The Voice 2015 Live Recap: Night 2 of the Blind Auditions (VIDEO) (2024)

Last night, a new season of The Voice 2015 began. Tonight, it continues. Last night gave us some great blind auditions from people like Jordan Smith and Barrett Baber. We also got to remember that Chuck Woolery has a kid. But we don’t focus on those people for a few weeks. Tonight is night 2 of The Voice 2015 season 9 blind auditions. More contestants, more great performances, more judges competing, and of course, more Blake Shelton dad jokes. Welcome to another night of our The Voice 2015 live recap!

Each of the The Voice 2015 season 9 coaches (Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Blake Shelton) picked up two contestants last night. What will they do tonight? I mean, we know what they’ll do. Blake will make fun of people, Pharrell will say something vaguely cryptic, Gwen will mention that she was in a band, and Adam will desperately overact in his attempts to plead with singers. It’s going to be fun! There’s sure to be some fantastic performances and other things, so stick around with us for a couple hours, why don’tcha? Follow along with our The Voice 2015 live recap!

WARNING: THE VOICE 2015 SEASON 9 SPOILERS AHEAD

If you keep reading, you will find The Voice 2015 spoilers. If you don’t want to find those, you probably shouldn’t keep reading!

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Blind Joe, 32 – “If It Hadn’t Been For Love”

Get ready for a bunch of Blind Audition puns. Joe is blind, but still learned guitar as a kid and has been playing bars for years. His wife helps him out with her gear when he plays. It’s hard to find jokes when everything people are saying are nice things. That said, Joe makes for our first “Guy on The Voice who always wears a hat” of season 9! Joe has one of those country voices I usually find indistinguishable, but he’s got a nice grit and some really good soulful runs that set him apart. I hope they don’t linger too much on the fact that he’s blind (he’s literally called Blind Joe, so I’m not holding my breath on that one) because he does have a good voice that Blake could pick some really good songs for.

Coach’s thoughts: Blake turns around first during the chorus. Adam soon follows suit. Gwen and Pharrell make it a four chair turn at the last moment! Adam says he’s sick of losing these country battles, and thinks Joe can be that unique person he’s looking for. Pharrell is glad he turned around for someone so original with his own thing. Gwen calls Blake the don of the Country Mafia, and says she appreciates the honesty and rawness of Joe’s voice. Blake thinks it’s time for Joe to start reaping rewards, and that he can show him Nashville. Joe, true to the form of someone in a cowboy hat, joins Team Blake!

We return from commercial to a skit where Blake and Adam bring Pharrell into a secret Winner’s Lounge. Adam Levine dons a ridiculous British accent because he fancies himself a thespian.

Ivonne Acero, 17 – “Style”

Ivonne auditioned last year and is known as “The Cantaloupe Girl” because of whatever her backstory was. Who knows. There’s too many things to remember. Ivonne has been working on her singing and participating in school musicals. Ivonne mentioned the judges last year giving her advice and giving her more confidence, and it’s apparent. There’s no nerves to found in her this time, and without the pressures of waiting for a chair to turn she even gets a big note at the end. I don’t know how long she’ll last, but it’s always nice to see someone come back and have legitimately worked and improved.

Coach’s thoughts: Gwen turns around right away, and Pharrell follows up with a button push. Blake remembers her, totally not at all because a PA reminded him right before. Pharrell says he didn’t miss it this time, and praises her control. Gwen loved how creative she was and how into the lyrics Ivonne was. Pharrell calls the fact that she has glasses and braces “super unique” because apparently Los Angeles is actually just Ugly Betty in real life. Ivonne picks Pharrell! Ivonne wants to be around Pharrell’s spirit.

Gage Navarro, 21 – “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”

Gage started singing in middle school because he heard girls like guys who sing. Just as I started to wonder if that was going to be his whole story, apparently his family’s house was foreclosed upon. Cage the Elephant! Is this the first Cage the Elephant song they’ve ever done on The Voice? His voice is entirely average, but nothing special. It really sucks to see their faces as the song ends and no one turned around for them, but he still needs a little work making his performances build.

Coach’s thoughts: No one turns around for him. Gwen compliments his rhythm, with Adam throwing out a Bradley Nowell comparison, but Gwen didn’t hear the whole story in his performance. Adam says he was waiting for a big moment to make him press his button. Pharrell tells him to make sure he keeps working.

Regina Love, 51- “Rock Steady”

Regina is a radio host in Georgia, but her real passion is singing. Also she’s friends with Evander Holyfield – cue pun about him having a chewed off ear for talent. She’s got enough confidence to last 20 people and her family and friends all wear stylish hats. That confidence is earned (and those hats are earned). She’s got a classic smoky soul voice and she knows how to use it. It felt like a moment she’s been waiting for her whole life and she nailed it.

Coach’s thoughts: Adam turns around first, and Blake pushes his button right after. Gwen loved it and didn’t think she had anything to offer Regina, and Pharrell thinks he made a mistake not pushing his button. Adam turned around because he couldn’t bear to have that great voice not make the show. Blake wants to give her the opportunity to shine, and that they can put their heads together and come up with some great ideas. After much deliberation, Regina joins Team Adam!

Zach Seabaugh, 16 – “Take Your Time”

Zach looks like someone who wears an ascot and constantly mentions his dad’s yacht in public. His grandfather showed him Johnny Cash as a young boy and inspired him. He wanted to keep his singing a secret from his high school football team, because sometimes life is literally High School Musical. It’s a pretty average performance that starts shaky and grows more solid. His range sounds pretty limited, with the big deal mostly being that he has a deep voice. I’d say he can’t last that long on the show, but I’ve seen what good looking guys who sing country do on this show.

Coach’s thoughts: Pharrell and Blake turn around towards the end, with Adam getting in there at the last second. Gwen was shocked by his performance and missed her chance. Pharrell thinks he’s something different. He’s thought everyone is different so far. Adam wonders if he’s Superman, and wants to win with someone no one would expect. He thinks Zach could get lost in the shuffle on Blake’s team. Blake thought Zach’s voice rattled the room, and knows the country on the radio to help him. Zach picks Blake, because if there’s one thing white guys from the south do, it’s stick together.

Evan McKeel, 20 – “Typical”

Evan looks at his music like a business, and has been making money performing at weddings. He also plays at a dementia care facility to make a difference. He’s got an impressive higher register, but the combination of a guy who talks about business singing a Christian rock song definitely makes this feel more boring. A different song would suit him better, something that takes more advantage of that good high register.

Coach’s thoughts: Blake turns around halfway through, and Adam and Pharrell hit their buttons in turn. Gwen makes it a four chair turn! Adam thought he got better as the performance went on, and loved the growth in confidence after the chairs turned. Blake compliments his fashion choice to wear two jackets, and praises his stage presence. Gwen likes that she couldn’t quite figure out what style she was, that a number of things collided. Pharrell, once again, thinks someone is unique. Evan mentions Stevie Wonder, and Pharrell asks him to sing some of his favorite Stevie song. Evan sings his favorite, “Overjoyed.” It’s great. Like, seriously. That was a million times better. Quit singing Mute Math songs, you weirdo, you got some serious talent! He brings Gwen to tears. Evan has trouble deciding, and then picks a commercial break! But that’s not technically an option, so instead he picks Pharrell! Fair. You don’t sing Stevie to Pharrell unless you plan on picking him.

Bryan Bautista, 23 – “Locked Out of Heaven”

Bryan grew up on meringue and salsa, and is the second “dude on The Voice in a hat” of the episode, and it’s a fedora! Fedora count is at one. He’s an usher at the Barclays Center, and even got to sing the National Anthem at a Nets game. He wants to take advantage of that buzz. He was great in that National Anthem clip, but this song is just too high for him. He’s straining the entire time. Bad song choice did him in.

Coach’s thoughts: No one turns around. Adam thought it ended great, and hopes he comes back and starts where that finished. Gwen thought he really got better in the chorus. Pharrell tells him to sing like it’s what he loves to do.

Emily Ann Roberts, 16 – “I Hope You Dance”

Carson says she’s looking to be different from the competition. A 16 year old blonde country singer has never been different from The Voice singers. She loves bluegrass and classic country. Everything she says makes me wonder if she’s already won this season. This feels so… plain. Like it was so perfectly calculated to appeal to the country fans that it feels lifeless, even though she’s clearly got a good voice that shines in the chorus. I just wish it had more personality.

Coach’s thoughts: Adam, in his ploy to get a country singer on his team, turns around first. Blake pushes his button during the chorus. Adam mentions he has no country singers on his team, which means less competition. Blake mentions that he does have great country singers on his team that she’d fit right in with. He wants her to think about who’s been on country radio, while Adam thinks the one that might not seem like it fits perfectly could be the best. They keep saying these things in slightly different ways for like 4 more minutes before Emily picks Blake. Duh.

Ellie Lawrence, 26 – “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off”

Ellie is from a country town but plays indie rock. Her mother talks about how interesting she is because she has blue hair. Clearly Ellie’s mother is not an anime fan or she’d be used to it. Ellie’s in a band with her fiancé. She’s really good. So many supposed indie rock girls on this show just do the thing where they never pronounce consonants and are considered quirky, but she’s so clear with good range.

Coach’s thoughts: Adam, Gwen, and Pharrell turn around basically right away. Ellie excitedly looks at Gwen and yells “THAT’S THE QUEEN OF SKA!” Ellie has won my heart. Adam thought she was straining in the higher moments and wants to help her with that. Pharrell finds her so cool, and just barely avoids saying “unique” again. Blake sarcastically asks who she’ll pick, because everyone knew she was going to pick Gwen. They’ll go well together.

Montage. Gwen got Noah Jackson, Tim Atlas, and Hanna Ashbrook. Why does Gwen get three singers montaged? That seems strange.

Christina Grimmie returns to The Voice as a “Kohl’s Style Insider,” also known as an “I Need Money Person.” Did you know Kohl’s is a sponsor? Kohl’s Kohl’s Kohl’s!

Natalie Yacovazzi, 26 – “Oh! Darling”

Natalie got a divorce when her husband didn’t support her music. She works to support her child and wants her turn to shine. She sounded really good, if nervous. Not a perfect vocal, but we’ve seen way worse vocalists make it through, frankly.

Coach’s thoughts: No one turns around. Wait, what? Blake thought a lot of it was incredible, but other parts were sharp. Pharrell thought she was nervous and out of feeling. Gwen thinks she has a great voice, but the honesty wasn’t coming through.

James Dupré, 30 – “Let Her Cry”

James is divorced with a bunch of kids. Youtube videos got him onto Ellen, which got him a record contract, but nothing ever really came of it. I wonder if there’s some random dude who always says there aren’t enough Hootie and the Blowfish songs on The Voice freaking out right now. He’s got great control and nails his runs.

Coach’s thoughts: Adam, Gwen, and Pharrell all push their buttons a couple of lines into the song. Blake makes it a four chair turn! Pharrell calls him different. What is the different/unique counter at right now? Pharrell thinks he’s got American appeal beyond just country. Gwen thinks he’s got an attractive quality to his voice. Blake asks James if country is what he wants to do, and James says yes. Adam says that no one’s ever gotten where they need to be just by fitting into a box. He thinks James is extraordinary, the best country singer on the show, the perfect person for his team. Once again, Blake and Adam go around and around saying the same thing over and over FOREVER. I hope he picks Gwen, I couldn’t care less about the Blake and Adam pissing contest. Make a left turn, man! James joins Team Adam! Just as the narrative promised it would by the end of the night.

That’s it for this week! Join us for another week of blind auditions on Monday, for another The Voice 2015 live recap!

Join us tonight on for our The Voice season 9 Live Recap! Let’s watchThe Voice2015 together! Bookmark us or friend us on Facebook or Twitter for all our latest updates. You can also follow recap writer Steve Fiorillo on Twitter and tell him what you think! Don’t be mean about it, though. Please.

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