Al Jardine - 2025 Tour Thread (Plus Archived 2018-2024)

[HeyJude]

If the Mike-Al thing wasn’t going to be able to be mended back in the 1998-early 2000s timeframe, then they should have added Al to Brian’s band back in the early-mid 2000s. Al wasn’t busy with anything, and it would have benefitted everybody musically. Yes, the politics of the various organizations were such that that was simply not going to happen at that time. And, there’s certainly an argument to be made that things like the 2004 “Smile” were things Brian needed to do solo without any attachment to the other BBs.

Ironically, a good time to add Al would have been in that 2006 timeframe when they *did* actually have Al guest at some shows in late 2006 and early 2007. Ideally, that would have just continued on instead of falling apart after it barely got started. Al wasn’t paid for those 2006/2007 gigs, so that’s probably part of why that didn’t take off back then.

It was ironically partly as a political maneuver that Al landed back in Brian’s band after C50 in late 2012 and into 2013. The Brian/Al/Dave 2013 tour was certainly meant to be a message to the Mike camp. While that exact format also didn’t last long, and while it took another aborted Mike-Al repairing with the infamous 2014 Jones Beach debacle to get Al back in Brian’s camp permanently, it was a nice way to see things finished out with Al by Brian’s side, essentially taking on (on stage at least) the Foskett role beside Brian from 2014 to 2022.

I’m still skeptical of how/if this new idea (and as I’ve said, and we all seem to agree, was/is of course a no-brainer excellent idea) will actually come to fruition. I think it’s likely *something* will come of it, some sort of date or short string of dates will be booked. But as I’ve said, it may end up being more like Al’s current “Endless Summer Band” show, just with some people from Brian’s band thrown in and renamed as “Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band.” And who knows, maybe just getting a show or a few shows under their belt will build some actual momentum to do more.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

I understand the logistical challenges in booking theaters. You're probably right that it won't happen, or at best it's a scattered date here and there (and time is getting short to do any at all).

Say Al woke up tomorrow and wanted "Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band" to tour small clubs (like the ones he normally plays anyway) and summer fairs. A couple dates a week, June through August, all summer long. Brian's musicians can pop in here and there on select dates, but no guarantees on who you'd be seeing other than Al himself and a core band. Would *that* really be that hard to do?

[SMiLE Brian]

Al probably already got a phone call from Mike….

[Bedroom Tapes]

Well, looking forward to that EP and new box set then!!!  🤘🤗

[All Summer Long]

If the Mike-Al thing wasn’t going to be able to be mended back in the 1998-early 2000s timeframe, then they should have added Al to Brian’s band back in the early-mid 2000s. Al wasn’t busy with anything, and it would have benefitted everybody musically. Yes, the politics of the various organizations were such that that was simply not going to happen at that time. And, there’s certainly an argument to be made that things like the 2004 “Smile” were things Brian needed to do solo without any attachment to the other BBs.

Ironically, a good time to add Al would have been in that 2006 timeframe when they *did* actually have Al guest at some shows in late 2006 and early 2007. Ideally, that would have just continued on instead of falling apart after it barely got started. Al wasn’t paid for those 2006/2007 gigs, so that’s probably part of why that didn’t take off back then.

It was ironically partly as a political maneuver that Al landed back in Brian’s band after C50 in late 2012 and into 2013. The Brian/Al/Dave 2013 tour was certainly meant to be a message to the Mike camp. While that exact format also didn’t last long, and while it took another aborted Mike-Al repairing with the infamous 2014 Jones Beach debacle to get Al back in Brian’s camp permanently, it was a nice way to see things finished out with Al by Brian’s side, essentially taking on (on stage at least) the Foskett role beside Brian from 2014 to 2022.

I’m still skeptical of how/if this new idea (and as I’ve said, and we all seem to agree, was/is of course a no-brainer excellent idea) will actually come to fruition. I think it’s likely *something* will come of it, some sort of date or short string of dates will be booked. But as I’ve said, it may end up being more like Al’s current “Endless Summer Band” show, just with some people from Brian’s band thrown in and renamed as “Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band.” And who knows, maybe just getting a show or a few shows under their belt will build some actual momentum to do more.

Hi HeyJude, was there ever a specific reason that Al wasn't allowed to interact with/talk to/visit Brian in the late 1990s-early 2000s?  (I've seen a brief clip of Al discussing this in a documentary from around that time, maybe the Endless Harmony documentary?  (I don't know which one it was because I haven't seen the full EH documentary, or wherever this clip was from if it was not from the EH documentary.)

It seems to me (not that I'm an expert) like, other than briefly during 2006-2007, that 2010-ish was around the time there seemed to be some thawing between the Brian and Al camps; this is when they did the We Are the World 25 for Haiti, which as far as I know was their first collaboration or appearance together since 2007.  I'd also like to think (based on what I've seen and read -- and just hope and optimism) hat they both enjoyed having a relationship/friendship again between C50 and Brian's final tour.

I don't think I agree with (what I think your argument is here about 2014/Jones Beach): since Brian/Melinda and Al had a good relationship in that time period, other than band politics, I don't see why Al couldn't have played Jones Beach with Mike, Bruce, and David Marks and then flown over to Europe to play the rest of Brian's tour with him.  Since Mike clearly has never wanted Al to return to the touring band full-time, maybe he could've done occasional gigs (California area, etc.) with M&B when Brian wasn't on tour.  I know the band politics is different here from David Marks sitting in with M&B for select shows in 2014 and 2015 (and supposedly once in 2016 according to a YouTube video of a full concert I 'found'/saw online).

The rest of this post is partly off-topic, partly ranting, so feel free to skip over the rest of it:

I know this is a much larger issue, and off-topic, but do you think there was any chance that Brian, Al, and Carl's estate would have voted to terminate or limit Mike's touring license if David Marks continued working regularly with Brian into 2014 and beyond?  I remember reading that Brian's camp announced they wanted to tour as The Original Beach Boys in 2013.

Also, I know you've discussed this elsewhere on the board, but I wonder why Al wasn't officially given equal billing in most/all of Brian's shows from 2013 to 2022; Al only missed/didn't join Brian for a handful of shows during that time, and maybe it could've helped Al with some limited name recognition once his three different touring lineups started up again from 2018 onwards.

I was lurking a little over at the EH board to hear their discussions about this topic, and it seemed that some (on that thread or another semi-related one) were trying to accuse Al of spreading false information?  (for example, regarding hopes of a brief 2021 reunion tour).  I wonder, had the pandemic not taken over the world in 2020, if what Al had suggested could've happened.  Maybe Brian would've performed vocally similar to how he did during his and Al's (and Blondie's) fall 2021 tour.  I had high hopes for Brian's tour in 2022 based off the YouTube videos I had seen in 2021, but obviously dementia (or whatever the specific similar diagnosis is) and possibly both mental and physical health played a role in that.  I will say, though, at the show I did see that tour that, at least at 'my' venue, the crowd appeared to be very sensitive (for lack of a better word) or understanding of Brian's health and performance as his and Al's set progressed.  I was happy to see that the audience lovingly joined in loud applause to show love to Brian (and Al, Blondie, and the band). 

Okay, rant over; sorry about that.   

[All Summer Long]

Sorry to double-post, but while looking up the Surf City All-Stars, I saw that Al and David will also be joining them for a private show in Groton, CT on July 19th.

Here's the link to the Surf City All-Stars' website, where I read/"found" this: https://www.surfcityallstars.com/tourdates.html

[HeyJude]

Added the first four "Pet Sounds Band" shows to the top post schedule.

[All Summer Long]

It's pretty awesome to know that at least four of these shows are happening!!  One is close to my neck of the woods, so I'm definitely going to try do all I can to be there!!

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Great news to see Al performing with Brians band. I think it will take some time to refine the show. People who want to hear rarities, also don't want to hear Al half remembering old stories told a hundred times so hope they find the right mix.

[HeyJude]

These aren't "Storytellers" shows, so I think it'll be mostly music. Plus, if he's truly using a lot of Brian's backing musicians, and especially if Darian is on board, they'd have a solid musical director keeping things on track. If he really has Darian and a bunch of the other Brian band, Al can pretty much call out whatever song he wants.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

These aren't "Storytellers" shows, so I think it'll be mostly music. Plus, if he's truly using a lot of Brian's backing musicians, and especially if Darian is on board, they'd have a solid musical director keeping things on track. If he really has Darian and a bunch of the other Brian band, Al can pretty much call out whatever song he wants.

I hope so. We wiil see I guess. The storytelling is obviously much more suited to a 3 piece in small venues.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Some Al shows sprinkled through the Northeast, but nothing yet in the general NYC area where I'm located. I'm holding out hope such a show might still be announced -- it seems like an obvious market + Al's been here many times before -- but at this point I've already booked other concerts and short vacations throughout the summer, so it's getting harder to potentially slot something in.

[All Summer Long]

You know what would be awesome (but wouldn't actually happen)?   Since Rob Bonfiglio is (probably) on the road with The Lovin' Spoonful and Probyn Gregory is on the road with Weird Al Yankovic, it would be pretty cool if Scott Totten (if he was available) joined Al & The Pet Sounds Band for those shows.  I know Scott's been working with some touring musicals, so who even knows if he's available; just for the hell of it, I'll have to check out his Facebook page (we're Facebook friends) to see if he is touring with a musical during that time period. 

I would also love to see John Cowsill with Al & The Pet Sounds Band too, but I know (also from Facebook) that he and his wife Vicki Peterson (of The Bangles) are doing duo shows together (and I think have a duo album out), plus Cowsill has also been doing some shows as a guest vocalist with The Smithereens.

[Rocker]

Just a quick throwback:

Beach Boys Family & Friends on Regis and Kathie Lee (1998-11-23)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn1nKcKO5fY

[Tony S]

They sounded soooooo good! Shame all of the politics issues arose to stop them from touring full time.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Agreed! Thanks for sharing that clip. Fantastic.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Just a quick throwback:

Beach Boys Family & Friends on Regis and Kathie Lee (1998-11-23)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn1nKcKO5fY

That's an interesting clip. Not surprised Al got in touble after this. It's very cheeky and seems like they are the only Beach Boys band......with their new single "Darlin"? 

[All Summer Long]

Just a quick throwback:

Beach Boys Family & Friends on Regis and Kathie Lee (1998-11-23)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn1nKcKO5fY

That's an interesting clip. Not surprised Al got in trouble after this. It's very cheeky and seems like they are the only Beach Boys band......with their new single "Darlin"? 

I agree somewhat, but that seems to be on Regis Philbin or whoever gave him bad information.

[azmark]

Two Phoenix shows (July 23 and 24)  added and on sale now.

https://mimphx.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0STP000003g6Qf2AI

[HeyJude]

Added more dates to the top post schedule.

[All Summer Long]

You know what would be awesome (but wouldn't actually happen)?   Since Rob Bonfiglio is (probably) on the road with The Lovin' Spoonful and Probyn Gregory is on the road with Weird Al Yankovic, it would be pretty cool if Scott Totten (if he was available) joined Al & The Pet Sounds Band for those shows.  I know Scott's been working with some touring musicals, so who even knows if he's available; just for the hell of it, I'll have to check out his Facebook page (we're Facebook friends) to see if he is touring with a musical during that time period. 

I would also love to see John Cowsill with Al & The Pet Sounds Band too, but I know (also from Facebook) that he and his wife Vicki Peterson (of The Bangles) are doing duo shows together (and I think have a duo album out), plus Cowsill has also been doing some shows as a guest vocalist with The Smithereens.

Harkening back to my previous post (quoted above), do we have any suspicion as to who Al's lead guitarist will be for the Pet Sounds Band shows?  I think I've seen that Al has had a couple (or so) lead guitarists since 1998, but since 2022, he's used either Probyn Gregory (on tour with Weird Al and his band) or Rob Bonfiglio (on tour with the remnants of The Lovin' Spoonful last I heard).  Since they will both be unavailable, I'm wondering if Ed Carter will join Al for the Pet Sounds Band shows (on lead guitar) or that Al will try to find someone who he used in the 1998-2021-ish period.  Personally, I think Scott Totten (if he's not currently touring with a musical) would probably be the best fit, with Ed Carter coming in at next best.  Anyways, I'm rambling now, so I'll stop here.

[Emdeeh]

Al Jardine just announced an Australian tour in the fall, with The Pet Sounds Band:

Oct. 23 -- Wrest Point Casino -- Hobart, TAS, Australia
Oct. 25 -- Thebarton Theatre -- Torrensville / Adelaide, SA, Australia
Oct. 28 -- QPAC -- Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Oct. 29 -- Hamer Hall -- Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Oct. 31 -- Sydney Opera House -- Sydney, NSW, Australia
Nov. 2 -- Regal Theatre -- Perth, WA, Australia

[HeyJude]

Added the new dates to the top post.

Record the gigs for a live album, Al!

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Added the new dates to the top post.

Record the gigs for a live album, Al!

Seriously. Please! It's a no-brainer.

Even the Al club gig I saw in 2018 (mostly meat-and-potatoes BBs songs, but with some deeper cuts towards the end) I would have happily bought as an official release. Al and Matt were in terrific vocal form and the songs sounded fresh with a stripped-down band.

But if Al really does stuff these new shows with 1970s deep cuts as he keeps vowing to -- and with some of Brian's band in tow, and under the "Pet Sounds Band" name etc etc -- they will be even more essential, and will have a built-in audience ready to snap up a live album.