The Beach Boys on Jay Leno tonight !

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Was it worse than this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVjzUG1tzWE

What the hell did I watch?

[Sheriff John Stone]

Let's be honest, if they sound great, they sell albums. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DOING THE SHOW IN THE FIRST PLACE! If they sound bad, people will judge the new album by that performance and NOT buy the album. We'll just have to move on....

Yeah but really the people who would only find about the album and WANT to purchase it would have to be some kind of a fan of the band, yes?  A fan big enough to want to hear a reunion album.  I would think it would take more than one single performance to make the call to not buy it at all.  I mean, the people who would judge the album by this performance...aren't really the audience we're looking for are we?  They're not fans and probably wouldn't have bought the album anyway.  

As I mentioned above, nothing is stopping a true fan or a casual fan or a non-fan from watching this "bad" performance on Leno and then running to their computer, wondering "Damn, does the whole album sound like that??"  Then after listening to the samples they find out the album is nowhere near as bad as the performance.  So regardless of how well they perform, it still gets people to look up the album to find out more.

I have to respectfully disagree with you, Justin. These TV appearances are for promotional reasons, they are promotional appearances. They are not promoting the new album to diehards like us who are going to buy the album regardless of how good it is. They are promoting it to the casual fan or the prospective fan (probably younger, who doesn't know the Beach Boys yet). If the appearance goes well, it might - might - motivate that casual or new listener/viewer to pursue the album. But, if the appearance is not good, like tonight's performance, I am pretty sure they will not be seeking out this album. Isn't that common sense? What casual fan would view tonight's performance and say, "That was absolutely terrible, but I think I'll look into purchasing that album anyway..." Now, it you were to say that just appearing on Leno to let people know that there is a new Beach Boys' album out is worth any possible bad feedback from the performance....well, they might get something out of that. Delivering information, I guess.

But, I just think it is rationalizing to think these TV performances don't have an affect on sales, especially the bad ones. I think the Fallon show performance probably had an opposite effect, a good effect. Can't you just feel the difference? How one could motivate you (Fallon) and one could dissuade you (Leno)?

[Ron]

If you've been around for 50 years, and people have listened to you since they were babies, I don't think 1 bad performance hurts sales at all. The biggest thing is they need people to know that they have an album out, and they accomplished that before they ever turned the amps on. 

[Jon Stebbins]

The hit album is a done deal. They booked Leno long before they knew that would be the case. If the record was just doing okay, but not great, this Leno appearance would have been crucial. But now its not. The album will be top 5 no matter. Beyond expectations, the tour has been the catalyst.

[seltaeb1012002]

Video: http://theaudioperv.com/2012/06/07/the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio-66-leno/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio-66-leno

Could've been stronger, but it doesn't strike me as a train wreck of a performance at all. Maybe it's because I have my A/C blasting right now. 

[Awesoman]

Let's be honest, if they sound great, they sell albums. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DOING THE SHOW IN THE FIRST PLACE! If they sound bad, people will judge the new album by that performance and NOT buy the album. We'll just have to move on....

Yeah but really the people who would only find about the album and WANT to purchase it would have to be some kind of a fan of the band, yes?  A fan big enough to want to hear a reunion album.  I would think it would take more than one single performance to make the call to not buy it at all.  I mean, the people who would judge the album by this performance...aren't really the audience we're looking for are we?  They're not fans and probably wouldn't have bought the album anyway.  

As I mentioned above, nothing is stopping a true fan or a casual fan or a non-fan from watching this "bad" performance on Leno and then running to their computer, wondering "Damn, does the whole album sound like that??"  Then after listening to the samples they find out the album is nowhere near as bad as the performance.  So regardless of how well they perform, it still gets people to look up the album to find out more.

I have to respectfully disagree with you, Justin. These TV appearances are for promotional reasons, they are promotional appearances. They are not promoting the new album to diehards like us who are going to buy the album regardless of how good it is. They are promoting it to the casual fan or the prospective fan (probably younger, who doesn't know the Beach Boys yet). If the appearance goes well, it might - might - motivate that casual or new listener/viewer to pursue the album. But, if the appearance is not good, like tonight's performance, I am pretty sure they will not be seeking out this album. Isn't that common sense? What casual fan would view tonight's performance and say, "That was absolutely terrible, but I think I'll look into purchasing that album anyway..." Now, it you were to say that just appearing on Leno to let people know that there is a new Beach Boys' album out is worth any possible bad feedback from the performance....well, they might get something out of that. Delivering information, I guess.

But, I just think it is rationalizing to think these TV performances don't have an affect on sales, especially the bad ones. I think the Fallon show performance probably had an opposite effect, a good effect. Can't you just feel the difference? How one could motivate you (Fallon) and one could dissuade you (Leno)?

With all due respect Sheriff, you're really over-thinking this.  Do you *honestly* believe artists make it or break it simply by how well they perform on Leno?  Sure tonight's performance was lousy; and maybe it will detract a few from buying the album.  But so what?  Is the Beach Boys' overall success depending on this album, especially this far into their career? 

And it's not like this was the group's only chance to promote the album; they've been popping up all over the place lately.  They've made a number of television appearances, even showing up on QVC. 

Bottom line: the group is doing just fine.  So stop whinin' about one bad performance. 

[donald]

I only really notice NEW bands on TV if they are really impressive.   Old bands, I assume it is a bad performance.  Or a good performance.  Doesn't change the legacy.

[Justin]

Let's be honest, if they sound great, they sell albums. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DOING THE SHOW IN THE FIRST PLACE! If they sound bad, people will judge the new album by that performance and NOT buy the album. We'll just have to move on....

Yeah but really the people who would only find about the album and WANT to purchase it would have to be some kind of a fan of the band, yes?  A fan big enough to want to hear a reunion album.  I would think it would take more than one single performance to make the call to not buy it at all.  I mean, the people who would judge the album by this performance...aren't really the audience we're looking for are we?  They're not fans and probably wouldn't have bought the album anyway. 

As I mentioned above, nothing is stopping a true fan or a casual fan or a non-fan from watching this "bad" performance on Leno and then running to their computer, wondering "Damn, does the whole album sound like that??"  Then after listening to the samples they find out the album is nowhere near as bad as the performance.  So regardless of how well they perform, it still gets people to look up the album to find out more.

I have to respectfully disagree with you, Justin. These TV appearances are for promotional reasons, they are promotional appearances. They are not promoting the new album to diehards like us who are going to buy the album regardless of how good it is. They are promoting it to the casual fan or the prospective fan (probably younger, who doesn't know the Beach Boys yet). If the appearance goes well, it might - might - motivate that casual or new listener/viewer to pursue the album. But, if the appearance is not good, like tonight's performance, I am pretty sure they will not be seeking out this album. Isn't that common sense? What casual fan would view tonight's performance and say, "That was absolutely terrible, but I think I'll look into purchasing that album anyway..." Now, it you were to say that just appearing on Leno to let people know that there is a new Beach Boys' album out is worth any possible bad feedback from the performance....well, they might get something out of that. Delivering information, I guess.

But, I just think it is rationalizing to think these TV performances don't have an affect on sales, especially the bad ones. I think the Fallon show performance probably had an opposite effect, a good effect. Can't you just feel the difference? How one could motivate you (Fallon) and one could dissuade you (Leno)?

All fair and logical points.  But I think we must keep in consideration the media and consumer landscape of 2012.  In today's age when the culture is as reality-TV obsessed as it is...everyone is attracted to a car crash.  And even failure won't necessarily ruin an artist's chance for success.  Let's take for example, the recent success of singer Lana del Rey.  Her debut appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" was deemed an absolute DISASTER:  lackluster performance, shotty vocals....whole thing was ripped apart in the days after it aired.  Withstanding the internet and public ripping she got, her debut album reached #2 in the US and #1 in nearly every other country around the world.  So the model that one bad TV performance can effectively put an artist away is not exactly guaranteed today.  At least the way I've been seeing things.

So in the end, had they done good on Leno things would've been great for them, yes.  But all it would have done was to prove to the non-fans that the Beach Boys still have it---not necessarily that they were going to run out and buy the album.  I doubt anyone "on the fence" about The Beach Boys would have to rely on this new reunion album to seal the deal for them if they wanted to get into them.  It would help yes but with the vast catalog out there, this new album is a giant footnote to the grand scheme.  I still believe that the fans who love the BB would be put off by the performance but still consider getting the album, and after reading the rave reviews on Amazon, they would eventually click BUY.  The people who caught Leno and said "Ick, they suck!  Well there goes me buying that album." are really NOT the people we want to buy the album.  Do we really think that these types of people would have bought the album and then loved it?  These people should stay away from it as far as possible.  It's a package deal..anyone that fickle would probably not see the good in this album anyway.

Just my thoughts.

[Ron]

You know all those rumours about the Elephant Man's bones, and the picture of him sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber?  Michael leaked those himself.  Then it got a ltitle out of hand, but for a while there, he completely understood Justin's insistance that "all press is good press'.  I think you're right, it was kind of suck but still really cool to watch.  Either way it was entertaining.  Just not so much to my ears

[the professor]

you lads are nuts; the sound quality may not have been great, but the performance was more lively and energetic and a bit faster than previous ones; it sounded just fine and looked good.  we are all paranoid! it did not feature the melodic wanderings of previous versions; scott totten must be rehearsing them.

it was a great promo.

[Dave in KC]

I thought it was half-way decent, but my brother called and said, why is Brian just sitting there behind a keyboard, just ocassionally singing and not playing, with his arms at his side? I did not want to discuss.  I think they are doing their best with what the day brings. Seriously thinking that soon this will be over, on Brian's part.  I mean, come on, Alan not strapped to a guitar! They needed a SOCAL moment with their presentation, and it just wasn't there. It all goes back to them being on the Tonight show, in their backyard, and they brought no surf, cars, girls nostogia to the table. They can't win for losing. The producers should have realized this and gave them 2 songs to do. Another missed opportunity, but prolly out of their hands. Anyway, the beat goes on.

[Wirestone]

They've done several TV and web appearances lately -- Fallon, QVC, the Rolling Stone appearance -- all of which have been excellent. A somewhat duff performance after a string of strong performances is not only to be expected, but forgiven. And frankly, it wasn't that bad. I think people are forgetting the average quality of Brian's TV spots over the last decade or so -- which have generally been far worse.

[Summertime Blooz]

you lads are nuts; the sound quality may not have been great, but the performance was more lively and energetic and a bit faster than previous ones; it sounded just fine and looked good.  we are all paranoid! it did not feature the melodic wanderings of previous versions; scott totten must be rehearsing them.

it was a great promo.

Glad somebody liked it.

[Dave in KC]

I liked it too. Now, especially to my fellow students back from 1968-1971 who said they were washed up. For those of them still on the planet, suck it!

[Les P]

FWIW...I heard some off-key singing, thought the mix was terrible and everyone seemed to be yelling their vocals.  My wife was pleased that Brian seemed more upbeat and engaged than usual, and didn't comment about the vocal problems, which she often hears more than I do.  After the performance, she was excited about seeing them live in a couple of days.  Then I played her TATD and the last 3 songs from the album and she was blown away.  "That's exceptional."  I'm a lucky guy...

[18thofMay]

It aint that bad..It is bad by their recent standards but it aint that bad..

[Doo Dah]

you lads are nuts; the sound quality may not have been great, but the performance was more lively and energetic and a bit faster than previous ones; it sounded just fine and looked good.  we are all paranoid! it did not feature the melodic wanderings of previous versions; scott totten must be rehearsing them.

it was a great promo.

It was a 'good' promo. And as I said, it really doesn't add or diminish in the greater scheme of things imo.

I did however check out the vid again, and it was Brian's 'whoa oh ohhhh's that made me go,  . Hey, we're used to it! Reminds me of Ron's posting from somewheres back, how watching Brian on stage is like admiring a tight rope walker. Kinda like that...only sitting behind a Korg.

[Les Chan]

Nice performance tonight on the Tonight Show.  The Boys need to learn and perform two more songs from the album for the tour.

[Ron]

Anybody want to comment on Mike's bass vocals?

[Generation42]

Well, I just watched the video posted above by seltaeb (as I lost track of time and missed the airing), and I'll say right upfront that I don't know if this is what everybody watched, or if maybe it was a touched up after-the-fact, but after reading some of the opinions expressed, I was expecting just horrible, horrible  things.  While no one will ever confuse tonight's performance with the most inspired the band has ever given, I think that maybe some of these posts may be overstating things a little.  While certainly not spotless, mind you, Brian was okay.  He may not have hit it out of Chavez Ravine, but I've heard efforts from the tour that have been far worse.  It was 'passable,' I suppose, is the best way of putting it.

That said, where everyone is absolutely right on the money, as far as I'm concerned, is the atrocity of the sound mix.  Absolutely terrible.  I've played shows in even small, trashy punk clubs with a better house mix, and the Tonight Show is, of course, a multi-million dollar television institution.  I heard issues that should have been addressedd after even one run though during rehearsals.  There is no excuse for a mix like that ever hitting the airwaves.

[Pretty Funky]

Jeez I was expecting worse!

As was said......a blip.

The bar has been pretty high since April. Let them have the odd B plus.

[Cabinessenceking]

I was expecting a trainwreck based on all the critical comments...

Brian was slightly off key, but the blend saved it overall. I think the performace was just fine. On TV that woulda been hardly noticable if one is not a diehard fan trying to spot Brian in the mix...

[Cabinessenceking]

Was it worse than this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVjzUG1tzWE

Oh God, dafuq was dat?

[Eric Aniversario]

I read all the comments, then I found the clip.  This was not nearly the hot mess everyone was making it out to be.  I think it actually sounded better than the Fallon performance.

[Justin]

Just finished it.  Not at all the disaster I was expecting.  Some rough patches throughout but nothing that would've made a casual or non-fan recoil in disgust.  A B- performance.   Onwards and upwards!  Texas gig tomorrow night and then Bonnaroo!