Beach Boys perform on Good Morning America -- Friday, 6/15

[HeyJude]

I found it interesting that surely Al knew they were only gonna be playing a few "hits" today, but all he could think about was "Custom Machine" and "Graduation Day". He must constantly be pressing for his ideas, also supported by the Rolling Stone article regarding "Waves Of Love". The guys should show him a little more love, he's more respected by fans than they apparently know. He's truly thinking of us right now. What a solid thing to do. I'd love to hear some more Al in the sets, as well as the rarities he's proposing. Mike's the man, but c'mon dude! Imagine if Brian and Al ran the set lists?  

Btw, even though he only sang a few notes of Graduation Day, it sounded amazing. At 6 in the morning.

I would guess any songs Al was pushing to rehearse this morning were not intended to perform this morning. It sounds like they use their soundchecks as testing grounds for new setlist inclusions.

It is kind of astonishing that an actual BB has to start a political action committee and hire a lobbyist when they want to get a song in the setlist. 

[Nicko1234]

I don't see how Al's picks for a few setlist inclusions would hurt anything. To your point, he has at least spoken about "rarities" in setlists more than the other guys. He often hasn't been able to do them, but that gets us back into the 2000's debate about Al's inability to regularly tour and build up a setlist due to the lawsuits and all of that business.

I was exaggerating slightly and some of the songs that Al has suggested I would be happy to hear but they would have to be at the expense of other rarities (Mike and the promoters won`t want to drop the hits). To drop a couple of songs that Brian has trouble singing and to include a couple of Al chosen songs might not be a bad idea but I`m sure that many would be unhappy if Brian were doing less.

Al`s song ideas are completely random though. He was talking about them playing a couple of songs from his solo album not so long ago (not a good idea) and if they were to play Farmer`s Daughter then Jeff would surely be the singer making it a dubious choice.

[HeyJude]

I think Al's discussion of doing his solo stuff in the reunion tour was a lot more like "yeah, that would be cool if we did that" rather than insisting it would happen. He was often asked specifically that question in interviews revolving around his solo album and the tour.

Al's picks are often random, and I love that.

I understand that under the loose "rules" we've seen for this tour's setlist, any new song does bump another one. But they haven't always bumped one raritiy for another song of the same raritiy. I love "Wendy" for instance, probably as a song more than "Farmer's Daughter", but just to hear something new, I wouldn't mind if the latter bumped the former.

[Les P]

Brian does indeed sound incredibly ropey on Good Vibrations. Out of tune and when he sings `through the air` he looks visibly pained because he knows that he can`t hit the notes. Sounds similar to how he did in 1981 sadly.

I love Brian, but on live TV his leads should be doubled and his vocal placed way down in the mix (which I guess was the approach at the Grammys).  He's the weak link vocally, with unpredictable results.  TWGMTR here was better than on other live shows, but Brian was still noticeably flat here and there.

[Jonathan Blum]

(Brian and some aid whose also the guitarist)

Just to get you up to speed on the supporting cast, Ethan -- that's Jeff Foskett, who also sings Brian's old falsetto parts (including on the new album).

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[tpesky]

I think Mike NEEDS to be pushed to do certain songs in the setlist. Scott Totten has been able to do a great job of this. Not sure if it's the way he suggests things or explains them, but it's worked in many cases obviously not all.  I think if he's not pushed, you end up with the setlists we got in the late 90's.
I'm shocked Graduation Day can't get into the setlist! but freaking Why Do Fools Fall in Love...which the BB in their original touring band days never touched and features a backing band member is one that CAN'T be left off the setlist? Seriously?? If you want do wop roots, you had Come Go With Me which was something like a top 20 hit for you guys not the back of a single in 1964 that really isn't that interesting. It's not like Al is pushing for his songs to be included specifically either. It's too bad there can't be some tweaking here and there but Mike's stubborn on those setlists. Witness every BB show since 1981. Carl gave into it unfortunately but that's water under the bridge now. Still would be nice to listen to some of Al's setlist suggestions. They are good!

[musicismylife101]

Now now, somebody didn't read their wardrobe memo correctly earlier this morning!

Al, Bruce, Dave, didn't you get the message? Oh well, 2 out of 5 isn't so bad. Next step: striped shirts!

[Aegir]

I love Brian, but on live TV his leads should be doubled and his vocal placed way down in the mix (which I guess was the approach at the Grammys).  He's the weak link vocally, with unpredictable results.  TWGMTR here was better than on other live shows, but Brian was still noticeably flat here and there.

no, this is the wrong idea. why would you want to watch Brian lipsync? dumb.

[Rocker]

Facebook:





BTW were all songs broadcasted or just Cal. Girls, GV and the interview ?


EDIT: more from Facebook

















And another interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/backstage-pass-beach-boys-16580985

[Les P]

I love Brian, but on live TV his leads should be doubled and his vocal placed way down in the mix (which I guess was the approach at the Grammys).  He's the weak link vocally, with unpredictable results.  TWGMTR here was better than on other live shows, but Brian was still noticeably flat here and there.

no, this is the wrong idea. why would you want to watch Brian lipsync? dumb.

Because I would think casual fans would be less likely to see a concert or buy a CD after hearing cringe-worthy vocals.    Although maybe the heavy sales of the CD disprove this, so what do I know?  Another alternative would be to hand over songs that are hard to sing (e.g., "GV") to someone who can dependably hit the notes when playing on live TV.

[STE]

And another interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/backstage-pass-beach-boys-16580985

Nice! 
It seems that Brian liked the interviewer

[Lowbacca]

And another interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/backstage-pass-beach-boys-16580985

Nice! 
It seems that Brian liked the interviewer

Damn, Brian is lucid here...... 

[Sheriff John Stone]

And another interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/backstage-pass-beach-boys-16580985

Nice!  
It seems that Brian liked the interviewer


Or, he liked having his back rubbed by the other keyboardist. Or, maybe after all these interviews, it was finally figured out - Brian is an early morning person!

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

And another interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/backstage-pass-beach-boys-16580985

Nice!  
It seems that Brian liked the interviewer

It also looks like he did the world's biggest imaginary bong hit 5 minutes earlier.  0:46 to 0:52 is one of the oddest Brian moments on film, since he lip-synced to Mike's cue-card-reading on the 25th anniversary Hawaii special.