"Catch a Wave" intro live

[Fall Breaks]

Are the harmonies to this more advanced and difficult to sing than other a capella BB parts? Every time I've heard a live version of the song they've sounded flat, sharp, you name it. Even when I saw Brian's band a couple of years ago they flatted it, big time. Can/has anyone picked out all of the parts?

Other than that, I think it's a song that works nice live with its traded lead vocals and good energy. What do you think?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Mike & Bruce's band nailed it last time I saw them, spring 2008 - as they did pretty much every one of the 50-odd songs they played that night.

[Fall Breaks]

Mike & Bruce's band nailed it last time I saw them, spring 2008 - as they did pretty much every one of the 50-odd songs they played that night.

Good to know. Hopefully they'll do the same when I see them this summer (i.e. play 50 songs AND nail 'em ).

[Jason]

Best example of a screwed up Catch A Wave was in Washington DC in '81 on July 4. Count-off, Al sings the line, drum beat, then the group joins in along with Al. Totally screwed it up.

[Rich Panteluk]

Like Andrew, I have heard Mike and Bruce's band do the intro to CAW darn near perfectly.  I have also heard Brian's band do it brilliantly too.  One reason you may have heard a pitchy version of Catch A Wave from Brian's crew is that it isn't a song that features in their set lists very often.  Relative to I get around, Fun, Fun, Fun etc it is not a song that they play that much where as with Mike and Bruce's band it has been a relative regular for years and years.

I have heard a bunch of pitchy live intros to this track over the years too though (going back to when Brian, Carl, Al and Dennis were still in the band).  One reason may be that starting a song cold with no instrumental reference for pitch is tough for the vocalists.  Not to mention the drums that come before the a Capella intro may be enough time or a distraction to throw to vocalists from remembering their starting notes.  As much as the Beach Boys and their related touring groups are talented singers, reproducing those complex parts are tough live.  A Capella sections are easier to carry out when they occur in the middle or end of a song as pitch reference points are firmly established by that point.

Another great song for sure (that Brian Wilson sure could write a good tune...) but as much as I like it, when I see Brian live I'd rather he do a more obscure song than CAW.  Give me The Night Was So Young, Good Timin', I'd love Just Once To See You, or any other rarity over that one.   If fits Mike and Bruce's bands party crowd vibe perfectly.

[Eric Aniversario]

Best example of a screwed up Catch A Wave was in Washington DC in '81 on July 4. Count-off, Al sings the line, drum beat, then the group joins in along with Al. Totally screwed it up.

That one is classic! I played that over and over for a friend and we laughed for a long time!

[Beach Boy]

Best example of a screwed up Catch A Wave was in Washington DC in '81 on July 4. Count-off, Al sings the line, drum beat, then the group joins in along with Al. Totally screwed it up.

The same with the 4th of july concert in 1980 when Bruce sings "Hawaii" too early before the drum intro. BTW Ain't it funny, that, at least in 1980, the Beach Boys used for Catch A Wave the Hawaii intro and for Hawaii the CAW one? 

[tpesky]

It sounds pretty good on Al's Vegas CD. When I saw Mike and Bruce in 07, the harmonies were fine, the song dragged quite a bit. My friend who I was with said did they used to do this as a rocker, so the change was noticeable.

[melissalynn]

I saw Mike and Bruce & band a few weeks ago and it was pretty much perfect. I have no complaints about the intro, or any other part of the song. AND it was raining on them, and they still got it right. 

[Fall Breaks]

Like Andrew, I have heard Mike and Bruce's band do the intro to CAW darn near perfectly.  I have also heard Brian's band do it brilliantly too.  One reason you may have heard a pitchy version of Catch A Wave from Brian's crew is that it isn't a song that features in their set lists very often.  Relative to I get around, Fun, Fun, Fun etc it is not a song that they play that much where as with Mike and Bruce's band it has been a relative regular for years and years.

I have heard a bunch of pitchy live intros to this track over the years too though (going back to when Brian, Carl, Al and Dennis were still in the band).  One reason may be that starting a song cold with no instrumental reference for pitch is tough for the vocalists.  Not to mention the drums that come before the a Capella intro may be enough time or a distraction to throw to vocalists from remembering their starting notes.  As much as the Beach Boys and their related touring groups are talented singers, reproducing those complex parts are tough live.  A Capella sections are easier to carry out when they occur in the middle or end of a song as pitch reference points are firmly established by that point.

Another great song for sure (that Brian Wilson sure could write a good tune...) but as much as I like it, when I see Brian live I'd rather he do a more obscure song than CAW.  Give me The Night Was So Young, Good Timin', I'd love Just Once To See You, or any other rarity over that one.   If fits Mike and Bruce's bands party crowd vibe perfectly.

The drums as a distractor is a good point. Never thought of that.

So nowadays it seems like the different bands pull it off better. Does this come down to more practising or do they get pitch cues in their ears right before/during the drum intro do you think?

[PongHit]

... they've sounded flat, sharp, you name it. Even when I saw Brian's band a couple of years ago they flatted it ...

Dude, you sound like Murry.

[SG7]

I thought the last time I saw (some) of Brian's band in New Hampshire, "Catch a Wave" was done nicely. More so than other times.

[donald]

Mike's Beach Boys are spot on with the vocals.   And I hear Scott Totten is responsible for teaching the vocal parts....much in the same way as Brian once did.  And he does a damn fine job of it.  In Brians band there is the occasional blip in the sound of the harmony but you've got to give them credit for the breadth of material they try cover and the difficulties and nuances of someof the more complex vocal mixes.  Mikes band doesn't cover quite so many complex vocal parts.  You get WOTS, All This is That, Hearts Were Full of Spring and one or two others that really stand out.    Brian and the mints do SMiLE!

Put either band in reasonable driving distance and I'll go see each and every show.

[c-man]

OK, I asked Scott about this, and here's what he says:

"Well the simple answer is that we pretty much always segue into Catch from some other song, lately it's been Surf City or Surfin Safari.  So we have the previous key still in our ears and know we have to shift a minor 3rd (in the case of Surf City) and we do it every show.


As for the tempo of the song, it was very slow until the current lineup changes.  My understanding is that Carl liked to do many songs much slower than the recorded versions, and that was one of them."

[the captain]

So nowadays it seems like the different bands pull it off better. Does this come down to more practising or do they get pitch cues in their ears right before/during the drum intro do you think?

I'd guess it has to do with better monitors.

[Fall Breaks]

... they've sounded flat, sharp, you name it. Even when I saw Brian's band a couple of years ago they flatted it ...

Dude, you sound like Murry.

Ouch!


Thanks for everyone's input. It will be great to see Mike & Bruce do CAW this summer. Judging from the comments on the recent BB lineup, it looks like they're going to nail it!

[SG7]

As for the tempo of the song, it was very slow until the current lineup changes.  My understanding is that Carl liked to do many songs much slower than the recorded versions, and that was one of them."

That is interesting, as I have never noticed that. Was there a particular reason why he liked doing that? Maybe easier?

[Rocker]

As for the tempo of the song, it was very slow until the current lineup changes.  My understanding is that Carl liked to do many songs much slower than the recorded versions, and that was one of them."

That is interesting, as I have never noticed that. Was there a particular reason why he liked doing that? Maybe easier?

It's also interesting that the intro to "California girls" was speeded up for a while (which sounded terrible btw).

Maybe he wanted to slow it down to put more emphasis on the vocals? If it's rushed, they are overshadowed

[GoofyJeff]

In the final years of Kowalski's tenure, "Dance Dance Dance" sounded more like "Snooze Snooze Snooze"...   way slowed down... sounded awful...  Haven't had the pleasure of seeing the new band yet, but all reports are they are doing a great job.     

[Jay]

Best example of a screwed up Catch A Wave was in Washington DC in '81 on July 4. Count-off, Al sings the line, drum beat, then the group joins in along with Al. Totally screwed it up.

Whoever played drums on that version did a terrible job! I didn't think they'd make it all the way through without restarting it.

[Rocker]

Here are Mike&Bruce '08 doing a.o. "Catch a wave". Sounds pretty good to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUPD8qLPyk&feature=related

[LostArt]

In the final years of Kowalski's tenure, "Dance Dance Dance" sounded more like "Snooze Snooze Snooze"...   way slowed down... sounded awful...  Haven't had the pleasure of seeing the new band yet, but all reports are they are doing a great job.     

Are you still in Wisconsin, Jeff?  Mike and Bruce's Beach Boys will be in Baraboo at the Ho Chunk Casino on June 7th.  I wish I could go, but I have plans that I can't change.  Also, Brian is going to be at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee on October 24th.  I am going to try to make that show.

[tpesky]

I don't know how else to say this without sounding like I'm Mike bashing, which I don't want to do. He had an important role in the band and should be appreciated! But he is clearly the weakest singer in the band at this point. His vocals actually take a little away from the songs

[PongHit]

he is clearly the weakest singer in the band at this point. His vocals actually take a little away from the songs

Guess I'd have to say the same about Brian & his band too, but I still love the shows!

[tpesky]

That is a good point, I will agree and ya I love the music live and keep going to see all 3 of them