Show 23: Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA 6/1/12 (SETLIST/PICS/REVIEWS)

[Justin]

At Al's solo show at Fingerprints Records a while ago he hinted that "California Saga" might make the set on the tour.  Hopefully he can remind the band about adding it.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I want All Summer Long back in the setlist.

[Les Chan]

Mikie,

I'm sure we won't be hearing Student Demonstration Time but it sure would be appropriate for tonight!   I think you can run from the Greek Theater to People's Park in less than 10 mins!

[Mikie]

See you there, Les.   

I'm expecting a good write-up by Joel Selvin.

[Heysaboda]

SouthBay,

I once spoke to Carl in the 90's about the Boys coming out for an encore and opening up with Country Air.  He loved the idea!!  I still hold out hope that the spirit of Carl will bring Country Air out during this tour.   

My seat will give me dead on center view of the action! 

I'll be looking for the Smiley fans!  Come and say hello!

I'll change my vote from "Aren't You Glad" to "Country Air" with this new information.

I sent all of the Beach Boys fan letters in 1993 at age 14.  Carl was the only one to respond and sent me an autographed photo.  I hope to feel his presence at the show as well.

Very cool, Donny.  And how cool of Carl to have responded!!!

[filledeplage]

SouthBay,

I once spoke to Carl in the 90's about the Boys coming out for an encore and opening up with Country Air.  He loved the idea!!  I still hold out hope that the spirit of Carl will bring Country Air out during this tour.   

  My seat will give me dead on center view of the action! 

I'll be looking for the Smiley fans!  Come and say hello!

That would be just great!

Country Air and some of that Wild Honey!   

Have a blast!  You are flying First Class!

[Dove Nested Towers]

Hot time in old Berzerkeley tonight!

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[Justin]

They did "California Saga." 

YESSSSS!

[Dave Modny]

They did "California Saga."

Dumb question: The whole "Saga" or just the (On My Way To Sunny) Californ-i-a part? Though,  I think I could probably guess the answer to that one.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

California Saga?!

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[Aegir]

did Mike sing it or Al?

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did Mike sing it or Al?

Al, though Mike may have doubled him or sang parts of it.  I don't remember exactly, and I was focusing on Al.  Mike gave him nice introduction for the song, saying Al lived in Big Sur and was going to sing a song about California, then the intro to that part of the song started to play.

[DonnyL]

Let's see if I can remember this ...

1 Do It Again
2 Little Honda
3 Catch A Wave
4 Hawaii
5 Don't Back Down
6 Surfin' Safari
7 Surfer Girl
8 Please Let Me Wonder
9 Marcella
10 Kiss Me Baby
11 Disney Girls
12 Then I Kissed Her
13 Isn't It Time
14 Why Do Fools Fall in Love
15 When I Grow Up
16 Cottonfields
17 It's OK
18 Be True To Your School
19 Ballad of 'Ole Betsy
20 Don't Worry Baby
21 Little Deuce Coupe
22 409
23 Shut Down
24 I Get Around

25 Add Some Music
26 California Saga
27 Sloop John B
28 Wouldn't It Be Nice
29 I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
30 Sail on, Sailor
31 Heroes and Villains
32 In My Room
33 All This Is That
34 That's Why God Made the Radio
35 Forever
36 God Only Knows
37 Good Vibrations
38 California Girls
39 Dance, Dance, Dance
40 Help Me, Rhonda
41 Rock and Roll Music
42 Do You Wanna Dance?
43 Surfin' USA

44 Kokomo
45 Barbara Ann
46 Fun, Fun, Fun

(order might be slightly off + I might have missed a couple)

[runnersdialzero]

Did Brian sing the beginning?

[Justin]

By memory?  Very impressive Donny--thanks

[DonnyL]

did Mike sing it or Al?

Brian opened it, then Mike & Al sort of started in unison, and Al was looking at Mike kind of funny like, "Aren't you singing this?" ... and then he sort of seemed to realize Mike didn't quite know the words beyond the first verse, so he took over.

Al said: "We figured Berkeley is the perfect place to place this ... that was from 1973, the Holland album".

Weird thing is the backdrop screen had 'jazz cigarette' smoke going through the whole song (and only this song) !

[Eric Aniversario]

did Mike sing it or Al?

Brian opened it, then Mike & Al sort of started in unison, and Al was looking at Mike kind of funny like, "Aren't you singing this?" ... and then he sort of seemed to realize Mike didn't quite know the words beyond the first verse, so he took over.

Al said: "We figured Berkeley is the perfect place to place this ... that was from 1973, the Holland album".

Weird thing is the backdrop screen had 'jazz cigarette' smoke going through the whole song (and only this song) !

I'd love to hear Al sing the whole song, or have Al & Mike trade off the verses.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Wow, now if that ain't fanservice.

[DonnyL]

Overall: transcendent, spiritual show. I'm not 100% certain, but I think Mike was a bit choked up after 'God Only Knows' (I know I was). Definite high point for me was 'I Just Wasn't Made for These Times'. REALLY came together, everything felt just right. Highlights from the first set were "Disney Girls", "Then I Kissed Her" and "Cottonfields". I would have loved to hear "This Whole World" and "You're So Good to Me" instead of "Marcella" and "Kiss Me Baby", both of which came off a little strange. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", "It's OK", "Betsey", "Rock & Roll Music" & "Kokomo" were the low points for me. Although BW's "find a ride" sounded pretty cool. "Dance Dance Dance" felt weird for some reason too. "God Made the Radio" (the crowd seemed really into it; it felt like a 'hit') came off much better than "Isn't it Time". "In My Room" is placed in a strange spot ... kind of jarring between "Heroes" and "All This is That".  Some TM / spiritual dialog from Mike and Al while introducing "All This is That". Crowd seemed kind of lost during this one, but I was really into it.  And Mike actually said "Berzerkely" at one point. Crowd went nuts during "Be True to Your School" when the 'Cal' logo was shown on-screen (the Greek Theater is essentially on-campus).

The 2nd set from 'Add Some Music' to 'Good Vibrations' was very special, all the way through. There was some kind of wind that came through that chilled me in such a way somewhere around 'Sail on Sailor' or 'Heroes & Villains' that I swore the tributes were coming next.  I kept looking up to the trees, plant life and the sky and feeling a sense of the group's history and what it may have felt like to be at a Beach Boys show in the '70s.

I also became saddened near the end. Because I watched all of these people, young and old, so into 'Fun Fun Fun', 'Barbara Ann', etc ... realizing that this celebratory, life-affirming thing known as an authentic Beach Boys concert is moving toward the end of it's life. And although I saw the group many times in the '90s, none of the shows ever seemed quite this magical ... I realized this is probably the first and last time I will watch and listen to the Beach Boys perform.

[Jay]

Are these guys reading the board and actually taking our requests?   It seems that every time somebody mentions wanting to hear a song, they do it.    I bet they'll do Darlin' at their next show. It would be cool if they did Big Sur, or even the entire California Saga. I might possibly sell a body part to see or hear them do Funky Pretty. They need Blondie and Ricky though.

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[DonnyL]

Seeing this show made me wonder why Mike had to be such a putz about things over the years.  If he were just a little bit nicer guy, he could have gotten so much more respect instead of scorn.  He's good at what he does, which is front a rock band in concert.  His voice isn't that outstanding or anything, but he delivers the songs well, has a lot of charisma, and somehow can get a crowd going just singing a song.  He's sort of like Roger Daltrey in that way; he personifies what a more introverted songwriter was trying to convey. 

Brian is almost the opposite.  He's not a good showman at all, never was, and he wasn't even the strongest singer in the band.  Carl took a lot of leads that Brian otherwise might have given himself because Carl had a sweeter vocal quality.  Then Mike did songs that fit a certain persona, and Al did the rest that Brian or Carl didn't do, or that Al himself wrote.  Brian's charisma and talent comes from writing and arranging, and knowing which voice and instrument belongs where.  While watching the show, I was thinking that Mike was excellent at getting the crowd involved (the car and surf songs got the biggest overall response), but Brian's genius gave Mike the script.  The crowd loved Brian, too, but more in a way of tribute to him and giving him respect for all that's he's accomplished.  Brian doesn't need to be out front and make big gestures to get the crowd's love and attention, though on the other hand, the reaction he gets is more subdued.  It's interesting to see that dynamic played out and it was something I enjoyed much more than any of the Brian Wilson solo shows I've seen.  The sum of the Beach Boys is greater than the parts, even Brian.

I agree with your post, but didn't you think the show really took off into another dimension with "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"? I feel like the crowd response was overwhelming after that one.  And the performance was so perfect ... it was one of those moments that is really rare. Just captured a lot of emotion.

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