Last nights show now up on YouTube

[jeremylr]

Along the lines of what Jon Stebbins & Adam were saying, has Al always fiddled with his onstage monitor?  Is it because folks have told him they can't hear his guitar?  Or is he just picky?

By the way, I've never attended a BB show.  One other thing......does Al act the same at his solo gigs?  For anyone with a Jardine monitor story, feel free to share it.

[Don_Zabu]

I must say, I find it kind of eerie that Christian Love is going bald too. XD

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Genetics.

[Runaways]

Genetics.

sex influenced traits can be a b!

[Smilin Ed H]

" must say, I find it kind of eerie that Christian Love is going bald too. XD"

What is he?  About 40? Not that unusual, I would've thought. Or is he one of the younger offspring?

[adamghost]

I'd love to see Al Jardine doing the lead vocal on "Wouldn't It Be Nice" again.

I don't think he can hit it anymore.  He handed that one off to Carl in the '80s.  In fact, someone (can't remember who) told me a story about sometime after that happening, Carl was doing vocal warm ups before a show and Al asked him why he always did that.  Carl supposedly simply responded, "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

I know that Al can still sing stupid high from when he was dishing out parts to some of the girls in my band, but it's kind of a whisper.  I don't think he can connect it to his full voice or project it anymore.  He always had one of those voices where you just go for it in full voice and then switch to a lighter falsetto when you run out of notes, as opposed to the Wilsons that had more of a transitional head voice thing going on, so it makes sense.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Funny, I was listening to "Crack At Your Love" this morning (yes, BBs 85 gets regular airplay in my hovel) and noticed that he seems to do that exact thing on his couple of high parts in that song. He goes in strong and then kinda sneaks into a higher range at the end of his breathes. The falsetto sounds a bit weak, but in a good way and hitting the right emotional note. It's a nice effect.

[Matt J]

My Dad does fiddle w/ his amp. Stage volumes at showtime change drastically from soundcheck volumes (& during the actual show from song to song). Remember also that everyone else onstage has in-ear monitors. We (Dad & I) always use wedges & he commented to me after soundcheck that this was going to be interesting not being able to hear the other instruments onstage. On the two tunes I sat in on (Rhonda & Fun Fun Fun)  I found I had absolutely no monitor (someone had moved it during the previous set change) so I sang next to a piano I couldn't hear & key'd off of the house & the little I could hear from my Dad's wedge downstage. That's showbiz!!

[Runaways]

Well i thought they all sounded pretty good for no monitors. 

I don't think he can hit it anymore.  He handed that one off to Carl in the '80s.  In fact, someone (can't remember who) told me a story about sometime after that happening, Carl was doing vocal warm ups before a show and Al asked him why he always did that.  Carl supposedly simply responded, "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

Yeah I need a day with a really clear throat to do wouldn't it be nice without mistakes.  Really difficult song. 

[Rich Panteluk]

Hello Matt!

Welcome to the board, it is great to have you here.  As much as I love the killer falsetto work of Foskett, Baker, Kirsch (I sincerely think they are ALL wonderful singers), and having seen them all do their thing live multiple times, you are IMHO the best at invoking the spirit and sound of Brian's early vocal parts.  Not just blowing smoke, as I believe I said this very thing to you at The Suncoast in 2008, and The Cannery in 2009.  

I've got my fingers crossed that if there are more BB reunion performances that your voice will be somewhere in the mix.

I hope you come by The Smiley Smile board again (and often) as I'm sure everyone here would love to have someone with your knowledge and history with the band share your experiences.

I really enjoyed seeing and hearing Al, Mike and Bruce together again on stage the other night.  Al's voice has retained so much of it's power and character.  The only thing that would make for a bigger emotional impact is adding Brian (and David, or even Blondie and Ricky) into the mix.

Also re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - I believe that it IS the toughest of the big hits to pull of live.  I have heard literally hundreds of live versions and none of them ever really achieve the majesty of the studio version.  I've really enjoyed all the 40 plus years of earlier attempts The Beach Boys (and offshoot solo bands etc) have played but they just don't have the magic of the original recording.  Brian's double tracked lead on WIBN is in his top five vocals of his career.  Many often spot Don't Worry Baby as his most pretty or beautiful vocal but Wouldn't it Be Nice is his most assured and forceful vocal.  The seemingly effortless transitions from chest voice to falsetto (not to mention how so many of those high notes are done with his chest voice) make it damn near impossible to duplicate.  I liked Al's leads on it in the 60 through the early 80's and enjoyed later, when Carl split the lead with Foskett.  When Brian sings it live it is a letdown (as much as I love seeing his solo return to the stage), as he has to significantly lower the key.  It is nice that Brian's band have recently restored the key and let Jeff have a go at it.  The recent Beach Boys take a multiple vocalist approach to the song which is pretty cool...

That song IS a real beast to sing WELL... and with all the great vocalists who have given it a shot, none surpass Brian's original vocals.  That, and I miss the dual accordian attack of the record when it is played live.

[The Shift]

As much as I love the killer falsetto work of Foskett, Baker, Kirsch (I sincerely think they are ALL wonderful singers), and having seen them all do their thing live multiple times, you are IMHO the best at invoking the spirit and sound of Brian's early vocal parts. 

Well said. Agree wholeheartedly. Best case I know for the term "Beach Boys & Sons Inc.".

[Rocker]

You know, I never noticed it before, but Al Jardine kind of looks like Ronald Reagan, doesn't he?

Hm.... what does Reagan look like nowadays ?




Agree on Matt Jardine's falsetto. On a few songs he even beats Brian imo (Hushabye for example).
Good to see you here, hope you'll stay around

[Runaways]

Agree on Matt Jardine's falsetto. On a few songs he even beats Brian imo (Hushabye for example).
Good to see you here, hope you'll stay around

not sure i'd go that far.  But definitely has a great voice

[donald]

Waited for Mike to nod to AL and say in his inimitable fashion  "AlllllllllllJaaaaaaaarrrrrdeeen!  But he didn't.

Or I missed it.  Al, did nod and gesture  to ML and say   "Michael Edward"!!!!!

What a treat!

Nice of you to post Matt!

[Emdeeh]

Welcome, Matt! It was so good to see and hear you sitting in with your dad on Saturday!

[Matt J]

Thanks for the kind words.

[Seaside Woman]

My Dad does fiddle w/ his amp. Stage volumes at showtime change drastically from soundcheck volumes (& during the actual show from song to song). Remember also that everyone else onstage has in-ear monitors. We (Dad & I) always use wedges & he commented to me after soundcheck that this was going to be interesting not being able to hear the other instruments onstage. On the two tunes I sat in on (Rhonda & Fun Fun Fun)  I found I had absolutely no monitor (someone had moved it during the previous set change) so I sang next to a piano I couldn't hear & key'd off of the house & the little I could hear from my Dad's wedge downstage. That's showbiz!!

I'm wondering why you both don't use in-ear monitors Matt? If you're in any mood to explain, what is a wedge? Any answer will have be the idiots guide to, I'm  technophobic, sad but true. : - )

[LostArt]

My Dad does fiddle w/ his amp. Stage volumes at showtime change drastically from soundcheck volumes (& during the actual show from song to song). Remember also that everyone else onstage has in-ear monitors. We (Dad & I) always use wedges & he commented to me after soundcheck that this was going to be interesting not being able to hear the other instruments onstage. On the two tunes I sat in on (Rhonda & Fun Fun Fun)  I found I had absolutely no monitor (someone had moved it during the previous set change) so I sang next to a piano I couldn't hear & key'd off of the house & the little I could hear from my Dad's wedge downstage. That's showbiz!!

I'm wondering why you both don't use in-ear monitors Matt? If you're in any mood to explain, what is a wedge? Any answer will have be the idiots guide to, I'm  technophobic, sad but true. : - )

A wedge is just another term for a floor monitor, which is a speaker placed on the floor, usually in front of the performer, and pointed back at the performer to allow him or her to hear themselves/others.  I also prefer to use wedges, as opposed to in-ear monitors, simply because that's the way I've done it for 35 years.  I am the only one in the band I'm in that still uses a wedge, and I am afraid that I'm going to have to start using in-ears, as some sound companies are starting to gripe about having to set up and wire a wedge or two just for one guy. 

Welcome, Matt (no pun intended).

[GoofyJeff]

Welcome to the board, Matt!!  Hope you stick around and chime in on other discussions

[Seaside Woman]

My Dad does fiddle w/ his amp. Stage volumes at showtime change drastically from soundcheck volumes (& during the actual show from song to song). Remember also that everyone else onstage has in-ear monitors. We (Dad & I) always use wedges & he commented to me after soundcheck that this was going to be interesting not being able to hear the other instruments onstage. On the two tunes I sat in on (Rhonda & Fun Fun Fun)  I found I had absolutely no monitor (someone had moved it during the previous set change) so I sang next to a piano I couldn't hear & key'd off of the house & the little I could hear from my Dad's wedge downstage. That's showbiz!!

I'm wondering why you both don't use in-ear monitors Matt? If you're in any mood to explain, what is a wedge? Any answer will have be the idiots guide to, I'm  technophobic, sad but true. : - )

A wedge is just another term for a floor monitor, which is a speaker placed on the floor, usually in front of the performer, and pointed back at the performer to allow him or her to hear themselves/others.  I also prefer to use wedges, as opposed to in-ear monitors, simply because that's the way I've done it for 35 years.  I am the only one in the band I'm in that still uses a wedge, and I am afraid that I'm going to have to start using in-ears, as some sound companies are starting to gripe about having to set up and wire a wedge or two just for one guy. 

Welcome, Matt (no pun intended).

Ahh right! Things are becoming clearer now, thank you

[Beekeeper]

I was just going to add that Mike Love is starting to look like (in the face) Bruce Johnston.

BTW @ Matt Jardine, Im friends with Surfer Spud who is good friends with Stevie whom knows your dad. 

BK 

[Shady]

Hello Matt...

Good Job!

[Matt J]

Again folks, thank you for all your kind words & comments.  Al Jardine's Endless Summer Band doesn't use in-ear monitors because we don't tour enough to justify the expense of a system like that. Old school onstage wedges/monitors are readily available wherever we play & it's just easier that way. Plus, all of us in that band are old-school & wedges/onstage monitors are what we're comfortable with. The last two years I was in The Beach Boys (96-97) we used in-ears & it was not a fun experience for me. The falsetto bandwidth in such tiny speaker drivers (in the in-ear monitors) was such I could never really hear myself over the other singers. I really need to hear a little of the front house audio (main speakers pointed at the audience) & a lot of myself in a wedge/onstage monitor so I'm not over singing & screwing up the vocal blend (& blowing my voice out) to really get dialed in w/ pitch. I sing those parts w/ a lot of power (on the uptempo tunes) & back off the mic &/or sing softer & easier for tunes like In My Room, Surfer Girl, God Only Knows, etc. So I split the difference & had one in-ear in & popped the other out & had a wedge at my feet. Best of both worlds.  At the Reagan Event, we didn't have in-ears & were given wedges/onstage monitors while everyone else in that band had their custom molded in-ear monitors. In that kind of set-up all guitar/piano amps are off-stage. All you hear are the drums & the front house. In my case, I had NO sound whatsoever but I made it through without a hitch. Fun event.

[ReggieDunbar]

Matt: Welcome onboard!

Your falsetto on Fun Fun Fun at the Reagan show really rocked and got it to a different level!
Randell has a sweet voice but I think you have more power in yours...

//Henrik

[Magic City Surfer]

I was just going to add that Mike Love is starting to look like (in the face) Bruce Johnston.

No doubt about it, Bruce and Mike are definitely starting to look alike. Weird.

I would say that I first noticed it when they played Dancing With The Stars, but I don't want to admit that I actually saw that.