Check out Dave's guitar fills on this recent performance of SOS

[Jon Stebbins]

I think he was kind of feeling it that night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jNJoM166gI

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Man, both him and Brian were smokin' that song something FIERCE.

[the professor]

yes Jon, I noted this too; at Irvine he did his best work.  As I said in an other post, Dave's work in this reunion is both the core and crown from my perspective. To you and to all, by the way, I was driving back from LAX today and had the album on right over the old BB home on the shores of the 105 freeway in Hawthorne. . . .a funny feeling. . . ..

If there is a second album, Dave will continue to be a major musical force.  I hope he knows how many of us are so moved by his playing and my also his kindly, gentle mien; he's a deeply philosophical and genuine man from all I have seen and heard, and  I personally admire him. This would not be a dream come true without him.

[Justin]

A closeup video I just uploaded of the same performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTOsq5hDvH0&feature=youtu.be


Mike is also digging Dave's guitar licks...gives him a nice nod and a smile.

[Jon Stebbins]

Thanks Justin. Yeah...Mike leaned over and said something to which Dave cranked off another flurry.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Dave's awesome. As great as the reunion's been, the fact that he's been a part of it has made it that much more special.

[over and over]

I'm really happy their using jaguar guitars insted of gibson.

[Danimalist]

The Berkeley show was incredible in so many ways, but the one notable weakness was David Marks' lead guitar playing. What was odd to me is that his limited abilities were particularly noticeable on the more surf guitar-oriented songs. There was far more weak wanking going on than was appropriate. Plus, if you are going to be bending strings all night, a Jaguar is not the best choice. I am all for Jags when played as they are meant to be.
Since there appear to be many here who think his playing is good, I will provide a link with two particularly dreadful leads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8i_LeEk5Hc

There were at least three better and more tasteful lead guitarists on that stage. The "Barbara Ann" lead sounds particularly like someone who learned to play a few years ago, rather than five decades ago.

[Jon Stebbins]

The Berkeley show was incredible in so many ways, but the one notable weakness was David Marks' lead guitar playing. What was odd to me is that his limited abilities were particularly noticeable on the more surf guitar-oriented songs. There was far more weak wanking going on than was appropriate. Plus, if you are going to be bending strings all night, a Jaguar is not the best choice. I am all for Jags when played as they are meant to be.
Since there appear to be many here who think his playing is good, I will provide a link with two particularly dreadful leads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8i_LeEk5Hc

There were at least three better and more tasteful lead guitarists on that stage. The "Barbara Ann" lead sounds particularly like someone who learned to play a few years ago, rather than five decades ago.

That was a really productive first post.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Was that a joke post/account, or something?

[kirt]

Looks like a one post troll.
Dave is exceptional!

[NHC]

Good Lord.

[Danimalist]

The link speaks for itself. Maybe he just had a bad night, but considering the number of mega-talented instrumentalists on stage, his guitar playing really stuck out as amateurish. It would have been a different story if it was just garage-y or raw like Dick Dale. It was just wanky. He did neither a good job of copying the leads on the originals nor of coming up with something original himself. And his tone stunk.  The one lead that Scott Toten played was more accurately played , had a more appropriate tone, and displayed a fluidity with the guitar that Marks sorely lacks. He's on stage because Carl and Dennis are dead and it lends the lineup more credibility. I'd rather see Blondie and Ricky.

[SBonilla]

The Berkeley show was incredible in so many ways, but the one notable weakness was David Marks' lead guitar playing. What was odd to me is that his limited abilities were particularly noticeable on the more surf guitar-oriented songs. There was far more weak wanking going on than was appropriate. Plus, if you are going to be bending strings all night, a Jaguar is not the best choice. I am all for Jags when played as they are meant to be.
Since there appear to be many here who think his playing is good, I will provide a link with two particularly dreadful leads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8i_LeEk5Hc

There were at least three better and more tasteful lead guitarists on that stage. The "Barbara Ann" lead sounds particularly like someone who learned to play a few years ago, rather than five decades ago.

I feel his solos are sometimes not era or style appropriate. At the Beacon show I saw he didn't display enough California style playing for my taste; there was too much of an English blues feel and tone in some of the solos.  He may still be finding his way way. I would like to see him solidify his guitar voice on this tour.

[NHC]

Still trying to figure out where the poor playing appears on the link, or on any of the concert clips so far.

[SMiLE Brian]

All I can see is Brian rocking on Bass.

[Catbirdman]

Looks like a one post troll.
Dave is exceptional!

Naw, I recognize the screen name. Danimalist - I'm searching my memory banks, but if I'm not mistaken you were one of the stalwarts back in '94 or thereabouts on some AOL message board which happened to be the first thing I ever saw upon connecting to the new-fangled (to me) Interweb. Weren't you the guy that recorded that boss tune that name-checked Bela Lugosi and Dostoevsky in the lyrics?

If this is the same Danimalist, he's legit. Granted, this is an unpopular view of Mr. Marks which may come across as trollish. But I would guess it's sincere.

[HighOnLife]

Why is Brian singing "Sail On Sailor"? He's rough on that tune.

[JanBerryFarm]

I don't quite get this. Just because a guy has a low amount of posts, then reports what he hears and comments on it, THAT makes him a troll ? I hope not...because I'd be offended if somebody suggested that toward me.

I have low post amounts too. And I heard Dave play an awful solo during Marcella on a You-Tube clip. It was so bad I started laughing, but hey...I'm a guitarist too and I know how these things go. The solo in Marcella is kinda unusual and off beat. I can totally see how if you got off on a wrong position, the whole solo might crumble.

Therefore, I selected another You-tube clip of Marcella and Dave pretty much nailed it. My reasoning went something like.... "Ok, he blew it one night. Heads up and then he works on it for the next show. Better. End of issue."
There shouldn't be any shunning of posters who report what they see or hear.

So, I've just reported Dave's fluff of the Marcella solo, and I'm a huge Marks fan. I dont' want anyone but Dave to be doing solos, for that matter. If he fluffs a lead, so what. He's human.

But let's ALL be human and not prejudge somebody simply because he has low posts or mentions something unflattering. ok?

[Jon Stebbins]

The link speaks for itself. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but considering the number of mega-talented vocalists on stage, his singing really stuck out as amateurish. It would have been a different story if it was just garage-y or raw like Iggy Pop. It was just wanky. He did neither a good job of copying the lead on the original nor of coming up with something original himself. And his tone stunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBgipKCTmkM

[Wirestone]

Why is Brian singing "Sail On Sailor"? He's rough on that tune.

Not always. He was exceptional in Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrn-_2A63TA&feature=relmfu

[Justin]

"Daaaaaamn the thunder!"

I remember feeling the walls of the Chicago Theatre shake with that one.  It was amazing.

[Danimalist]

Great memory, Catbirdman. Yep, I was around quite a bit on the newsgroups, AOL, then the PS and Surf's Up lists. Only made it here because a guy who is a regular saw me wearing my Smile t-shirt (unworn....saved for 15 years for a very special occasion...which it was) after the Berkeley show and we started chatting. He was surprised when I mentioned I thought the only weak link of the night were the guitar solos, since folks here often claim that Marks is quite good.
Another Austin musician friend is going to the Houston show tonight. I told him to let me know what he thinks of the lead guitar work. However, I'm not sure I'll buy what he says since Peter Buck is his favorite guitar player!
Thanks for the props for "Alone." Still probably my favorite song that I ever wrote.

[Mikie]

Dave Marks ain't the least bit "amateurish".  That's for damn sure.  I thought he was a little off on the Marcella lead, but I sure as hell didn't laugh at it. Scott Bennett plays a mean guitar solo on Marcella, but I think Dave is right up there with him at this point. And you just can't beat Daves playing on the surf and car songs!

[JanBerryFarm]

Dave Marks ain't the least bit "amateurish".  That's for damn sure.  I thought he was a little off on the Marcella lead, but I sure as hell didn't laugh at it. Scott Bennett plays a mean guitar solo on Marcella, but I think Dave is right up there with him at this point. And you just can't beat Daves playing on the surf and car songs!

I didn't say I laughed AT it....it MADE me laugh. Laugh in sympathy. Like I'd laugh at myself when I flub a solo.
But I'm laughing AT you, because you're insensative.


Btw.... the Marcella solo I saw wasn't a little off. It was a disaster.

There's more than ONE Marcella clip, guy. Watch them all, then don't get back to me. Please. *LOL*