Second Look Music Review: Thumper Boucher @ Red Rock

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Metaverse Music
Thumper Boucher
Red Rock
Original Thumper Boucher Review

This is the first second look I have been invited back to by a musician whom I didn't give the most positive review at first. So here goes...

The first time I reviewed Thumper was at Golden Horn where he was performing his funk style music. My thought was his music was good, very good, but his singing was not.

Thumper sent me his notecard telling me what happened that day, where he pretty much was having the worst day ever and I happened to stumble upon that. So Of course I am going to give him a second hearing. Now admittedly he did tell me that his singing isn't his strong suit to begin with, he's no singer. And so when he was having a bad day, his singing was the first thing to go completely berserk.

He also mentioned that he does a lot of visuals for his concert that was not at the other concert since he was having major real life technical issues.

So I teleported into his concert at Red Rock at 6pmSLT. I couldn't make his other concert time. Just as he said this concert had a lot of visuals that went along with his music. He also sang less too and played more. So this time it is definitely different then the first one and it's definitely much more enjoyable then the first despite the minor imperfection of his voice.

I won't spend the whole time talking about his singing cause there's really a lot more to Thumper then that so I'll just get it out of the way. His singing is definitely stronger then the other day, but there are still some minor intonation issues. This is especially apparent in his lower register where at times is a bit shaky. Though I have to say when he sings all the higher stuff, he's much more on and sounds pretty good when he is. I don't think Thumper is a bad singer, I just think he spends all his time with his instruments and mixing everything else he just hasn't fully 100% polished his voice. Thumper knows he's not a singer and this time it's much more minor and small enough that I can look the other way and enjoy the rest of the concert and everything else that's there, and there was a lot of things there. That's except for his piano/vocal rendition of Seal's "Kiss from a Rose." Well a lot of his bad singing has to do with when he's trying sing those soft stuff with that airy voice. He just doesn't have that in his voice. It only works when he sings solidly without trying to do all that falsetto and airy sound. It just comes off...well I'll just say...wrong. But when he screams and yells and sing with power, he's great! Breath support people, breath support!

Thumper's concerts are a complete experience with both original sounds and visual effects for every song. There are a good amount of variations that goes with his beats and funky harmonies that makes it work well enough to forget the minor vocal issues he has. Today he sounds definitely even better on all his other instruments. It totally is a different performance and one where I felt he was relaxed and comfortable and enjoying the performing himself. I can definitely hear the difference. We all have off days, and that's precisely why I offer the musician a second look. But hey I gotta keep them on their toes and not tell them what I'll review to make sure they deliver every concert just as good as their best one so you can enjoy them too!

I have to say I am really feeling his music and his sound. I really do like what he has to offer with his whole guitar and visual. He rezzed out a giant robot playing a huge drumset, and also a volcano at one point that was spewing lava. I do absolutely agree, why not make our Second Life concert experience something that's truly immersive. Though it is about the music, but it can also have everythign else that goes along with it. Thumper has a good bit of both.

Of course there are the purist out there who thinks all that razzle dazzle is just not right, and it takes away from the music. Lucky for Thumper I'm no purist cause if I am, I wouldn't be in Second Life. So kudos to Thumper for trying something different and giving us a visual experience too.

Thumper's visuals today really does create a fun atmosphere to enjoy a concert in so if you are planning to throw a cool looking party with some funky music that's well produced (since Thumper mixes all sorts of sounds into his music) and impress your friends a little with that, I think you may be able to consider Thumper. He does have some wonderful sounds and excellent music. His sets are very well produced and has great production value. But if perfect singing is what you are looking for, Thumper then isn't right for you.

Music Review: Thumper Boucher @ Golden Horn

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Metaverse Music
Thumper Boucher
Golden Horn SLURL

Here's a straight forward musician who sings and plays. Finally right? Something normal from me? Of course, I do review your good old fashion singer/guitar player.

Well I arrived about 20 minutes into the concert because my brother had to renew the IP. Annoyingly it messed up and took longer then the really short time he promised. So that means I either will have to write up this post in 20 mins or that I just take my time here. I don't know yet, I'm listening to the music here and I'm a bit mixed.

On the group notice it read that Thumper is a performer in RL and SL and has over 400 concerts under his belt. Well I did just check his profile and found out that he was a bass player for a lot of funk bands and such. Which actually is great, cause his playing is fantastic. The accompaniment and all that is just fantastic and just absolutely well made and well put together from his keyboard robot, that's what he called it! But he's not a singer and I just almost wish he get another singer to sing with him playing cause his playing is really good! Better yet, just play the music and let the music speak, why sing at all? Well Thumper isn't a bad singer, I think he just hasn't worked on all his song 100% like the way he worked his instrumental tracks. More on this later in the post.

So here we are again, another instrumentalist who is singing in Second Life. I really think I'm beginning to see a pattern. I think it has to do with the fact that people feel like only singing will draw a crowd and that their music. But after seeing the crowds at all the concerts and at mine and others, it's really not that big of a difference. A good instrumentalist will draw about the same amount of people as a mediocre singer. Only the really good singers really draw a bigger crowd then others. But it also has a lot also to do with the venue and what kind of a following is there too. But still on average it's all about the same as long as you are a good instrumentalist, people will vouch for you.

Thumper's music, and I mean the instrumental side is great. But his voice is really just annoying the heck out of me. It's not out of tune or anything, but it's just not anywhere near where his playing is at all. Here I hear a great professionally put together instrumentals and this at best mediocre singing over it. His voice is a bit whiny and it's almost ruining the funk music experience.

I would love to hear a concert by Thumper that is without him singing, just his funk music exploding. I think he's got some really fantastic rhythm and beats and just some awesome groove to his music. I like it and I am not usually big on funk. And maybe sing every 3 or so songs. Cause I do think if Thumper has less to sing he'd sing them better. Because there are moments in some songs that are actually descent. It almost like one of those things where you are really to do that little thing with you voice so you do that a lot so it sounds good. But the other stuff that isn't all that interesting you neglect to work on it and make that sound just as good.

I would say if you do like funk music and can get over the fact that half of what Thumper sings are a bit off and whiney, but the other half is descent to good, but with very strong accompaniment, then Thumper would be the guy for you. I guess I may revisit him in a little bit and see if his voice has gotten any better. Fingers crossed and I'm out...