What is/was the worst Beach Boys concert?

[Jay]

I posted this same topic, but I think it was in the wrong place. Feel free to move this to wherever it seems best. I know that the Long Beach 1981 show is pretty much considered a low point for the band. But is there any other concert the group did that has a reputation of being particularly bad?

[Mr. Wilson]

NO.. BB concert has a complete low.. There are actually high points in 81-82...BUT.. Some concerts  have bigtime visual low points.. But not seen... The low points of that area are not well documented.. Concerts of that era show that there were shows that only had.. Mike Bruce Alan show up...... I NEVER saw a show like that.. I live in california.. That NEVER  happened.. But if U lived in Midwest USA.. That took place... In fact i have no boot shows that document that lineup.. But it DID happen.. According to books + internet ramble..... I DID SEE some shows.. That BW said.. BRUCE.. Help me..!!!!!!!!!!!
And.. BJ.. hands the LEAD vocal of to Jeff or Adrian... NO.. BS..!!!......... Thats wrong.. Why is BJ savin his voice,,>>??
Bruce is a VERY talented person.. Hal Blaine said BJ.. Is one of the BEST keyboard players he has EVER worked with..!!!!!
So WHY..??  Does BJ ..CRUISE.. Thru a show..?? NEVER understood that......

[James Hughes-Clarke]

Long Beach '81 seems to get a lot a flak, but is it just me who thinks Brian sang a REALLY GOOD 'God Only Knows' at this gig?  (It's on YouTube)

As for the worst gig ever, I'm guessing it's between 1998 - present, but not qualified to say as I've never been to/watched a whole a BB gig since Carl's demise.

[Beach Boy]

The low points of that area are not well documented.. Concerts of that era show that there were shows that only had.. Mike Bruce Alan show up...... I NEVER saw a show like that.. I live in california.. That NEVER  happened.. But if U lived in Midwest USA.. That took place... In fact i have no boot shows that document that lineup.. But it DID happen.. According to books + internet ramble.....

I just know one from 1990 but I can't believe some from the early 80ies. I too know that Carl was absent in the late 80ies when he had his wedding. 

[c-man]

The low points of that area are not well documented.. Concerts of that era show that there were shows that only had.. Mike Bruce Alan show up...... I NEVER saw a show like that.. I live in california.. That NEVER  happened.. But if U lived in Midwest USA.. That took place... In fact i have no boot shows that document that lineup.. But it DID happen.. According to books + internet ramble.....

I just know one from 1990 but I can't believe some from the early 80ies. I too know that Carl was absent in the late 80ies when he had his wedding. 

Carl missed some shows in 1990 due to appedecitis (like the show in Spain that circulates...that's a pretty good gig).  I think the early '80s shows with no Wilsons were few indeed, and I believe they occurred in very early '82 in Vegas or Tahoe. 

[Beach Boy]

On the True Hollywood Story the narrator says that in 1980 Mike and Al were the only BBs in concerts.   

[Sheriff John Stone]

Long Beach '81 seems to get a lot a flak, but is it just me who thinks Brian sang a REALLY GOOD 'God Only Knows' at this gig?

I agree with you. I don't think Brian's singing in 1981 was THAT bad compared to the 1976-80 time frame. The main problem was that he shouldn't have been attempting songs like "Don't Worry Baby". However, I saw him perform "Don't Worry Baby" in Hershey, PA in 1981 and he was very strong. I remember looking around the stage to see if anybody was doubling him. They weren't.

In 1981 Brian was starting to actually "sing", instead of the gruff, raspy shouting of the previous couple of years. He was phrasing a little bit, starting to develop his "Love And Mercy"-type voice. He looked a little more lucid or normal on stage (there are some things about that 1982 Allentown video that could be construed as positive), and played consistent piano. Just the fact that he was attempting some more difficult songs was a good sign. He was getting heavier which was concerning, but I wasn't sure if he was high because the band was cleaning up by that time, and Dennis wasn't around much. Obviously, he still had some psychological issues. But, again, at that time I was trying to be optimistic and thought that Brian was growing (I don't mean physically) from Carl being absent.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Wembley Arena, London 1991 sucked big time - stadium mix for an indoor show, and a band who just could not give a sh*t. They turned up, pressed the go button, went through the motions, took the money and went home. Oddly enough, same venue two years later and they were outstanding.

But in terms of visual and aural awfulness, yes, Long Beach 1981 is the pinnacle.

"As for the worst gig ever, I'm guessing it's between 1998 - present, but not qualified to say as I've never been to/watched a whole a BB gig since Carl's demise."

A closed mind is a terrible thing. Especially when based on no evidence whatsoever.

[Fun Is In]

The worst one I ever sat thru was in Tucson in April 1987.

Even though the features editor of the local paper was named "Bruce Johnston" the headline was "Beach Boys run aground" and "Hour-long concert sounded bad, though crowd didn't mind".

Well, I minded. The sound was BAD and the performance not good.
Photo shows Bruce, Al, Mike and Carl up front.

[James Hughes-Clarke]

Wembley Arena, London 1991 sucked big time - stadium mix for an indoor show, and a band who just could not give a merda. They turned up, pressed the go button, went through the motions, took the money and went home. Oddly enough, same venue two years later and they were outstanding.

But in terms of visual and aural awfulness, yes, Long Beach 1981 is the pinnacle.

"As for the worst gig ever, I'm guessing it's between 1998 - present, but not qualified to say as I've never been to/watched a whole a BB gig since Carl's demise."

A closed mind is a terrible thing. Especially when based on no evidence whatsoever.

I've seen plenty of video/audio evidence in the last 10-odd years, none of which has changed my mind, which was 'closed' (if you like) after the last time I saw them in the late 80's at Wembley Arena.   I'm a bit funny like that though: I'd rather see a rough-at-the-edges Beach Boy gig featuring Brian and Dennis (and Carl of course) than a slick-sounding, retrospective virtual tribute band.  With cheerleaders (oh puh-lease....)

But maybe I just never got over the blinding thrill of Wembley Arena / Knebworth 1980!

[Wilsonista]

Long Beach '81 seems to get a lot a flak, but is it just me who thinks Brian sang a REALLY GOOD 'God Only Knows' at this gig?

I agree with you. I don't think Brian's singing in 1981 was THAT bad compared to the 1976-80 time frame. The main problem was that he shouldn't have been attempting songs like "Don't Worry Baby". However, I saw him perform "Don't Worry Baby" in Hershey, PA in 1981 and he was very strong. I remember looking around the stage to see if anybody was doubling him. They weren't.

In 1981 Brian was starting to actually "sing", instead of the gruff, raspy shouting of the previous couple of years. He was phrasing a little bit, starting to develop his "Love And Mercy"-type voice. He looked a little more lucid or normal on stage (there are some things about that 1982 Allentown video that could be construed as positive), and played consistent piano. Just the fact that he was attempting some more difficult songs was a good sign. He was getting heavier which was concerning, but I wasn't sure if he was high because the band was cleaning up by that time, and Dennis wasn't around much. Obviously, he still had some psychological issues. But, again, at that time I was trying to be optimistic and thought that Brian was growing (I don't mean physically) from Carl being absent.

Wow.

That GOK was (considering how wrecked his range is) good.  Like you said, the vocal style was a precusor to his current style. In fact, that performance was very similar to how he performs the song in his own shows.

[Mr. Wilson]

Sheriff"s comments on BW piano playing i like..Just about every gig ive seen off BB.. ( over 50 } Bw piano playing is clearly heard...

[summerinparadise.flac]

I've always been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the modern Beach Boys, as well as the early 90's live bands. At least from what I've heard. The 93 Paramount show is a testament to how good they could be, especially vocally. Of course they still had 4 Beach Boys in the band, so it is a greater leap between the original group and the current group. But even then, I saw the Boys last year and had a wonderful time.

As for worst, I would have to give that to the Melbourne shows. I've only seen clips of the first date, but they Carl is in quite the state. I've heard the entire second show, and while Carl performs better, he still sounds like he is still drunk or strung out.
I don't have many shows though, so my opinion is only based on what little I've heard.

[Pretty Funky]

For all his faults, the few shows without Mike must have been interesting. While not having seen one, the concept of him not out front singing those famous leads would make a poor concert for me.

[MZ]

Wembley Arena, London 1991 sucked big time...  <snipped>

I remember this show quite well. The inclusion of Adrian Baker during the encore of Fun, Fun. Fun (and playing one of the band 330s) only added to the general apathy of the band that evening. In my opinion, of course...

[MBE]

The last time I saw Mike and Bruce they were great but it was a special show and no cheerleaders! Click here for my review
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,3688.0.html

I hear they also played some good shows in the U.K. in 2004 with some strong setlists. Their everyday show would probably be pretty mediocre, but when they do try the results are worth seeing.

As far as the Beach Boys go I don't really think they played any really bad shows until about 1977. I think any show before 1980 is woth seeing though because there was still some real energy there. After 1980 it's  hit or miss from the time Carl came back in 1982 until Dennis death should be on the whole good. After 1983 only shows with unusual sets (the summer 1988, the fall 1993, etc.) interest me. I cannot single one show out but the ones with the little or no rarites would be the worst. I heard the mid ninties was pretty bad.

[tpesky]

I saw a wonderful show by Mike and Bruce on a snowy Easter Weekend in 2005, the setlist and performance rivaled the UK. I saw them outdoors that summer at Simsbury, CT with symphony and similar results to your show MBE. LOts of energy. Those shows were enough to make me go to the Christmas show in December and convinced others to go with me based on the high marks of the earlier shows that year, and of course they laid an egg!! It was a complete turkey of a show to quote Carl.  Mike sounded awful and Bruce had kind of a cold.  Thats the problem with doing soooo many shows, there are bound to be some awful ones and that takes away a little from their credibility. But that Easter show in 2005 ranks up there with seeing Brian and Al together last year with the outdoor show a close second as the best shows for me since the 93 tour!

[MBE]

I say if they are playing a smaller indoor venue they are more likely to do a good show then at a county fair. If they play with an orchestra I would go again for sure but I doubt I would see a "regular" show. 

[Mr. Wilson]

Its a CRIME the 93 expanded shows are not released..Do a Gratefull Dead kinda package..Im sure world wide they would sell 50 000 copies easy..Thats good for vault stuff..Evan Bruce wants it out including rehersals..!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay]

I would have to say that Lakeland, Florida 9/3/1978 get's an honourable mention as another pretty bad Beach Boys show. Dennis is REALLY drunk, and almost trainwreck's "God Only Knows", and a few other songs. Needless to day, his playing is poor at best.