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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Yeah. I know. Booze is not the answer, but my voice definitely sounds better if Iv'e had a few. But it's a fine line between loosening up the vocal chords and completely stuffing up the guitar chords. If I get TOO relaxed, I start forgetting chords and losing coordination. So,what's have you found to be a good relaxing confidence booster? Bourbon, tequila, rum, vodka? My spirit if choice is bourbon, by the way. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | This is a really good topic that I don't think I've seen before. I have the same issue. I need something to relax my vocal chords, but at the same time, any alcohol and I know I'm not at 100% as far as playing. It's essentially resulted in me not drinking when I play, at least not if I'm getting paid to play. I know and have worked with musicians who are so wasted they can't walk or speak clearly, but play flawlessly. I'm the opposite. I can be totally blotto and no one will likely know as I don't slur and I'll seem fine, and I can certainly even sing at that point. But the fine motor skills involved for playing guitar.... long gone.
I often wished there was something that would relax my vocal chords and did nothing else. I've tried those sprays that numb the vocal chords, but that just feels weird and makes it hard to control my voice. I'm not the greatest singer in the first place, it's certainly not natural for me, so having it be unpredictable is no help. I notice anything more than a beer effects my hearing as well, especially at higher volumes, I can't drink and run sound.
It's ok when it's just an acoustic act in a small venue, but on larger systems... two beers and I can't hear high end definition. I've only noticed this in the last 10 years of so. Add beer and cymbals just seem to fade into the mix. Very odd. I thought, but I have heard the same from others.
And FWIW, beverage of choice is Vodka, preferably potato not grain.
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I just re-read your post and noticed I missed the title... "Best confidence boosting booze?" I didn't know there was such a thing. Best confidence booster for me is practice. For some reason, based on your first sentence, I thought you were looking for ways to loosen up your voice. My bad.. but still a good topic. |
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Location: New Hartford CT | Jaeger on the rocks works wonders. Easy on the voice too. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Beer can stuff you up. Wine CAN be very acidic, and any reflux can irritate the throat. Some people have allergies to malt, so might react to libations made from such. Bourbon is mostly made from corn, which few have allergies to.
I don't know about confidence, but tequila is supposed to give a weak man courage. |
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Location: Chicago | Jeff and I are pretty much the same on this: booze relaxes and, in moderation, makes you feel great. Unfortunately, it sabotages the fingers and, especially, the memory. Since we do not sing it has been relatively easy to stay away from drinking at a gig until the very end.... |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | darkbarguitar - 2012-08-06 6:35 AM
Beer can stuff you up. Wine CAN be very acidic, and any reflux can irritate the throat. Some people have allergies to malt, so might react to libations made from such. Bourbon is mostly made from corn, which few have allergies to.
I don't know about confidence, but tequila is supposed to give a weak man courage.
Actually, more and more people are developing allergies to corn. I know because I am one of them.
But tequila not only gives a weak man courage, it works for women too. Or at least it used to work for me. Anymore I can't drink ANY alcohol or I get deathly ill. My solution? Just refuse to get on stage at all amymore.  |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | German Asbach,uralt brandy, but that was before my heart attack. Smooth, great mixed with cola. |
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Location: Tennessee | 'Shine. No doubt about it. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Agree!
Strawberry shine.... |
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Location: Seacoast NH | Tried some 'Shine once at the Winterhawk Bluegrass festival in NY when I was about 20. I am definitely not man enough for that stuff...I can still taste it to this day...
Edited by mbedard 2012-08-06 8:09 AM
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | kitmann - 2012-08-05 10:52 PM
German Asbach,uralt brandy, but that was before my heart attack. Smooth, great mixed with cola.
How wild! This is EXACTLY what I was going to suggest! I'll never forget celebrating my 21st birthday in a bar located in the mill of a 16th century castle in Germany. I wasn't in the service, just saved enough to travel Europe for 6 months. I wasn't accustomed to strong German beer, and pretty soon the room was spinning. I explained my dilemma in my best German to a new friend there. He ordered me a shot of Asbach Uralt and within minutes I actually felt sober! For years afterwards I bought it for parties. You can literally drink half the bottle and only feel great energy and looseness before experiencing drunkeness. I used to pick AND SING while drinking that stuff... and my singing voice is up there with Leo Kottke's description of his voice - "it sounds like a duck fart in Novemeber". |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | mbedard1 - 2012-08-07 7:06 AM
Tried some 'Shine once at the Winterhawk Bluegrass festival in NY when I was about 20. I am definitely not man enough for that stuff...I can still taste it to this day...
Winterhawk. I loved it. Never missed one because it just happened to fall on the shutdown weeks at Ovation. Remember the balloon guy?
I started going there back when it was called "The Berkshire Mountain Bluegrass Festival". Then it was "Winterhawk". Now it is called "The Grey Fox Festival". Still hosted by Dry Branch Fire Squad I believe.
Were you there the year it rained so hard they were towing cars up with the tractor? How about the year it was so hot hardly anyone made it out to the hill. Man, there were some great jams in all the shady spots that year. And of course every year, the jams at the campsites in the evening were the best part - and that's saying something when you consider that regular performers at Winterhawk were people like Alison Krauss, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Tony Rice, The Country Gentlemen, Bela Fleck, and the list goes on and on. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Looks like a bottle of Asbach Uralt is on the shopping list.
I'll get back to you on the effectiveness. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | muzza - 2012-08-07 5:46 AM
Looks like a bottle of Asbach Uralt is on the shopping list.
I'll get back to you on the effectiveness.
It's on the list here too. It's been too many years since I've had it. A side benefit is that it's actually an excellent brandy if you're into that particular spirit. I always thought it went down too smooth to mix with Coke. I'm sure it'll get ya in performance mode. |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | I can buy Asbach at the liquor store in Greensburg, In. When I was still working I convinced the owner of the store to get some. And I use to buy a new bottle of it every two weeks. Dave I got the taste of it when I was stationed in Germany, never had anything as smooth. But as a 19 year old and drinking double shots with my friends, woke up in the vineyards a few times after trying to walk back to the unit from partying. Mussa it great as a shot, mixed with cola, or even better is when you get a double shot, light the Asbach with a lighter blow it out then drink it. When its cold out side, take a lighter to your shot glass and heat it up. I promise that any one of you that find some will not be disappointed. If you just want to try some before ordering it, find a real German restaurant in your area and try some. The liquor store owner found it in a book to order, so if you have trouble finding it, go to your favorite place and ask if they can order you some. Wish I had a little face showing me passed out in the vineyard but I don't, oh well.  Enjoy |
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Location: Seacoast NH | CanterburyStrings - 2012-08-06 11:06 AM mbedard1 - 2012-08-07 7:06 AM Tried some 'Shine once at the Winterhawk Bluegrass festival in NY when I was about 20. I am definitely not man enough for that stuff...I can still taste it to this day... Were you there the year it rained so hard they were towing cars up with the tractor? How about the year it was so hot hardly anyone made it out to the hill. Man, there were some great jams in all the shady spots that year. And of course every year, the jams at the campsites in the evening were the best part - and that's saying something when you consider that regular performers at Winterhawk were people like Alison Krauss, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Tony Rice, The Country Gentlemen, Bela Fleck, and the list goes on and on. Definitely the year it was so hot I thought my tent was going to melt! Yeah, some of the players around the campfires (where the shine was making its rounds) were amazing, just old time pickers. Learned a lot from some of those guys... |
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Location: Northwest Arkansas | Paul Thorn has a song called "Crutches" that explains a lot of this to me. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Paul Thorne...singer/ songwriter extraordinaire |
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Location: Nashville TN. | I need to be sober |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Asbach Uralt... wow completely forgot about that stuff. The little chocolate bottle candies filled with Asbach are yummy too. |
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Best confidence boosting booze?