Kamelot US Tour with Fabio Lione on vocals Aug/Sep 2011

[nomisofsiman]

This, this, this. I agree with you 1000%. I actually find it really awesome when a different singer tours with another band. It makes it for an unique experience and it usually turns out great. The only problem is that in this particular case, it seems to me that Kamelot fans are more Khan fans than the band itself, which is a shame. The band is usually on every single time. Khan isn't.

That is weird isn't it? So many people say how Khan is Kamelot, but I just don't get it. I don't think he's awful or anything but he's not that great in a live setting at least the times I've seen. For me personally, maybe I'm one of the few but Khan is probably my least favorite part of the band. I like that he's unique and no one sounds like him but at the same time, his voice at times can bore me.

 

[AngraRULES]

That is weird isn't it? So many people say how Khan is Kamelot, but I just don't get it. I don't think he's awful or anything but he's not that great in a live setting at least the times I've seen. For me personally, maybe I'm one of the few but Khan is probably my least favorite part of the band. I like that he's unique and no one sounds like him but at the same time, his voice at times can bore me.

Khan is definitely unique. His voice is soothing and beautiful in studio. He's got the image and the stage presence that Kamelot needs. He's the main point of focus during a Kamelot show. However, Khanboys (Khan's fanboys) need to actually start paying attention to his performance live. He's NOT CONSISTENT. When he's good, he's on fire, but when he's not, forget about it. I have even heard of Khan having to rely on pre-recorded vocals for a few songs during a concert in Rio a few years ago.

The main issue for Kamelot will be finding someone that has the image like Khan does. Oh yeah, and find someone who's willing to get inside those tight leather shirts/jackets. I'm telling you, that's probably why he got ill.

 

[nomisofsiman]

Khan is definitely unique. His voice is soothing and beautiful in studio. He's got the image and the stage presence that Kamelot needs. He's the main point of focus during a Kamelot show. However, Khanboys (Khan's fanboys) need to actually start paying attention to his performance live. He's NOT CONSISTENT. When he's good, he's on fire, but when he's not, forget about it. I have even heard of Khan having to rely on pre-recorded vocals for a few songs during a concert in Rio a few years ago.

The main issue for Kamelot will be finding someone that has the image like Khan does. Oh yeah, and find someone who's willing to get inside those tight leather shirts/jackets. I'm telling you, that's probably why he got ill.

For sure he is a great frontman. That's one thing I was talking about when the Circus Maximus guy was gonna front them for the Progpower show. I can see how he could do his vocals perfectly, but he just doesn't have the look and charisma of Khan.

As absurd as it sounds I've always thought that about those leather shirts/jackets. They have to tire him out more than, say, if he just was on stage in a t-shirt and pants. I mean I'm not saying it's THE reason but it has to play a part.

 

[Burke]

If Khan does not return, it's really going to suck for hardcore Kamelot fans

.....but I can't help thinking how interesting the prospect of a new Conception CD would be (being a Conception fanboy)

 

[edgeofthorns]

Knowing Thomas Youngblood's work ethics (or at least what he has shown me in a few interviews) and knowing how powerful the brand KAMELOT is nowadays, I doubt he's going to pick a no-name. Youngblood is a hell of a businessman and I would assume it would be beneficial to pick someone not only with experience, but a bit of a name-recognition within the scene. I can't see him picking a Fabio Lione, but I find names like Mike Eriksen and Tommy Karevik absolutely plausible. That'd be a hell of a career move for them, and a hell of a loss for their current bands, for instance.

Obviously, I am doing nothing but speculation.

Mike or Tommy would be awesome picks for sure! With that said, I consider Fabio being much more recognizable than those two. Maybe I'm wrong, because all I'm doing is speculating as well.

~Brian~

 

[Frode]

Knowing Thomas Youngblood's work ethics (or at least what he has shown me in a few interviews) and knowing how powerful the brand KAMELOT is nowadays, I doubt he's going to pick a no-name. Youngblood is a hell of a businessman and I would assume it would be beneficial to pick someone not only with experience, but a bit of a name-recognition within the scene. I can't see him picking a Fabio Lione, but I find names like Mike Eriksen and Tommy Karevik absolutely plausible. That'd be a hell of a career move for them, and a hell of a loss for their current bands, for instance.

Obviously, I am doing nothing but speculation.

Speculation...but I think you're right.

 

[Jibrille]

Mike or Tommy would be awesome picks for sure! With that said, I consider Fabio being much more recognizable than those two. Maybe I'm wrong, because all I'm doing is speculating as well.

~Brian~

Rhapsody is certainly a bigger name than Seventh Wonder or Circus Maximus.
I've seen a number of people jumping at the chance to see Fabio live more than Kamelot since Rhapsody doesn't seem to have plans to ever come back to the states.

 

[nomisofsiman]

Rhapsody is certainly a bigger name than Seventh Wonder or Circus Maximus.
I've seen a number of people jumping at the chance to see Fabio live more than Kamelot since Rhapsody doesn't seem to have plans to ever come back to the states.

I don't think that's what he meant. As far as Fabio not being the one, I think it boils down that his voice isn't a good match with Kamelot. Secondly, I just don't see him leaving Rhapsody.

 

[AngraRULES]

Rhapsody doesn't seem to have plans to ever come back to the states.

Wrong.

 

[ApolloFC]

Let me get this straight...

Khan = sick = out of the band?

How does that happen?

 

[nomisofsiman]

Let me get this straight...

Khan = sick = out of the band?

And we're sure we are not blowing this out of proportion?

Considering it's the second time he's been sick + the fact that these tour dates are so far in advance, plus the rest of the band has to move on doesn't exactly qualify it as being blown out of proportion.

 

[ApolloFC]

Considering it's the second time he's been sick + the fact that these tour dates are so far in advance, plus the rest of the band has to move on doesn't exactly qualify it as being blown out of proportion.

Oh, second time. Gotcha. Fair game then

 

[Jasonic]

I almost wonder if Fabio took the gig as a good opportunity to test drive the US metal market, before bringing Rhapsody over. (IE - first hand view the markets that draw better, best reactions, etc). I could be 100% wrong, but why else would he take this gig, at a time when the band is the most active it's been (that being Rhapsody) in many years?

 

[Jibrille]

I don't think that's what he meant. As far as Fabio not being the one, I think it boils down that his voice isn't a good match with Kamelot. Secondly, I just don't see him leaving Rhapsody.

I wasn't saying Fabio was going to become a permanent replacement. For a tour where your main guy is out, going with a recognizable name will pull people in.

I almost wonder if Fabio took the gig as a good opportunity to test drive the US metal market, before bringing Rhapsody over. (IE - first hand view the markets that draw better, best reactions, etc). I could be 100% wrong, but why else would he take this gig, at a time when the band is the most active it's been (that being Rhapsody) in many years?

Wouldn't their 2005 tour opening for Manowar have better accomplished that?

 

[AngraRULES]

I almost wonder if Fabio took the gig as a good opportunity to test drive the US metal market, before bringing Rhapsody over. (IE - first hand view the markets that draw better, best reactions, etc). I could be 100% wrong, but why else would he take this gig, at a time when the band is the most active it's been (that being Rhapsody) in many years?

Not sure if this would be the reason. Rhapsody has toured the US before (with Manowar, in 2004 if I recall correctly). Considering that now Rhapsody is in a really strong US-based label (Nuclear Blast), I don't think it's absolutely necessary for him to "test the waters" so to speak. Not to mention, if they wanted to really do that, it would make more sense for the band to do a one-off in NY or something like that (ProgPower even) to see what kind of response they'd get.

You have to remember that the fans that Lione will play for during the Kamelot tour are still in the vast majority, Kamelot fans. I don't really see it as a proper way to "test out the waters."

He'd probably take the gig because #1, he's going to make a bit of $. #2, he's gonna help out Kamelot and #3, he'll come sing in front of an audience he doesn't usually do. The only reason why Rhapsody has been more active now than in the last 4-5 years is because of the legal issues they had with Joey DeMaio. I think if it wasn't for that, Rhapsody would've been back to the US already.

 

[AngraRULES]

Wouldn't their 2005 tour opening for Manowar have better accomplished that?

Exactly.

 

[Jasonic]

Wouldn't their 2005 tour opening for Manowar have better accomplished that?

Well, what was that, like a whopping 5 or 6 dates?

 

[AngraRULES]

Well, what was that, like a whopping 5 or 6 dates?

Nope. It was 14 shows:

Jun. 02 - Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues
Jun. 03 - Winston Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
Jun. 04 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ The Culture Room
Jun. 05 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
Jun. 07 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Jun. 08 - Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
Jun. 09 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Jun. 11 - Buffalo, NY @ The Icon
Jun. 12 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Jun. 13 - Quebec City, QU @ Albert-Rousseau
Jun. 14 - Montreal, QU @ Metropolis
Jun. 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts
Jun. 18 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Jun. 19 - New York, NY @ B.B. King's

 

[Element_man]

I almost wonder if Fabio took the gig as a good opportunity to test drive the US metal market, before bringing Rhapsody over. (IE - first hand view the markets that draw better, best reactions, etc). I could be 100% wrong, but why else would he take this gig, at a time when the band is the most active it's been (that being Rhapsody) in many years?

It's certainly possible, and it could certainly be a "secondary objective" perhaps, but I think it also has to do with the fact that Fabio touring as a "fill-in" vocalist would be a gig where he's probably getting paid a certain amount, and doesn't really have to worry so much about ticket/merch sales and record label stuff. Takes the complication out of things for him, right?

Again, we're all speculating here, I don't know what the exact situation is. But it's a general rule that a session/touring player is typically getting paid a rate per show/song/recording/hour or whatever the gig is. These middle-class musicians need to make ends-meet somehow!

 

[AngraRULES]

It's certainly possible, and it could certainly be a "secondary objective" perhaps, but I think it also has to do with the fact that Fabio touring as a "fill-in" vocalist would be a gig where he's probably getting paid a certain amount, and doesn't really have to worry so much about ticket/merch sales and record label stuff. Takes the complication out of things for him, right?

This is so true. It must be quite refreshing for a musician to go out on tour and not have to worry about any of that stuff. Sure, you're just a hired gun, but still... quite some peace of mind.