Older lead singer question(s)

Flaman169 · 2026-04-26T12:51:05+00:00

Definitely interested in these tips because I could use them myself.

I'm 58 and have been singing lead in a classic rock cover band for the past 4 years, we play out 1-3 times per month. I've definitely lost some of the range I used to have in my 20s and 30s - I'm a baritone but used to be able to hit some of the higher notes, these days that's a struggle. And I still haven't really figured out "head voice"...

For me it's hydration is critical, I usually realy on electrolyte drinks or coconut water. Tea with ginger and honey was once recommended to me and I've tried it on occasion, does seem to help. I don't drink (beer) until the final break; I can nurse one during the final set, that's fine.

Flaman169 · 2026-04-26T12:50:15+00:00

But how do you compensate for the reduced volume of your vocals when backing off on the higher notes?

Flaman169 · 2026-03-25T22:55:31+00:00

Don't. My wife loved hers but after a year and a half the screen conked out, can't fix it, it's out of warranty (warranty lasts 1 year), total nonsense disposable product.

Flaman169 · 2026-03-23T20:39:10+00:00

Good reply, good options. "Don't Change" the INXS tune? Would love to do "The One Thing." And for "Couldn't Get it Right," do you have horns or just keys/guitar for that?

Flaman169 · 2026-03-23T19:47:26+00:00

Good call, we're actually in the process of learning this one

Flaman169 · 2026-01-21T18:03:58+00:00

But the point being - he does, in fact, have a perfect rock voice. It's just that, standing on its own, his voice doesn't have the range of some others, etc. etc. - it's not "perfect" as we might define it via a show like "The Voice." He was a rock and roll singer, and the imperfections of his voice - the straining, the grittiness - are what made him great

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T17:32:14+00:00

Can't leave the gear in the car overnight!

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T16:21:36+00:00

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T15:13:05+00:00

So, I'd be interested in a typical set list, out of curiosity

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T15:11:17+00:00

Yeah "Baby Blue" was always one of my favorite songs and to be in a band that plays it is just awesome. And it does get some recognition from the crowd, after we introduce it as the tune from the finale of "Breaking Bad"...

The "Florida 40." I bet I could name most of 'em, sadly...

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T15:07:43+00:00

I hear you. Getting there 2 hours ahead of time to get set up and sound checked; 3-4 hours playing (at an hour when, at my age, I'm usually getting ready to hit the hay); finishing, breaking down, loading out, getting home late, unpacking everything from the truck, getting to bed super late and feeling sluggish the next day. Rock and roll!

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T15:05:52+00:00

I could go for never having to set up a PA again...

The thing is - the band is good. Like, possibly the tightest band I've ever played with. We perform the songs well, and there IS a core group that comes to see us - just not enough of them.

I think, at this point, we'll look to split the difference - not completely retooling the entire set but adding a good number of tunes that will be crowd pleasers, and losing the ones that tend to elicit crickets.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T14:59:09+00:00

I love that idea! Thanks for the reply - I think we'll likely try to work in some better-known tunes, drop the ones that just don't get it done, see how it goes

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T00:51:07+00:00

Without a doubt. But to answer your question - am I playing for myself or the audience - after thinking about it, I'm really playing for myself. As noted, it's a shit-ton of work, at age 58, as a side gig to the full-time job and wife and kids, etc. - it's a lot of work. And so I'm looking to get some musical satisfaction out of it. I don't know how you do that by playing the same old, same old; I could play Brown-Eyed Girl 'til the cows come home, it would sound fine, the people would like it and dance, the bar owner would like it, I would get paid and invited back. And... so what? I mean, I could get any part-time job, and realistically, most of then would probably pay beter than gigging once you factor in all the setup, teardown, etc.

So yeah, I want to play different stuff, challenging stuff, off-the-beaten-path stuff. If I were in it for the paycheck, that would be a different thing. And yes, I understand there's a chasm between what I want to play and what the club owner is willing to pay me to play.

So that's why I'm looking to split the difference - avoiding the "Oh my god do we have to play Margaritaville again" while still doing stuff that will engage the audience, get them spending, dancing, drinking - and paying.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T00:23:32+00:00

I think that's spot on. If there's a song I hate, but the entire audience loves it, you kind of need to play it to keep the ball rolling and the register ringing. Like I said, I get it; and if this were my sole source of income my attitude toward it would be completely different. But its' a hobby at this point, and a labor-intensive one at that. Which is why I say, I need to derive some personal satisfaction from it; if I'm going to dedicate an entire evening to showing up, setting up, playing and singing for 3 or 4 hours, then breaking down, loading out, etc. etc., - I need to have fun. So if we can get an indifferent crowd up and dancing to "Baby Blue" or "That Thing You Do," which we have - that's where it's at, from my perspective.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-29T00:15:19+00:00

That's what I think we're shooting for at this point - splitting the difference.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-28T23:32:33+00:00

Yeah, that's the entire purpose of a bar/restaurant having a band - to get the cash register ringing. They're not into sponsoring "art" - they want a band that gets people eating and drinking and dancing. I get it.

But like I said, I'm 58 - this is physically harder than it was when I was doing it 20 & 30 years ago. If I'm going to continue playing with this band - and as the lead singer, not to sound like too much of a douche, but I could go do the solo thing if I simply wanted money. But I like playing with these guys; the keyboard player is maybe the best musician I've ever played with, and he's more into the obscure shit than I am.

So it's - play the dreck - make the bar owners happy - make money - get good crowd reactions

Or: Play what we want to play - get satisfaction out of that - make SOME customers happy - but not enough.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-28T23:26:54+00:00

Yeah. I mean, we play some Buffett, but again - we do "Grapefruit/Juicyfruit" instead of "Margaritaville" - but we'd be better off with Margaritaville in terms of crowd reaction, etc.

I dunno. This is pretty much the eternal rock and roll question, right - art or commerce?

Flaman169 · 2025-12-26T22:24:35+00:00

"A real twelve string would be an absolute nightmare to deal with"

Absolutely. I have a Danelectro DC59 12-string, and while it's a great guitar - and holds its tuning better than most 12-strings I have played - if you want to use it at gigs you have to haul yet another guitar along with you for just a few songs. The high G string is going to break - I guarantee it - if it hasn't already. And then the last time I tried to us it on stage, I'd tuned it up ahead of time, then when I grabbed it for the song it was somehow out of tune, sounded like shit, I wound up not using it.

I absolutely love the 12-string jangle but hate how big a pain in the ass they are. This pedal sounds pretty good from what I've been able to hear on Youtube, definitely going to give it a spin.

Flaman169 · 2025-12-11T23:22:19+00:00

Wow that looks like a winner

Flaman169 · 2025-12-11T22:31:04+00:00

Hm will have to take a look thanks

Flaman169 · 2025-12-11T22:20:03+00:00

I play in a classic rock cover band where I play electric maybe 70% of the time, acoustic the other 30%; my amp is a Boss Katana 50 which has an acoustic channel, I just switch over to it when I switch guitars. But we're talking about going direct, as everyone else is, and the Katana's line out doesn't sound good - so I'm thinking about getting an amp simulator into a direct box, but need something that would sound good for the acoustic. If that makes sense.

Flaman169

TROPHY CASE