Hey Beach Boys Tour: Would It Hurt to SMiLE Just A Little More?

[mammy blue]

So they read this? OK guys, here's my suggestion.

You've GOT to play something else from SMiLE on this tour, other than H&V and GV, which have graced BB setlists for decades. You just released the thing 6 months ago. I know Mike is in charge of the setlist and has issues with much of the material. Regardless of that though, it represents a significant part of Brian's creative peak.

Just take your pick, Mike. Just do Our Prayer, like Al suggested, if the lyrics bother you that much. As it stands, we're getting more "deep cuts" from less currently celebrated albums like CATP and Holland, and the lack of a SMiLE curveball in the mix is becoming painfully conspicuous.

If you want to make the fans go *nuts* and create a little more harmony and embrace the SMiLE just a little, GO FOR IT!!!!

BTW, Friends on the soundcheck setlist rulez.

[runnersdialzero]

The only other songs sans the two singles they're playing now that I was really thinking was a possibility was "Our Prayer", and even then, I thought chances were slim. It'd be a brilliant setlist addition, though, and am glad to hear Al is pushing for it.

Otherwise... I just don't see the guys busting out "Cabin Essence" or "Wind Chimes" or something. "Surf's Up" may be another possibility, but I see it as even slimmer than "Our Prayer". When was the last time Brian's band even played that one?

[Sheriff John Stone]

They could place "Vegetables" somewhere in that second set, maybe right after "Add Some Music To Your Day", and have a lot of fun with it.

[Michael Edwards Love]

They could place "Vegetables" somewhere in that second set, maybe right after "Add Some Music To Your Day", and have a lot of fun with it.

"Vegetables" would be the perfect choice to please both hard-core and casual fans. 

[EgoHanger1966]

I don't think Vega-Tables would be a good choice at all. Anyone other than hardcore fans would not enjoy that.

Mike has stated he really likes Wonderful. Now THAT would be a good choice.

[seltaeb1012002]

I'll make things easy for 'em.. just open the 2nd set with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZoIY8bdNNo


.. seriously though, a Smile medley of sorts, maybe around 5 minutes long would be extremely fulfilling.

[ontor pertawst]

"Our Prayer" would be a fuckin' stunning addition. You'd think at the very least Joe Thomas would realize that the visual impact would be enough to be worth doing it just once or twice for the DVD or PBS special. It would provide bullshit pop psych "closure" for future documentary narrative construction, plus -- NO WEIRD LYRICS, Mike!

[Ron]

I'm really surprised that they haven't done the inevitable:  Cabinessence.  As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet money that they will before the tour is over. 

[Justin]

I called it in another thread:  I'm putting my money down on more SMiLE stuff when they reach the UK. 

I hope I'm wrong.

[TV Forces]

I'm really surprised that they haven't done the inevitable:  Cabinessence.  As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet money that they will before the tour is over. 

How is "Cabinessence" an inevitable setlist addition?

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I completely agree with the sentiment of this link. It is RIDICULOUS that they aren't playing more from SMiLE (and let's face it, GV might be on SMiLE but it's not a SMiLE track, if you get what i mean...)

[Sheriff John Stone]

I'm really surprised that they haven't done the inevitable:  Cabinessence.  As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet money that they will before the tour is over.  

How is "Cabinessence" an inevitable setlist addition?

Have Mike and Bruce ever performed this or "Our Prayer"? Or Al's band?

[Ron]

I'm really surprised that they haven't done the inevitable:  Cabinessence.  As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet money that they will before the tour is over. 

How is "Cabinessence" an inevitable setlist addition?

Do I really have to spell it out? 

[Wirestone]

I doubt Mike would go for Cabinessence.

But they should do Wonderful (Brian with Jeff on lead, probably) and Vega-Tables (Al all the way). And Prayer would be awesome.

Do it, guys.

[Summertime Blooz]

I would bet that 95% of the audience going to a BBs concert couldn't care less about Smile, and adding songs from Smile to the set list would just bog it down. Don't **** with the formula, man.

[ontor pertawst]

I would bet that 95% of the audience going to a BBs concert couldn't care less about Smile, and adding songs from Smile to the set list would just bog it down. Don't **** with the formula, man.

Cut to a poster on this board standing by a window, a lone tear rolling down his cheek.

[Dove Nested Towers]

So they read this? OK guys, here's my suggestion.

You've GOT to play something else from SMiLE on this tour, other than H&V and GV, which have graced BB setlists for decades. You just released the thing 6 months ago. I know Mike is in charge of the setlist and has issues with much of the material. Regardless of that though, it represents a significant part of Brian's creative peak.

Just take your pick, Mike. Just do Our Prayer, like Al suggested, if the lyrics bother you that much. As it stands, we're getting more "deep cuts" from less currently celebrated albums like CATP and Holland, and the lack of a SMiLE curveball in the mix is becoming painfully conspicuous.

If you want to make the fans go *nuts* and create a little more harmony and embrace the SMiLE just a little, GO FOR
IT!!!!

BTW, Friends on the soundcheck setlist rulez.

Well said.

[TheLazenby]

Didn't Al suggest that the second half start with "Our Prayer," and Mike shot down the idea?

There's your answer.  Note that they're not even playing the SMiLE versions of GV or H&V.

[runnersdialzero]

Didn't Al suggest that the second half start with "Our Prayer," and Mike shot down the idea?

There's your answer.  Note that they're not even playing the SMiLE versions of GV or H&V.

They're playing the finished versions from the 60s, with "Good Vibrations" being how it would have appeared on Smile if it were finished in 1967."Good Vibrations" on The Smile Sessions isn't how the song was finished in 1966, it's a modern mix. The TSS structure of "Heroes" is also a modern edit and not how it was done at any point in the 60s.

I think Al said he was less shot down and more not responded to about it. Presumably this happened recently, so we'll see.

[keysarsoze001]

I wouldn't be surprised to see more artsy stuff when it moves overseas. Maybe not SMiLE (although to my mind, "Wonderful" makes the most sense), but deeper cuts will probably show up there. Even Mike and Bruce's Traveling Circus included stuff like "Til I Die" and "You Still Believe in Me" a few years ago when they played Manchester. They know full well that in the UK the perception of their legacy is VERY different from how the average fan thinks of them in the US.

[runnersdialzero]

"Wonderful" is probably a bit too sparse for these types of shows, innit? Over half the people on stage would just be standing around!

[keysarsoze001]

The vocals get fairly complicated by the end, so the boys themselves would have something to do. Unless you mean the version from Smiley Smile, which would be mind-boggling, and almost somehow cooler than the SMiLE version, just for sheer chutzpah.

[runnersdialzero]

Brian on vocals (with maybe Jeff shadowing him. Ugh. Or possibly doing the false yodeling thing.), Mike and Bruce on backing vocals as per the original, harpsichord, and is there bass on there? That's six folks (at most) on stage, maybe seven if I'm forgetting a backing vocal. Jeez!

[keysarsoze001]

If we're talking about the SMiLE version, yes, there's bass. Remember it's the only thing we hear at the end of the track on TSS because it presumably would've crossfaded into something else. I could see something like this: Brian on lead vocal, Bruce on harpsichord (if his keyboard is actually in the monitor at all, not sure), Al on bass like he was in the classic days, Mike and Bruce do backup vocals, backup band has a cuppa. And it's short enough that by the time the audience got restless they would have moved on.

And that'd still give more people something to do than the second movement of "Surf's Up" would, with just Brian and the piano, right?

[Generation42]

I've been saying it from the start, too (never forgetting to selfishly push for "Surf's Up" come June 29 in Darien Lake, NY).  I would absolutely love and adore the fellas if they were to start adding some SMiLE material to the set.  Yes, "Surf's Up" is sort of my ultimate wish, as envisioned in my mind's eye, but "Wonderful" would be just that, too.  "Cabinessence," I am certain, would be absolutely mind-blowing, and "Our Prayer" would be stunning.

Though I've seen Mike and Bruce's act two or three times in the past, I've yet to see Brian perform, and as such, have yet to hear any SMiLE material live.  I should say that, just as I prefer last atumn's TSS to BWPS (which I do greatly enjoy), even if I had seen Brian and the 'Mints play these songs before, nothing would compare to a Beach Boys presentation of these tunes.

I really hope the guys haven't been fooled into thinking that only Europe / UK has an ear for this music, while we here in the sates get passed over for any such peferomances.  Still, as I've said before, even if I personally don't get to enjoy any of these numbers live, as long as any potential performance is filmed / recorded and then made available to us officially via blu ray or live album, I'll be satisfied.