*To receive PRIORITY Requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* My first introduction to Geoff was epic! This dude is so talented!

He really started doing his personal channel when the shut down hit and VoicePlay stopped touring. He pretty much releases one solo performance every month. Geoff does all of his own arrangements and videos (including video editing) and has historically done about 50% of VoicePlay's, too. Busy man.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Shewee! He does stay busy! Loved the arrangement so he clearly knows what he is doing! Always a joy to listen to!

I love Geoff's voice, and this was one of my dad's favorite songs (sung by Ernie Ford) when I was growing up. When I was still pretty little, he would carry me around on his shoulders, and we'd sing the song together. So much fun! Geoff's wife does great with the costumes and props. She's also a great singer, but she has fought some pretty bad hearing problems. There's a video in Geoff's catalogue, about that. If you watch it, you'll find out some really good things about them both...fantastic, genuine, good-hearted people.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Such a sweet memory Linda! That’s so cool that him and his wife are able to work together to create something so awesome! This performance was amazing all around! Have a great day! 😁

As someone else said - no green screen here. He's just sitting in different spots in front of the same camera. That way you can strip them together by matching up the background. Very important to never overlap the different 'people'. And Geoff is great at this. He's very good at making 'them' (we call them his clones) look as if 'they' are interacting. But also getting those 'beats' with the tools just right in timing. Pretty sure that camera shake has to be repeated in exactly the same spot in the song for each recording, so that they all 'shake' together. Tricky filming!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Wow! So much thought and creativity going into it. Perfect execution though! Phenomenal video and performance!

A favorite pastime in the VoicePlay and Geoff's (official-unofficial) Discord servers is spinning crazy stories about the Geoff clones and their misadventures.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Haha 😂🤣 That’s hilarious! This was such an amazing performance! Thanks for watching!

Geoff lists among his musical influences the work of famed Disney bass Thurl Ravenscroft, who did the voice of Tony the Tiger in the Frosted Flakes commercials and sang the original 'You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch' song. This 'Well, bless my soul' line is definitely in the tradition of that iconic bass singer.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Oh super cool! Yeah that dude is legendary! Thanks for sharing!

Just so you know Geoff's solo videos are never a capella, he has VoicePlay for that, though not much music here. But he does create all the backing music himself. He uses a keyboard with plugins. Back in the day the mining companies had their own store and the miners were paid in tokens, not cash, so they had to buy anything they needed from the Company Store. They would get into debt of course and then owed their soul, as it were, to the Company Store. As others have said, no green screen. He sets up the set then sits on each of the seats for each filming. The cameras, sometimes 3 or 4, are set on tripods before filming. That way he doesn't need a steadycam operator. It's all him and Kathy his wife. IN later videos with more elaborate lighting he hires Eli of VoicePlay to do that, as he does all the lighting for them.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Appreciate all the information! That’s so cool that him and his wife create such awesome content together! Crazy story about the miners! Thanks for swinging by and have a great day! 😁

@liljenborg2517

2 ай бұрын

The Company Store (and paying workers in script - effectively Monopoly Money - only good at company owned businesses) goes back to the early days of the American Industrial Revolution and was common in many factory towns. In many early factory towns, the whole town was built on factory land away from other towns and cities (usually to access a stretch of river that could be dammed for the water wheels that powered the factory). All the stores and shops were company owned and the workers in the shops were company employees. It was a particularly predatory scheme. Exchanging company script for cash (at the company owned bank) was only offered at ludicrous exchange rates (and no other bank would take fake money) to keep workers from getting cash and traveling to the next town over to buy food at non-company shops. And the companies could precisely control the prices of goods at the store to insure that the cost of living was just slightly higher than the workers were paid. The workers would, of course, be offered generous lines of credit - but all this did was trap the workers. They couldn't quit and find someplace else to work until their debt to the company store was square - and their debt would never be paid off, because the company made sure the workers couldn't earn enough money to live on. It also discouraged the formation of unions, because the union ain't going to be able to fund itself on dues paid in monopoly money. In most cases the practice was ended by a combination of unions and workers rights groups, government regulations that made paying workers in non-legal tender illegal, and the growth of the isolated company town into a city with a larger economy than just the factory workers. In many cases one of the worst thing for a factory run on the Company Store model, was another company building a factory right next door which would make the town grow - or worse, incorporate into a city (that would demand taxes and utilities paid in legal tender rather than play money). But another big player in ending the company store was guys like Montgomery Ward, Richard Sears, and James Penny - who started as mail-order businesses (not all that different from Amazon nowadays), but started building department stores all over the place - they wouldn't take pretend money, but they could offer goods at prices low enough the company stores couldn't compete. Department store companies killed the company store . . . and now Amazon is killing off the department store . . . The practice persisted in coal mining towns well into the twentieth century (when this song was written), because unlike other manufacturing towns, coal mines tended to be too isolated and too small to attract a national chain store or grow beyond the coal company's land. Many coal towns were also temporary because it would only take ten years for the miners to dig out all the coal and when the coal played out, the whole town was moved, lock, stock, and barrel to where they would sink a new shaft. In this case, it was the rise of the automobile that gave workers the freedom to drive the fifteen to twenty miles to a town off the coal company's land. Fifteen miles is a long day's walk, but only a thirty minute drive to shop for groceries or visit a restaurant (or send your kids on a bus to a school funded by legal-tender tax dollars).

This was my introduction to Geoff; a friend posted it on my Facebook page. From there I found Voiceplay and I've been hooked ever since! Sometimes the closed captions are not auto generated, as in this case. When he was going to that lowest note, the captions read "I OWE MY SOUL... Super dramatic bend to a low F# 😉) When he does his own captions, they are more descriptive than most. His wife, Kathy, suffers from profound hearing loss. He takes that in consideration for some of the CC. Great reaction!!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching! Such an incredible performer and a low F# is wild! Crazy how he can get that low! 😳

I gather from some voice coach and singer reactions that bass singers often have quite a range-something to do with it being easier to thin out thick vocal cords than the reverse. Another bass singer, Tomi P, has a 6.5 octave range and can do whistle notes. Marwan Ayman, just 20 years old, has hit a sustained B0 and can reach up into the 5th octave. The thing that makes Geoff extraordinary is that he’s able to carry that lovely, silky timbre from the lowest subharmonic to his highest harmony. He’s been training his voice since he was very young and he’s at an age where most bass singers’ voices are fully mature, and still, just in the past couple years I’ve been following him, I can see improvements that show he’s still doing the work. And add to this the fact that he’s a really gifted composer/arranger-he does all the arrangements for his solo channel and about half for Voiceplay. When you listen to young bass singers who are just getting started, Geoff almost always comes up as an example and inspiration, along with Avi Kaplan and Tim Foust.

@johndeeregreen4592

2 ай бұрын

Correct. The largest ranges in the world are either possessed by bass or bass-baritone singers. Even Dimash is naturally a low baritone. Same for Axl Rose. Mike Patton of Faith No More (who's range exceeds Dimash) is naturally a bass-baritone.

@lkayh

2 ай бұрын

@@johndeeregreen4592 Peter Barber is convinced Dimash is a tenor. Me, I’m no expert so I’ll believe anything-tell me he’s a coloratura and I’d buy that too. I’ve actually seen a video where he’s riffing during a sound check and he starts singing the staccati in Queen of the Night!

@lkayh

2 ай бұрын

I will say this: the only times I’ve heard Dimash sound like he was straining for a note was when he was hitting that C2 in Stranger in an earlier recording. I saw a more recent concert video of that song and he accessed that note much more easily, so I’d say he’s working to develop his lower register.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

I agree! Years of training has paid off because his voice is unreal! He seems like such a genuine person too which I love. Thanks so much for sharing!

@johndeeregreen4592

2 ай бұрын

@@lkayh, Peter needs to listen to Dimash speak... his voice isn't much higher than Peter's.

The camera shake was not really intentional. The wooden floor the camera was set up on vibrated with the tapping of the tools.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

A happy accident!! Loved everything about this video! Thanks for sharing! 😁

@Wildecat10

2 ай бұрын

Not true. Since he records one Geoff at a time, that couldn’t have been enough to vibrate a wooden floor. A tip of the hat to Kathy for providing timely taps of the camera during all the takes.

@Hwyla-qp5lv

2 ай бұрын

@@Wildecat10 Not only that but the camera shake had to hit at the exact same moment in the song each time they filmed each 'guy'. Spectacular timing!

Thank you for a great reaction to Geoff Castallucci. The Patty-Cake studio ( Layne & Tony own ) was in use at the time Geoff was making this video so he had to go in the back storage room to film this. Please follow this up with Geoff's cover of Big John... ( Big Bad John )

@shirleykarr560

2 ай бұрын

Big Bad John was filmed in Pattycake's storage space, which is another unit in the mall. 16 Tons was done in Pattycake.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

We will add it to the list! This was such an incredible performance and there will definitely be more Geoff and Voiceplay on the channel! Thanks for watching!

This was originally recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford who had a string of hits. Geoff has a deep rabbit hole of solos. His latest is Unshaken, three of the jeffs and Daryl appear before their deaths when they sang Ghost Riders in the Sky. Also check out Folsom Prison Blues, a cover of the Johnny Cash hit.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

That’s awesome how keeps it all connected!

I discovered Geoff with this song. Was a fan of Tennessee Ernie Ford. This was all it took to make me an instant fan. He led me to his group VoicePlay and fell down the rabbit hole of both. No green screen. He sets up cameras and sets up the stools'films each self. He has to get it done in one day. Then he edits it together.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Such an awesome video and the work he puts in to it is insane! His voice is phenomenal that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing!

In his solo channel, Geoff and his wife do masses of the work; Elli does some of the lighting...Lane and another former member own Pattycake studios, where lots of filming takes place. Geoff, his wife, Voiceplay as a whole...are looong time friends and workmates. And we are the lucky recipients of their massive talent.🙂 Welcome to the rabbit hole!!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! Such an amazing performance and it’s so cool that him and his wife get to create such cool content together! Appreciate you swinging by the channel and sharing! 😄

With the exception of a couple of songs, he typically doesn't use a green screen. For most, he sets up a practical background, records himself in each of the positions, and then splices the video together. He is incredibly talented. He even does his own thumbnail artwork, lol!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Definitely talented and puts in alot of work! It clearly pays off because his content is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

What a great display of his abilities and range. Really enjoyed this song by Geoff. Check out his dwarves in Misty Mountain and I See Fire.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

This was killer! Thanks so much for swinging by the channel and for the suggestions! Have a great one!

I remember Tennessee Ernie Ford from a long time ago singing this song! I love the sound Jeff puts in using the pipes does pounding this is a great performance so glad you reacted to this one!!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for swinging by! Such an incredible performance from Geoff on this one! Always a blast to listen to!

Watch the closing credits for his cover of Unshaken to get a look at part of the filming process. Plus it's an awesome cover.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Oh cool! Thanks for the insight! Definitely have to check that out!

😂 will, now I feel older than dirt. The first time I heard this song, it was a hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford. 😊

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

With age comes wisdom right!! Thanks for hanging out for a bit! 😁

Not green screen here. Most of his solo videos where we see multiple Geoffs, he films in each spot and edits them together. Sometimes we don't see any clones, like in Wicked Games. His record (so far) is seven of him, in Folsom Prison Blues. In Way Down, they all wore name tags. Goff, Jeff, Jeoph, plus Daryl (who first appeared in GRitS.) Named for how people have misspelled or mispronounced his name. Daryl has his own café. 😅 He has done green screen, though. The four ghosts in Ghost Riders in the Sky were green screen. He previously did just his head, like in Jack's Lament and Headless Horseman. Geoff's latest, Unshaken, is like a prequel to GRitS, as it's the same characters only still alive.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Such a cool way to shoot a video! Love the artistry and creativity in this one! Appreciate the info and have a great one!

While centered on his voice, this one DID have instrumentation. You can hear the stand up bass going through it. Really helps the 'vibe'. When you do get instruments on Geoff's channel, they are plug-ins that he plays on the midi keyboard. Well, except for actual piano instrumentation! He apparently is pretty choosy at finding just the right plug-ins and 'sounds' to use. Or at least that is what some of his comments on Patreon suggest. He arranges all his own stuff and so far about half of VoicePlay's. This channel gives him the chance to arrange for instrumentation as well as voice.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Awesome! Killer arrangement and performance! Every time we hear him or Voiceplay it is mindblowing! Such insane talent! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!

@hwyla4416

2 ай бұрын

@@setonhillstudios I have to agree! Not only musical talent (vocal, arrangement & piano), but also visual talent. Not just anyone can direct a music video - especially self-direct, where you aren't watching the filming as it is going on, but imagining it while you preform and then watching the take and re-directing yourself. My background is in the visual arts and he is WAY better than I am, despite schooling and 30+ years experience. I'm good when it comes to still photography, but I cannot imagine trying to self-direct!

Only thing better in my book than one Geoff is four :-) For even more of his crazy range, check out his cover of "Ain't no Sunshine." It's gorgeous!

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for swinging by the channel! We actually covered that on the channel not too long ago! It’s under the playlist on our homepage “Solo Artists.” That vocal performance was unreal! 😁

@vickiroman189

2 ай бұрын

​@@setonhillstudios Thanks for directing me to that category :-)

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

@@vickiroman189 No problem at all! 😁

Yes! Follow the Geoff Castellucci Rabbit Hole! He's so awesome. He has such a great voice and wide range and his videos are always worth the watch!😊

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

He’s so talented and creative!

This is not green screened. To the best of my knowledge he has only done one with green screen: Ghost Riders in the Sky. He had a devil of a time with the editing, so I don’t think he’s going to do a lot of those. 😂 For his multiple appearances, they set up one (as here) or up to three cameras. He sits in one spot and records, then moves to a new place and they record again. By the time they’re done he’s probably really tired of the songs. The tools here came from his dad’s shed and a few appear in Big Bad John.⛏️ I grew up listening to this and Big Bad John, another mining related song. During the depression, my grandparents were in danger of losing the farm so my father and my grandfather went to go work in the coal mines. They did have a company store. The company store was the precursor to the cash advance scam . The workers could charge their groceries and the rent (because it was always company housing) and have it taken out of their paycheck. But by the time they got their paycheck there was almost nothing for the following weeks expenses so they once again had to take an advance on their pay.

@johndeeregreen4592

2 ай бұрын

From my understanding, this was all done in a utility room at Paddycake Studios.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for all the info! Such a cool way to shoot a video and the work he put into it is unreal! Appreciate you stopping by the channel! Have a great one! 😁

@janetdw

2 ай бұрын

@@johndeeregreen4592 I wasn’t sure. I know that Big Bad John was filmed in the basement (and they had to clear all of Layne’s junk out of the way😂). . This one it reminds me of the backdrop of Metallica because of the Edison lights. But the floor is supposed to be older and wooden so I suspect that you’re right.

His solo songs do have instrumentation. Geoff does play a couple instruments, guitar and harmonica. But, there are others too. 16 Tons is very good, but try out his House of the Rising Sun and Ain't No Sunshine for his full range. He does go higher even with the boys. The Oogie Boogie Song, Little Mermaid Medley, and Hellfire shows his talent off, along with the talents of the rest.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for the suggestions! We already checked out Ain’t No Sunshine on the channel and it was incredible! Geoff is unreal! 🔥

When this song was written miner owners had grocery stores owned by the company. They would give you credit but usually not enough pay to pay off your debt.

@setonhillstudios

Ай бұрын

Oh ok! Thanks for the info and filling me in! Have a great one!

Check out Voiceplay doing Fiddler On the Roof, you get a real feel for his range.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Oh wow! Sounds super cool! Thanks for the suggestion!

❤️

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! ❤️

Listen to Oogie Boogie, and Hoist the Colours

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Appreciate the suggestions! Have a great day!

all the tools came from his dad’s shed! ❤

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

That makes it even better!

His range goes from the bottom note A0 on a piano up 5 octaves plus 1 note to a Bb5 in his top falsetto. Tennessee Ernie Ford made this one a hit back in the 50s/60s. You'd probably get a kick out of Geoff's Big Bad John (by Jimmy Dean of sausage fame) from the 60s. Monster Mash was the first music I heard on KZread and needed more Geoff when I found out he and 4 other guys did VoicePlay.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Crazy range! Cant wait to hear more of his stuff!

Geoff does other songs that display his range even better! Try House of the Rising Sun. Tennessee Ernie Ford actually drove this song to the top in the 1950s.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Oh wow, can’t wait to hear more! I had no idea this was such a popular song

Listen to ogie boogie voice play his range is insane

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Awesome!

Didn't you react to Geoff's cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" a month or so ago? I might be wrong lol. Isn't he amazing?

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

So there are two of us here at Seton Hill Studios. That was my partner Steven so you’re not wrong at all! 😆 He is absolutely phenomenal and we love featuring Geoff here on the channel! Such an amazing vocalist and content creator!

@Juilene1965

2 ай бұрын

@@setonhillstudiosOh yep it was the other guy LOL now I feel dumb

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

@@Juilene1965 No worries! 😁 It’s easy to confuse us! We are just glad to have you on the channel! Talk to you soon!

The meaning of this song is messed up. Coal mines had their own money and a company store where you can buy anything like food, booze, clothes, and smokes. So the people would work and wouldn't get enough to live off of so they would get loans from the company and paid them back with work. They owed their souls to the company store.

@setonhillstudios

2 ай бұрын

Wow! That is messed up and sad foreal! At least this tune brings awareness to what was going on back then! Thanks for sharing!