing, and b) see if you can pick up some vocals yourselves, just to shift the focus from time to time and give him a break.
 
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#27
brbadg said:
This band annoys me to no end.It's a party band,I get it! Geez,do you have to shove it down my throat?



This is not your music,I get it. There defintely should be someone else
moving around,if you don't have somebody with an ego this big!
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?

He has a killer singing voice, a slamming pocket, and a commanding stage presence; this also means the gig guarantees are split four ways instead of five.

I'd love to share a stage with that guy, seems like a fun gig.

I can see you being annoyed if (in addition to his charisma and talent) he also looked like David Beckham, as that just wouldn't seem fair....but obviously that isn't the case.

Seems as though all is still right in the world...and yes, a 'party band' by definition has to shove it down your throat, that's part of the schtick...see Steel Panther, etc. ;)
 
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#29
mancefine said:
How would you feel if you saw a 3 piece where the drummer was singing? If the music was good would you care about not having a frontman?
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As long as everyone in the band is performing with passion and the music is good, no one cares who is singing; especially in the progressive rock genre.

Would Rush somehow be less interesting if Geddy's voice was coming out of Neil instead?

Not having a dedicated front man isn't an excuse for an uninspiring performance or a motionless stage, just as having a dedicated front man doesn't suddenly make your band engaging or visually exciting.
 
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#31
Most of the drummers I've worked with through the years were lead singers, and sometimes the front person as well. It would never occur to me that it could be unusual or odd. Two of the best drummers I've worked with were killer singers. There's no point is wasting talent for appearances.
 
#32
I'm a big fan of the philosophy. If you find a thing you think is a weakness or something that is just not often done you should embrace it and make it your own. Use this as an opportunity to set yourself apart and be something memorable for the audience. ...That band with the drummer who is out front and sings.

Yeah, of course it's been done as has already been pointed out. Figure out a way it can be done different.

Take a cue from the things you already pointed out as your concerns. Obviously if he is going to be the singer everyone is looking at he needs to be up front sitting up higher and exposed. Consider stripping part of the kit back. Marcus mumford stripped his drum kit down to a kick and a tamborine and he stood on two kick pedals to play. Obviously you shouldn't go that far, besides that's been done. If he is open to electronic gizmos that opens up whole new realms of ideas. DJ guys have tables of rhythm/sampling kits... again not likely your thing but its an idea. Futureman with Bela Fleck plays his homemade synth-drum doohickey...

Break the mold and own it. One less member, less potential drama, schedule conflicts, better money split.... figure out what makes sense for you and do it.
 
#34
My last band's drummer sang lead and it worked fine. Im not the most animated guy on stage since I was first working the lights with a midi foot controller, then moved onto playing keys with my feet, but the guitarists were pretty good at filling that role. He was in the back, but we didnt set up in front of him (more to the front and sides) if that makes sense so he could be seen.
 
#35
People watch the stage, and band, looking for a focal point, even other musicians who's main interest is the music do that. Having a drummer sing lead is fine, but, even with the kit turned a bit, he's seated, and captive to the kit, not a "front" man. For a live situation, it will be at it's best if a more mobile guitarist, or bassist, singing or not, could take the focal point, or "front" position. Someone should make eye contact, ...play the crowd, drums is probably the hardest place to do that from.
 
#38
It could work- but it is outside the norm for many audiences, I think the singer is who the audiences connect with most typically, and to have him/her sitting down behind the drums is a tough sell.

I like what Phil Collins did, where he had another drummer, and then on some songs he sits down mid song and starts playing drums as well!
 
#39
There's a band in the Phoenix area called Fred Green ... drummer sings and kills it. They had a decent following playing out quite frequently when I was out there over a decade ago. Can't remember if they're a 3 or 4 piece. I was always hugely impressed with good singing drummers, even before I was a musician myself
 
#40
One of my bands has a drummer with an incredible voice. He sings lead on a couple songs and it feels pretty lame standing out front. I don't dig it. It's like a huge buzz kill in the middle of a set. It's like wearing pants without pockets and there's nowhere to put your keys. It's like talking on the phone to someone and you totally know they have you on speaker phone, but they say it's just their connection. It's like an endless simile to other things.
 

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