I was in the front and I definitely noticed a problem during the Blinding Light Show. It was the only song that I noticed that sounded really rough. Still enjoyed it though. Triumph can do no wrong! Love them. Always have, always will. Hope to see them again soon....bring on the tour!
Cool! Those were awesome shirts, we crossed paths a bunch of times Friday.
By the way, off-topic, did anyone check out the trailer/RV displays? That big one had a kickin' sound system.
armoredsaint:Why hasn't anyone commented on how Rik's voice was??? From the youtube clips it seems he needs to really work hard to get back those incredible highs that will make it a true Triumph show. I hope he has not lost that with age as I remember seeing triumph back in the early 80's and I hate to say it but unless I hear that pure HIGH power and range from Rik I will probably be disappointed and I have been waiting for this reunion for 20 years. I hope Rik can get back that range by 09's tour!
I very much doubt there are any singers that still have the range they had in the 80s, check Dokken's new album out. Don's lower range is fine but when it comes to trying to hit highs its pretty aweful so he avoided that a lot and that was in studio!
Most of the 80s bands with singers that sang in a high register are probably tuned down a half or whole step live these days. I think if Rik tried hard he could get back some of the range but I'm thinking at age 55 he's a little limited compared to where he was when he was...28...
I have to agree to a degree........I was waiting for somebody to start this subject. It really hit me hard when I was listening to the Sweden boot I downloaded this week. What was interesting was last night I was on Youtube watching and listening to some of Rik's 2007 solo stuff (doing Triumph tunes) & he sounded a lot better. He obviously didn't sound like 1982 or 83, but then again I wasn't expecting that. I did expect to hear what I heard in 2007.......Now Gil....he has an excuse, the guy hasn't sang or played drums in many years. He sounded rough on spots, but I expected that. Also noticed Rik didn't have the stage presence he used to have (running around, playing off the audience, just plain ol having fun). Just my opinion.......I have been a solid fan since 1982 & will always be a fan of the band & Rik Emmett. Keep on rockin' BOYS!!
Fighter
I dunno I dont expect a 55 year old rocker to be running around on stage and singing as he did when he was in his twenties its just not reasonable to expect it imo. Guys with the highest voices are hit hardest with age. Your vocal cords are not exempt from the aging process more then any other part of your body. When you hear a voice without seeing the person you can normally get a sense of their age right?
At least you know with Rik your getting the real deal and not a vocal track being mixed in at key times like so many other acts.
jmho
drew
Rik has addressed the running around issues. On the Maximum threshold interview ( i think you can still stream it) Maximumthreshold.net I think.
He is 55 years old now ( knee surgery's) etc and he knows his limitations now.
The stage I think was concrete @ Rocklahoma and I'm pretty sure that didn't help too much either. To me
the band sounded better on the second show ( Rocklahoma vs Sweden).
How much will the band rehearse ? Will they play a couple times a month or stop until next year ?
That will determine how the sound improves, trust me they know what needs to be improved on.........
They are pro's....................but they are not going to sound like 1985 again.
I'm just glad they have and are planning to play again ( fingers crossed)
Hank
hrams: Rik has addressed the running around issues. On the Maximum threshold interview ( i think you can still stream it) Maximumthreshold.net I think.He is 55 years old now ( knee surgery's) etc and he knows his limitations now.The stage I think was concrete @ Rocklahoma and I'm pretty sure that didn't help too much either. To me the band sounded better on the second show ( Rocklahoma vs Sweden).How much will the band rehearse ? Will they play a couple times a month or stop until next year ? That will determine how the sound improves, trust me they know what needs to be improved on.........They are pro's....................but they are not going to sound like 1985 again.I'm just glad they have and are planning to play again ( fingers crossed) Hank
I agree with your views and logic Hank........don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled they are back together and have had a couple shows. I do agree the Rocklohoma show did sound much better (on YouTube at least)........you were fortunate enough to have been there. I guess I'm a bit surprised with Rik's vocals based on how good he sounded just a year or so ago.
fighter: hrams: Rik has addressed the running around issues. On the Maximum threshold interview ( i think you can still stream it) Maximumthreshold.net I think.He is 55 years old now ( knee surgery's) etc and he knows his limitations now.The stage I think was concrete @ Rocklahoma and I'm pretty sure that didn't help too much either. To me the band sounded better on the second show ( Rocklahoma vs Sweden).How much will the band rehearse ? Will they play a couple times a month or stop until next year ? That will determine how the sound improves, trust me they know what needs to be improved on.........They are pro's....................but they are not going to sound like 1985 again.I'm just glad they have and are planning to play again ( fingers crossed) Hank I agree with your views and logic Hank........don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled they are back together and have had a couple shows. I do agree the Rocklohoma show did sound much better (on YouTube at least)........you were fortunate enough to have been there. I guess I'm a bit surprised with Rik's vocals based on how good he sounded just a year or so ago.Fighter
hmm, I thought Rik's vocals were struggling for a few years now as far as videos goes. Even on Airtime which is a studio effort they sounded strained to hit higher notes and he kind of had a 'folkier' sounding voice than back in the day. Lets keep in mind the guys got together in '75, thats a LOT earlier than many of the 'hair bands' did. Rik's had almost 10 more years for his voice to go compared to the other bands at Rocklahoma and I think he's retained more range than Don Dokken, granted Dokken was early '80s. But guys like Michael Matijivec from Steelheart can't hit what they used to, and Steelheart's two albums came out in the early '90s. Some vocal training would help, but he's 55, there's no way he's going to sound like he's 25 again. I can settle for the vocals not quite being the same, I actually thought he'd been getting better with regards to Triumph tracks lately. The versions of Lay It I've heard recently have been great. And as long as the guy can still rip through the tracks on guitar I'm cool with it!
Believe me, if you look back at Airtime threads I was critical of his voice. I guess I've just kind of accepted thats how its going to be. And when compared to Don on the new Dokken album Rik's kept more range than him...so its hard to complain when Rik has a few more years on him even.
Man, what happened? I was waiting for Rik to run out in his spandex, racing from 1 end of the stage to the next. Then I wanted him to jump down off a riser, never saw it happen. And his hair! My God, it's short now!!!! Hope he grows it back in time for the tour! I didn't see Mike drinking down a bunch of beers either. Holy smoke, what has happened to this band?
Come on folks, really, can we be glad they are back together and they sound, at the VERY least, half decent (I would argue pretty damn good!!)? It's like at work. Everyone gets a present as a pat on the back but someone has to complain because it's blue instead of green. Let's be happy here!!
Cheers
Brien
SuitcaseBlues:Man, what happened? I was waiting for Rik to run out in his spandex, racing from 1 end of the stage to the next. Then I wanted him to jump down off a riser, never saw it happen. And his hair! My God, it's short now!!!! Hope he grows it back in time for the tour! I didn't see Mike drinking down a bunch of beers either. Holy smoke, what has happened to this band?Come on folks, really, can we be glad they are back together and they sound, at the VERY least, half decent (I would argue pretty damn good!!)? It's like at work. Everyone gets a present as a pat on the back but someone has to complain because it's blue instead of green. Let's be happy here!!CheersBrien
Hey Brien
Believe me.................. I am happy....................
The band sounds FUC_ING great.......................
I hope the hair comes back too.........
I stayed at the same hotel in Tulsa as Triumph.
I was expecting to drink beer w/ Mike @ 10.00AM every day. However somewhere as people get older...
*** happens I guess.
I saw many bands and members( TRIUMPH ) included, the party isn't like the old days........
Rik's knees hurt, Gil needed some oxygen and Mike just not the same( w/o chugging beers)............
Our minds remember ( all of us do ) the 1980's and it's a little different now................
But I can tell u from my heart, its still the same the "ROCK AND ROLL MACHINE" is alive and kicking.
And they are playing for US the fans......... they didn't have to play again.........they felt the obligation
or ( owed) they core fans the spirit that we have been asking for a long time.................
All I can say is " It's All Good for Me"...................
TRIUMPH LOVES YOU................How cool was that to here again...............
hrams: SuitcaseBlues: Man, what happened? I was waiting for Rik to run out in his spandex, racing from 1 end of the stage to the next. Then I wanted him to jump down off a riser, never saw it happen. And his hair! My God, it's short now!!!! Hope he grows it back in time for the tour! I didn't see Mike drinking down a bunch of beers either. Holy smoke, what has happened to this band?Come on folks, really, can we be glad they are back together and they sound, at the VERY least, half decent (I would argue pretty damn good!!)? It's like at work. Everyone gets a present as a pat on the back but someone has to complain because it's blue instead of green. Let's be happy here!!CheersBrien Hey BrienBelieve me.................. I am happy....................The band sounds FUC_ING great.......................I hope the hair comes back too.........I stayed at the same hotel in Tulsa as Triumph.I was expecting to drink beer w/ Mike @ 10.00AM every day. However somewhere as people get older...*** happens I guess.I saw many bands and members( TRIUMPH ) included, the party isn't like the old days........Rik's knees hurt, Gil needed some oxygen and Mike just not the same( w/o chugging beers)............Our minds remember ( all of us do ) the 1980's and it's a little different now................But I can tell u from my heart, its still the same the "ROCK AND ROLL MACHINE" is alive and kicking.And they are playing for US the fans......... they didn't have to play again.........they felt the obligationor ( owed) they core fans the spirit that we have been asking for a long time.................All I can say is " It's All Good for Me"...................TRIUMPH LOVES YOU................How cool was that to here again...............Hank
SuitcaseBlues: Man, what happened? I was waiting for Rik to run out in his spandex, racing from 1 end of the stage to the next. Then I wanted him to jump down off a riser, never saw it happen. And his hair! My God, it's short now!!!! Hope he grows it back in time for the tour! I didn't see Mike drinking down a bunch of beers either. Holy smoke, what has happened to this band?Come on folks, really, can we be glad they are back together and they sound, at the VERY least, half decent (I would argue pretty damn good!!)? It's like at work. Everyone gets a present as a pat on the back but someone has to complain because it's blue instead of green. Let's be happy here!!CheersBrien
AMEN.............let's look forward to the next big news......2009 TOUR!! The Rock and Roll Machine is back (slightly used)!!