Vocalists - The Weakest Part Of Most Bands

AlexC

I’m done with (most) male singers. I don’t think I’d ever be in a band with one again. (Not that I’ve worked with one for a decade now anyway.) Certainly on the pub/club circuit I would say that categorically what lets most bands down are the vocals. If a band is ‘rock’ then we get a shouting man. If a band is ‘indie’ then that’s used as an excuse for all manner of vocal excretion. Amateur/semi-pro bands just seem to fair better with female vocalists - even if it’s whispery ‘new folk’.
My listening habits have changed too - I get that not everyone can be a Mercury or Bowie or Gillan or Daltrey or Coverdale or Jeff Buckley, etc, but increasingly I find myself drawn to new music that’s female lead. There seems to be more tonality. More expression. Depth. Feeling. More soul and spirit.
Any thoughts? 
*Can we get through this thread without a Spice Girls joke?

Guitar_Slinger

I used to.manage the Spice Girls years ago, beforel I did my back in.

Nowadays I can only manage one or two of them

Philly_Q

AlexC said:

Can we get through this thread without a Spice Girls joke?

No.

Guitar_Slinger

... saying that, most fun band I was ever in went to down the toilet because of the (male) singer's behaviour.

starwarsnosebleed

#metoo

digitalscream

I much prefer working with the musicality of strong female vocals when it comes to rock and heavy rock. However, it's depressing how many of them claim to sound like Evanescence/Nightwish/etc and can barely hold a note.

The singer in my last band was genuinely the only one I've ever encountered in person who really could do it. Unfortunately, she's moved to China (which, in my opinion, was a bit of an overreaction to the band tanking... ).

darthed1981

Certainly the weakest part of performances where im on vocals...

vasselmeyer

I'm in a covers band with a woman drummer and vocalist. It certainly changes the dynamic in a band from the usual dick measuring that goes on in a typical all male unit. A strong female vocalist can do most male songs you hear anyway, and between me and her, we've got most bases covered.

thecolourbox

The vocalist in my music is about as bad as the guitarist to be honest. It's me in both instances

slacker

AlexC said:

I’m done with (most) male singers. I don’t think I’d ever be in a band with one again. (Not that I’ve worked with one for a decade now anyway.) Certainly on the pub/club circuit I would say that categorically what lets most bands down are the vocals. If a band is ‘rock’ then we get a shouting man. If a band is ‘indie’ then that’s used as an excuse for all manner of vocal excretion. Amateur/semi-pro bands just seem to fair better with female vocalists - even if it’s whispery ‘new folk’.
My listening habits have changed too - I get that not everyone can be a Mercury or Bowie or Gillan or Daltrey or Coverdale or Jeff Buckley, etc, but increasingly I find myself drawn to new music that’s female lead. There seems to be more tonality. More expression. Depth. Feeling. More soul and spirit.
Any thoughts? 
*Can we get through this thread without a Spice Girls joke?

it's mutual as most singers now avoid bands and go on x factor or the voice.

jdgm

Guitar_Slinger said:

... saying that, most fun band I was ever in went to down the toilet because of the (male) singer's behaviour.

This.  On January 30th this year.

Don't get me started - though the band is still (just) going with me still in it......he made us all so bloody angry we were determined it wouldn't fold.   One of the 2 worst-behaved and destructive people I've had the misfortune to be involved with in 40 years gigging.

pintspiller

My current band has a lady that needed the support of a friend to do harmony that decided to bring a third. 

Certainly the most fun I've had playing for a long time. It's certainly a unique selling point.

fastonebaz

totally agree with @AlexC I'm in a band with an amazing female vocalist (https://www.facebook.com/beautifultraumaband/) and I can't imagine going back to a male singer now.  I always aspired to be in a female led band where I get to play ripping guitar solos and now I am I delighted.

Our female singer is always in tune, has an incredibly powerful voice, has great charisma with the audience and is just all round funny and very nice.  Highly recommend these types of bands.

Freebird

Most male vocalists with decent voices are singing professionally.

guitars4you

Can think of many female vocalists I'd like to play with

Can't think of any male vocalists I'd like to play with

joetele

This is why I'm in an instrumental band. 

Roland

Until the current band I’ve always worked with female singers. In my experience female singers only put themselves forward if they can sing a bit, whereas a lot of male “singers” can’t sing at all.

Anyone fronting a band has to have an attitude. They all have their tantrums. As with any team you have to work with personalities.

digitalscream

I'd just like to point out that when it comes to behaviour, I've found that the defining characteristic is usually "singer" rather than "male" or "female"

Danny1969

Both are good. The singer in my Kate Bush tribute band is (unsurprisingly) female and does a great job and in the other bands I'm in it's all male. To be honest I've never had a problem with either although I would be prepared to suffer more grieve from the singer, as I can appreciate it's basically the hardest job to do well and the most important 

Cols

It’s a fair cop.

AlexC

@Danny1969  I’m a huge Kate Bush fan, love to hear some of that. Do you have a link?