God Jules, what a beautiful voice! Wow, love your stuff! Beg, Borrow or Steal and Canvas are great. I didn't get a chance to listen to more but I will when I have more time. Good luck to you...you are really good and I hope you make it.

Billy, your stuff sounded good too. I understand what you're saying about screaming and straining the voice. It's a tricky thing with the music I do...and it's music I dearly love. To be honest, I'd rather give it 10 good years of pure Hell and retire doing more mellow stuff, than to have to back off and not give a kick a$$ delivery. But that's just me. I'm not out to conquer the world, just want to play some gigs and maybe collaborate with some writers who need a singer to help get their stuff sold. The most important thing to me, is getting to rock out with the ONE guitar player I've ever played with who matches my tone (and no, he wouldn't use a capo on a rock song iffin you put a gun to his head).

I really did pay attention to what Mike Dunbar (the foot avatar) said about doing exercises to strenghthen the vocal chords. It seems to have helped. I'd actually like to re-record Peace Pipe because now I hit the high notes easier (thanks, Mike!). He says to approach them from the top, versus approaching them nervously (like Jules' "donkey" analogy). I experimented a bit after reading that and "got it".

I think with the music we play, I will always be faced with a bit of pushing the vocals to the limit, but that's the heart and soul of rock and roll. That's the FEELING...and when you're in it, you're in it.

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You're supposed to be grooving as hard as you can, all of the time. - Stephen Gaskin