The Voice 11 Live Blog and Recap Blind Auditions 4 VIDEOS

Host Carson Daly is back to keep things moving. Also returning to The Voice are veteran coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. But for the first time ever, the panel will be an equal mix of males and females as Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys join the group.

Tonight, the show returns to a 2-hour format. Night 4 below.

Aaron Gibson – Losing My Religion by REM – Aaron almost joined the Marine Corps. His parents are glad that he didn’t. He just quit a full time job at a background check company to pursue music. He gigs locally, but is looking to widen his audience. This audition was previewed over the weekend. Aaron slows down the intro to “Losing My Religion.” His voice is craggy, emotive. His tone has an interesting quality. Miley, Alicia and Blake turn pretty fast. Adam holds off.  Blake casually mentions that he knows the band Sugarland, who are from the town where Aaron grew up. Alicia notes his “special powerful tone.” She thinks they’d be a great match. “You’re someone I want to listen to in the car,” says Miley, mentioning her own gravelly tone. Blake mocks Miley for talking too much, picking up a bullhorn to drown her out. Aaron Chooses Team Miley. The similar voices thing must have impressed him. He loves her personality and hopes to get performance tips from her. –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmZGPAXE0oA

Simone Gundy – 25 – I Who Have Nothing by Shirley Bassey – She had her son when she was only 15. The baby daddy is hit and miss. But, she has a loving boyfriend. So that’s good! Adam and Miley hit their buttons fast. Simone falters as the performance progresses. She’s got some tuning issues on the big notes. This song is a little too big for her. But she has a strong soulful voice. Miley and Adam rush the stage to give her a hug. Alicia calls her voice “magnificent and unique.” But she didn’t pick her? Miley says she felt like she was front row at her show. She had chills! Adam calls himself a “monstrous animal…I’m going to get you on my team.” Blake advocates for Miley, calling Adam “buttoned up.” Miley is sure she can help bring out her personality.  But she doesn’t pick Miley! Simone Chooses Team Adam Her little boy thinks she made “the wise choice.” – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIYCYiivgPk

Samantha Landrum – “Man I Feel Like a Woman” – Her family runs a historical re-enactment center. And she’ll be heading right back to help with the Civil War re-enactments, because her pitchy performance didn’t get a single turn. Adam and Blake noted that her lower notes were off-pitch. Miley suggest that she work on her confidence and nerves. Blake calls her “breathy.” – No Turns

Josh Gallagher – Stay a Little Longer by Brothers Osborne – He wanted to play professional baseball, but his grades put him on academic probation. His fear of failure drives his musical ambitions. He sings mainly country, but is open to choose any of the coaches. Blake turns, and then Alicia Hm. In the previous segment, Alicia said she REALLY wants a country singer on her team. Miley figured she couldn’t compete with Blake, so she didn’t turn. Adam advocates for Alicia. Josh says “Ya’ll are so cute together.” to Blake/Adam. He ships Shevine! Heh. Josh has a solid country voice. This song is annoying in a broey way. That’s a turnoff. However, The singer has an impressive range and a clear, resonant tone. He’d sound good on the radio. Alicia notes the overlap between blues and country. Blake says “Country music is my life.” He wants to help country singers…stay in their lane! Alicia suspects he wants more….but nope. Josh Chooses Team Blake – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSF8bbKIj9k

Gabriel Violett – 28 –  Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes – His day job is…a onsie fit model in New York City. He performed in the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening. Ohhh. I bet he has some juicy Lea Michele stories. After the show closed in 2009, his career stalled.  Alicia hits her button in a second. He’s an OK singer. I’m not really impressed honestly. He’s lacking presence and his voice is a little thin. Alicia seems pretty excited, though. Blake turns at the last minute. Eh. He was real pitchy too. Miley reveals Alicia confessed she turned after receiving a “cosmic message.” Uhm. OK. She wants to help him find his artistry. Blake thought he sounded auto-tuned in the second half. That’s supposed to be a compliment? Of course, Gabriel Chooses Team Alicia –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf4h01lQIXw

Michael Sanchez – Use Me by Bill Withers – He plays piano at a restaurant to support his family. He says, “Some people say I sound a lot different than I look.” Yeah, he’s totally nerd-city, but the voice that comes out of him is deep and bluesy. The coaches will be shocked when they turn. He sounds like a 45 year old black dude. He’s not only soulful, but extremely expressive. Excellent phrasing! Adam thought he was a 60 year old black dude. Blake compared his looks to Rick Moranis. Jeez. Alicia was the only turn. He was good! – Michael is on Team Alicia –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfNAqyUsOYg

Blake shows up backstage wearing a flowered denim jacket just like Miley’s.

Darby Walker – 17 – Stand by Me by The Drifters – Darby was featured on the Olympic preview from last month. We know this girl! Here’s what I wrote back then: Darby and her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 9 years of age in order to pursue a showbiz career. Ooohhh. A quirky girl. And she sings the quirky version of “Stand By Me.” Darby has one of those warbly voices that the kids seem to love. She got a three chair turn. No Adam. Blake was the last to hit his button. Miley admires her shaky vibrato, because she’s got one too! So of course, Miley joins Darby on stage for a rendition of “Jolene.” Miley does a little jig. She really wants Darby on her team. Blake puts on a pair of headphones to block out the annoying Miley. Her mouth runs a mile a minute.  Alicia loves the power in Darby’s tone. She’ll help her refine her individuality. Darby calls herself “indie alternative” but she’s into everything! Blake notes a soulful touch to her voice. Not to be outdone, Alicia joins Darby on stage to sing a little “No One.” And Darby Chooses Team Miley. Who didn’t see that coming! Darby agrees that Miley’s voice is similar and that she will be able to help her. –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elhjzb14fAI

Austin Allsup – Wild Horses by Rolling Stones – His dad has worked as a musician with many of the great country artists. Yikes. As a young man back in the fifties he lost a coin flip to Ritchie Valens for the last seat on Buddy Holly’s fated plane. He’s 84. It turns out Austin has played with Blake before. He kissed him on the cheek on stage. Ha. He’s covering the Rolling Stones because they are his wife’s favorite band. Austin adds an extra country twang to the Stones classic and sings with an evocative, rough hewn rock vocal. Blake slams his button so hard, he could have broken his wrist! Dude is also really good looking. JUST SAYING. Blake was the only turn. Really? Blake remembers playing with him way back in 2005! Adam didn’t turn around because he figured. Blake. Alicia calls his voice “powerful.” Miley says he reminds her of her dad. And Adam reminds her of her mom. Heh. Austin is on Team Blake –   Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ao3IAOwHJU

Montage time!

Christian Fermin – Brother by NEEDTOBREATHE – Download at iTunes and Preston James – Nobody to Blame by Chris Stapleton – Download at iTunes – Both singers go to Team Blake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIfDkRXP8uE

Khaliya Kimberlie – 16 – Dibs by Kelsea Ballerini – She lives on an Apache reservation in New Mexico. She’s half native. Her grandparents speak Apache. She’s also gay. Her parents are cool about it though. She loves country music. She is young and sounds young. Khaliya has potential but she’s a little underbaked and tentative. Miley and Blake turn at the same time. Did Miley push her button accidentally? Miley likes her low tones. Blake says he can’t give her flowers, but he can get her a trophy! Blake tells Miley she’s sucking the oxygen out of the room with her non-stop chatter. He isn’t wrong. Khaliya Chooses Team Miley. I’m not surprised. She’s young and isn’t exactly sure who she is. Miley promises to help her figure it out. –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFlPapH6Xck

Cooper Bascom – “500 Miles” by The Proclaimers – He was a piano player first, but singing is his passion. He’s putting a “Mumford and Sons” spin on it. THAT’S SO 2011. The coaches might think so too, because no one turns. Aw. He needs some voice lessons. His voice is raspy, but he’s got pitch problems. His mother is crying. Sads. Adam and Miley liked his voice. The second half of the song lost them, though. It was unwieldy. Adam mentions the crowd clapping off beat. He also suggests he come back and audition again. – No Turns

Halle Tomlinson – 18 – New York State of Mind By Billy Joel – Her parents are both choreographers. She was on the Barney show when tiny. After her parents lost their dance studio, they split up. Now she and her mom live in Boulder. Halle works for School of Rock…just like Dalton Rapattoni. Halle hopes Alicia turns her chair. Adam turns first, Alicia next. Halle has a very jazzy, bluesy thing going on. She’s a little Haley Reinhartesque, if you know what I mean. However, at 18, her inexperience shows. Miley and Blake didn’t turn because they were afraid of Alicia. She calls Halle, “recognizable…easy effortless.” Adam compliments her approach to the song. He notes that she needs some work. He is correct. Nevertheless, Halle Chooses Team Alicia –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsrCmGiq6jM

Nolan Neal – 35 – Tiny Dancer by Elton John – He auditioned last season? Did they air his audition? Yep. He covered Incubus. He talked then about his father’s suicide and many fans reached out to him after the segment aired. OK, maybe I do remember this guy. A little. He claims to be doing a “rock version” of the song. ??? It is a rock song. Or at least what was considered rock in the 70s.  Last season, Adam advised Nolan to come back with a better song. Mission accomplished. His raspy rangy vocal is a little…soft. The coaches are going on and on about him like he’s the second coming. This is a trumped up redemption arc, methinks. He’s solid but not all that. First Adam and Blake turn and then Miley on a big note. Alicia turns her chair on the chorus.  Ha ha ha. Adam doesn’t remember him at all, but he wants him really bad. His voice reminds Miley of her dad, whom she considers more of a rock singer. Alicia goes on with some word salad about him being an inspiration to the next generation. Blake calls Nolan an accomplished vocalist. Blake pimps his experience vs Miley and Alicia. “Proven season after freaking season,” Blake says about himself. Nolan could make the finale, Blake insists.  Despite being in love with Alicia for the past 10 years, Nolan Chooses Team Adam –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX5C8A4kC1g

Next week is the last of the Blinds.