Brian / Al / Blondie Summer 2015 Tour Thread

[drbeachboy]

OSD,

I agree that I never really thought of M&B during the two hours. 

I'm seeing them in August, and I'm sure it'll be a fun show, there's no way they're going to top what happened at The Mann last night. 

My only real complaint was, no offense to Rodriguez, I'd have rather see a longer set with no opener (similar to C50). 

C50 was a delight twice, for me at least. But no, no Mike & Bruce in my thoughts either last night. The show was excellent without them.

[HeyJude]

Unlike the Beck tour, I don't feel like the opening Rodriguez set significantly shortened Brian's set. Looking back at his non-album-themed tours, this current setlist isn't a great deal shorter (some early shows also might have felt longer because there were often intermissions). Rodriguez also did a relatively short opening set for an "opening act." I don't think it clocked in at much more than 30 minutes. I've seen opening acts do 45 easily.

Back to "Runaway Dancer", while it isn't one of my favorites, I would say it's probably the tightest-sounding performance in the show in terms of the new album stuff. "Sail Away" always sounds great, but it always feel like they still can't decide who should sing which part of it. Brian seems to dig doing "Runaway Dancer", so if it gets him all jazzed, then I'm all for it. I enjoyed watching Al on stage essentially watch the rest of the band doing the song while he just shook the apple shaker. (Glad to see Al stay up on stage for even the solo stuff he wasn't originally on; as opposed to the Venetian Blu-ray where he came and went several times). Given how these guys were estranged for much of the 2000's, it's still surreal to see Al on stage singing along to Brian's solo material (didn't get to see the 2013 shows where both Al and Dave were on stage singing and playing on "Your Imagination" and "Goin' Home.")

[RubberSoul13]

Sounds like I missed something remarkable! NO doubt about that...hoping there's a second leg in the fall...just couldn't work it out for last night!

[Zesterz]

>> Real Beach Boy---wd very much wish to see this tour but AM IN UK.

Ticketmaster called today to say my refund is on the way. I should have preferred to see & hear this.

[Jesse Reiswig]

Going to the Jones Beach show tonight. Can't wait.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Going to the Jones Beach show tonight. Can't wait.

One of my good friends is going tonight too...you're in for a treat!

[Jonathan Blum]

Really interesting to compare these Brian/Al/Blondie setlists with the recent Mike/Bruce ones.  If you put their most recent US setlists against each other, they've got about half the songs in common -- 16 shared numbers, Brian doing another 17, and Mike doing another 22.  But the other numbers make them look like completely different bands -- Mike's setlist basically stops dead after "Good Vibrations" (only "Do It Again", the shared "Darlin'", "Disney Girls", "Goin' To The Beach", "California Dreamin'", "Kokomo", and "Pisces Brothers" after that), while Brian has fifteen tracks from "Smile" through "No Pier Pressure".  On the flipside, Brian has only two non-shared tracks before that point -- "In My Room" and "The Little Girl I Once Knew" -- while Mike has sixteen more cuts from the early days, including deep cuts from "Farmer's Daughter" to "Why Do Fools" to "Betsy" and four or five more tracks from "Today!".

It really does give the sense of two very different careers, even with about half the songs overlapping.  I always knew the Beach Boys were one of the greatest rock bands ever...  these setlists make a strong case that they're two of the greatest rock bands ever.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Gohi]

Really interesting to compare these Brian/Al/Blondie setlists with the recent Mike/Bruce ones.  If you put their most recent US setlists against each other, they've got about half the songs in common -- 16 shared numbers, Brian doing another 17, and Mike doing another 22.  But the other numbers make them look like completely different bands -- Mike's setlist basically stops dead after "Good Vibrations" (only "Do It Again", the shared "Darlin'", "Disney Girls", "Goin' To The Beach", "California Dreamin'", "Kokomo", and "Pisces Brothers" after that), while Brian has fifteen tracks from "Smile" through "No Pier Pressure".  On the flipside, Brian has only two non-shared tracks before that point -- "In My Room" and "The Little Girl I Once Knew" -- while Mike has sixteen more cuts from the early days, including deep cuts from "Farmer's Daughter" to "Why Do Fools" to "Betsy" and four or five more tracks from "Today!".

It really does give the sense of two very different careers, even with about half the songs overlapping.  I always knew the Beach Boys were one of the greatest rock bands ever...  these setlists make a strong case that they're two of the greatest rock bands ever.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Excellent point. I am glad to have both these bands.

I wish I could see this tour, but I'm happy I saw the BAD tour stop in Ohio, at least.

[RubberSoul13]

Really interesting to compare these Brian/Al/Blondie setlists with the recent Mike/Bruce ones.  If you put their most recent US setlists against each other, they've got about half the songs in common -- 16 shared numbers, Brian doing another 17, and Mike doing another 22.  But the other numbers make them look like completely different bands -- Mike's setlist basically stops dead after "Good Vibrations" (only "Do It Again", the shared "Darlin'", "Disney Girls", "Goin' To The Beach", "California Dreamin'", "Kokomo", and "Pisces Brothers" after that), while Brian has fifteen tracks from "Smile" through "No Pier Pressure".  On the flipside, Brian has only two non-shared tracks before that point -- "In My Room" and "The Little Girl I Once Knew" -- while Mike has sixteen more cuts from the early days, including deep cuts from "Farmer's Daughter" to "Why Do Fools" to "Betsy" and four or five more tracks from "Today!".

It really does give the sense of two very different careers, even with about half the songs overlapping.  I always knew the Beach Boys were one of the greatest rock bands ever...  these setlists make a strong case that they're two of the greatest rock bands ever.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

EXCELLENT post.

We're in a very fortunate position as fans to hear essentially any Beach Boys material we want live...popular or not. Sure, there's always more to be had...but that's what keeps us coming back, right??

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Any reports yet?

[HeyJude]

Looks like someone posted the setlist and I don't see any new additions:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2015/nikon-at-jones-beach-theater-wantagh-ny-33c94411.html

[KDS]

Same set as Philly. 

I always find it amusing to see Then He Kissed Me (Al Jardine lead vocal) on BB/BW setlists.  You'd think Setlist.FM would call the song by the actual title used on Summer Days, Summer Nights. 

[HeyJude]

Same set as Philly. 

I always find it amusing to see Then He Kissed Me (Al Jardine lead vocal) on BB/BW setlists.  You'd think Setlist.FM would call the song by the actual title used on Summer Days, Summer Nights. 

Yeah, that’s a weird tick that the website has. I think they do that to collate all of the data across all bands/setlists about a given song. I’m not sure who would need to know *every* band that has ever performed “Then He Kissed Me”, but I guess one can do that.

[KDS]

Same set as Philly. 

I always find it amusing to see Then He Kissed Me (Al Jardine lead vocal) on BB/BW setlists.  You'd think Setlist.FM would call the song by the actual title used on Summer Days, Summer Nights. 

Yeah, that’s a weird tick that the website has. I think they do that to collate all of the data across all bands/setlists about a given song. I’m not sure who would need to know *every* band that has ever performed “Then He Kissed Me”, but I guess one can do that.

I know of at least three variations on the title:

Then He Kissed Me  - Crystals
Then I Kissed Her - Beach Boys
Then She Kissed Me - KISS

[filledeplage]

Same set as Philly. 

I always find it amusing to see Then He Kissed Me (Al Jardine lead vocal) on BB/BW setlists.  You'd think Setlist.FM would call the song by the actual title used on Summer Days, Summer Nights. 

Yeah, that’s a weird tick that the website has. I think they do that to collate all of the data across all bands/setlists about a given song. I’m not sure who would need to know *every* band that has ever performed “Then He Kissed Me”, but I guess one can do that.

Ya think?  And for a long time, s/he/they conveniently forgot to give "attribution." 

[Watch a Cave]

I went to the Jones Beach show last night and here are my thoughts..

1.  The band was AWESOME.  Insanely good.. If you have any reservations about seeing the show.. Don't.. GO SEE THEM!

2.  Al sounds like he is still 25.  Simply amazing! 

3.  No offense to Jeff Foskett, but Matt Jardine sounds much better in the blend (to my ears).  His vocal on Don't worry baby was especially beautiful.  Even my wife said so during the song!

4.  Loved seeing Blondie..  Wild Honey seriously rocked.

5.  Brian seemed happy and relaxed and sounded very good, especially on the new stuff.

6.  Plenty of "Brianisms" throughout the show..  Introducing Darlin' he says "I wrote this for my brother Carl (cheers from the crowd) ..and then he died".  Introducing God only Knows he says "I wrote 400 songs and this is the best"

7.  Loved the Friends songs..  a very pleasant surprise

8.  Good vibrations rocked very hard

9.  Did I mention the band was insanely good?

All in all a wonderful experience, and thank you to my wife for an amazing Father's Day gift.


Go see this show!

[KDS]

That just reminded me of the God Only Knows intro from Philly on Monday night

"I've written a lot of songs.  I've heard this one is the best one.  Maybe it is.  God Only Knows." 

[Jesse Reiswig]

Saw the Jones Beach show last night. Stadium was only about 30% full, so they closed down the mezzanine and we swapped out for closer seats. It was still so relaxed that we gradually drifted down further and further to the front, till by the end we were dancing in the aisle next to the front row with others. I was standing about 3 yards away from Brian and his piano. I'll post some photos as soon as I can figure out how to upload them onto this finicky server.

All in all, a great show. Brian seemed like he was doing great (although physically quite shaky when he walked off stage) and the band totally kicked ass. A few highlights: The great scat-singing bit on "One Kind of Love." A fantastic stuttured vocal a-la "My Generation" by Blondie on the "lying, dying" part of "Sail on, Sailor." Darian sounded just great--and a lot like Carl--on "Darlin'," and they ended the song with a great a cappella bit. The vibraphone (I think by Scott) on "Busy Doin' Nothin'" was fantastically inventive. Great sounding mandolin on "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and they DID NOT include the "goodnight oh baby" vocals at the end, or at least I couldn't hear them in the mix. "Love and Mercy" was just beautiful, and Brian's piano was simple and lovely on it. Brian was a little shouty last night, but certainly more than competent.

[EgoHanger1966]

That just reminded me of the God Only Knows intro from Philly on Monday night

"I've written a lot of songs.  I've heard this one is the best one.  Maybe it is.  God Only Knows." 

He also swapped out "a lot of people out there hurtin'" with "a lot of people getting shot" in L&M 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

In Austin,  he sang ' and it scares the hell out of me'

[KDS]

That just reminded me of the God Only Knows intro from Philly on Monday night

"I've written a lot of songs.  I've heard this one is the best one.  Maybe it is.  God Only Knows." 

He also swapped out "a lot of people out there hurtin'" with "a lot of people getting shot" in L&M 

I'm glad you mentioned that.  I thought I misheard him.  So, I did hear right. 

[Rocky Raccoon]

Sitting outside the venue, Probyn Gregory just happens to be out here too, just kind of hanging out.  He talked to a bunch of fans for a little bit while we're waiting for the doors to open, it was pretty cool.

[SMiLE Brian]

That just reminded me of the God Only Knows intro from Philly on Monday night

"I've written a lot of songs.  I've heard this one is the best one.  Maybe it is.  God Only Knows." 

He also swapped out "a lot of people out there hurtin'" with "a lot of people getting shot" in L&M 

good times

[rab2591]

Went to the Philly show and I'm still blown away. Brian sounded really good on God Only Knows, Darian sang Darlin I believe and I almost thought Carl himself was singing.

The real horns add so much to the mix, the sax that was played during the chorus of Don't Worry Baby was truly a highlight for me.

The best part of the concert for me was Surf's Up. Was tremendously moved by how perfect it sounded, and the song received a long standing ovation from the majority of the crowd. Runaway Dancer was killer - I love the album version, but the live version has a perfect feel to it - it's more acoustic than electronic, making it seem more Brian Wilson and less Capital Cities.

The band was really tight. The acoustics of the venue were perfect. Blondie sounded almost better on the live version of Sail Away than on the actual album!

The encore was truly special - the energy of the crowd was electric, and everyone was up dancing and singing. Anyways, I'm running on almost zero sleep for the last few days, so this post may seem a bit scattered. Point is, if you have the ability to see any shows on this tour do not hesitate to get a ticket. Invite your friends, family; they will not be disappointed.

Thank you Brian and the band for putting on such a tremendous show. Without a doubt it'll be a night I will never forget.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Some quick comments about tonight's show.

-"Cottonfields" was performed as a duet between Al and Mike D"Amico's daughter who did a fine job.

-"God Only Knows" recieved a standing ovation, Brian stepped out from behind his piano and took a bow.  Beautiful moment.

-Brian led the crowd in a singalong of "Row Row Row Your Boat" with Al joking that it's a good lead-in to the next song which turned out to be an incredible "Surf's Up".

-Bruce Springsteen was present at the show though stayed mostly incognito.  He came out during the encore in a baseball cap, nobody recognized him until Al sings "tried Bruce Springsteen" during "Barbara Ann".  Chants of "Bruuuuuce" most certainly followed and he strapped on a guitar for "Surfin' USA" and then quietly walked off.

-Tonight's lyric improv in Love & Mercy. "A lot of people broke in the money, well it's just not fair."

-Setlist surprise of the night was "Drive-In"!  An odd inclusion but Brian got really into that one.

Overall, an incredible show even though the sound mix was a bit lacking at times.  I'll have more to say about the show later I'm sure.