Missouri

Missouri singer gets 4-chair turn on ‘The Voice’ premiere. ‘Your vibe is so cool’

Neil Salsich, from St. Louis, performed “Honky Tonk Blues” during his blind audition on “The Voice.”
Neil Salsich, from St. Louis, performed “Honky Tonk Blues” during his blind audition on “The Voice.” "The Voice" screengrab

A singer from St. Louis, Missouri, kicked off the 23rd season of “The Voice” with a 4-chair turn performance — and his pick of coaches.

Neil Salsich, the 34-year-old frontman of The Mighty Pines, made quite the impression for the coaches as he performed Hank Williams Sr.’s “Honky Tonk Blues” during the season premiere that aired Monday, March 6.

Beginning with Blake Shelton, all four coaches turned their chairs for Salsich. But Shelton used his sole block of the season to prevent Salsich from joining Kelly Clarkson’s team.

“Your vibe is so cool, man,” Clarkson later told him. “It’s like old-school country. Your falsetto is incredible and you also maintain this throaty raspiness that’s really cool.”

Shelton commented on Salsich’s “yodel thing,” noting it was “incredible.”

The show’s two new coaches — Chance the Rapper and former One Direction singer Niall Horan — also raved about the St. Louis singer.

“This guy is the definition of cool,” said Chance the Rapper, who also commented on Salsich’s tone and vocal range.

Horan referred to Salsich as a “seasoned veteran.”

Salsich ultimately chose to join Shelton’s team, making him the first member on Shelton’s final season of “The Voice.”

“I’ll be cheeeesin for days,” Salsich said in an Instagram post. “We’re just getting started, folks.”

He said country music is special to him, but blues, folk and rock ‘n’ roll has also influenced his music.

His band, The Mighty Pines, calls itself “a soul-inspired roots rock band influenced by the wide rivers and red-brick streets of St. Louis.”

“We’re so proud of our band mate Neil for getting a 4 chair turn on his blind audition,” the band said on Facebook.

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Mike Stunson
Lexington Herald-Leader
Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. 
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