Brian, Al, and David Tour 2013

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Why would anyone be on here if I had ANY mean spirits towards any of the beach boys?

Huh?

[ontor pertawst]

Who am us, anyway?

Verily, for all are brothers in the Land Without Kokomo.

[Lowbacca]

From Brian's Facebook page:

From this afternoon's soundcheck: Jeff Foskett, Brian, Joe Thomas and Al Jardine.

[Pretty Funky]

Joe 'Auto tune' Thomas.

 

[ontor pertawst]

Never trust a man with two first names.

[Jim V.]

Never trust a man with two first names.

Would that include Brian Wilson?

[KittyKat]

I knew Joe Thomas had to be lurking somewhere. "Your Imagination" is not that great of a song and it's not one of Brian's favorites or he would have performed it more often. Joe is another weird figure who seems to exert some kind of strange pull on Brian. Brian has strange taste.

[RubberSoul13]

Ugh...not a fan. Any man that resembles an aging oompa-loompa, is not to be trusted.

[Dave Modny]

From Brian's Facebook page:

From this afternoon's soundcheck: Jeff Foskett, Brian, Joe Thomas and Al Jardine.

I think I'm officially losing my mind...because...


To me, Joe Thomas looks like some weird hybrid of Murry Wilson and Beethoven in that shot.

[Pretty Funky]

My first thought was Billy Hinsche. Sorry Billy!

[drbeachboy]

My first thought was Billy Hinsche. Sorry Billy!

Yea, me too.

[freedomaspirer]

I hope this doesn't mean the return of B-Pain!

[gfac22]

I thought that was Billy H. as well.  And I wish it was...

[urbanite]

So that's Joe Thomas.  I guess that answers the question of whether he is involved in the BW solo album.

[bossaroo]

a few thoughts on my Pittsburgh experience...

Old Folks At Home/Old Man River was a total surprise. One of my all-time favorites, I recently learned it on guitar... I only wish they had played the entire arrangement, with the key changes and harmonica solo. Still, what a treat!

Little Bird was a wonderful treat as well. Dave told the story about falling out of a tree in the neighborhood and breaking his arm I think, and Dennis said, "Which tree was it?" and chopped it down! He said Dennis always had his back. When the song was over Al said, "That's dedicated to that poor tree."   Too bad they didn't follow it up with A Day in the Life of a Tree!

Brian seemed quite engaged for the most part, most of the between-song banter came from him, as awkward and offbeat as you'd expect from the man. It's disappointing when Brian misses his parts but I think he is so used to Jeff covering him that he's just come to expect it which allows him to be a bit lazy or less on-the-ball than we'd like him to be. Brian is Brian, he's never going to be a great showman but he was definitely trying his best, at least most of the time.

Al is such a wonderful presence to have on that stage. He seems so invested in the material and in Brian's welfare. His little remarks after certain songs like, "I love that one, Brian!" or "One of my favorites, Brian." just come off completely genuine and warm. I just love the guy! Dave also really has a warm and easy-going manner that just puts things at ease. These guys really are the heart and soul of the Beach Boys, and seeing them WITHOUT Mike and Bruce is so nice, I've got to say.

My understanding of the Don't Worry Baby/Surf City story is that Dave actually played on both sessions, thanks to a call from Brian. He said he had already quit the band, and came to the studio after school one day. The way he told the story, it sounded as if both sessions took place in one day, but that obviously wasn't the case.

Interesting that Brian didn't play any bass. I wonder why... his back didn't seem to be giving him any problems. At the end of both sets, Brian was off his piano banch and heading for stage right in a flash. But after Summer's Gone most of the band was just leaving the stage, including Al and Dave, but Brian headed to center stage and just waited for everyone to join him in the final bow, which took a minute. That was a cool moment.

All in all, a wonderful show. Highlights for me were Catch A Wave, Girl Don't Tell Me, the aforementioned Old Man River/Cottonfields medley and Little Bird, Our Prayer, Marcella, Pet Sounds and Summer's Gone. Disappointed that they dropped Breakaway from the setlist... one of my favorites. But the others made up for it. So glad I made the trip.

[lostbeachboy]

Disappointed I will not be able to make any of Brian's dates!  They are just too far away, and work schedule makes it impossible. I really hope he adds a few more dates, especially near me on Rochester.. I will be seeing Mike and Bruce the beginning of August.

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3UuysDQAVs&feature=share

That is the strongest focus I have ever seen coming from any living being. 

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouYoLm68WM

[Micha]

From Brian's Facebook page:

From this afternoon's soundcheck: Jeff Foskett, Brian, Joe Thomas and Al Jardine.

I never knew what Joe Thomas looked like. In this photo he looks pretty creepy. But you can't really judge somebody from just one accidental photo.

[Lowbacca]

From Brian's Facebook page:

From this afternoon's soundcheck: Jeff Foskett, Brian, Joe Thomas and Al Jardine.

I never knew what Joe Thomas looked like. In this photo he looks pretty creepy. But you can't really judge somebody from just one accidental photo.

"Accidental"? I'd wager the guys knew they were being photographed.
But yeah, I've always thought he looks like the typical music biz / manager type. He might actually be a nice guy and decent human being (Brian likes him..), that I obviously can't judge, it's just his actual professional influence on Brian's music I don't like. I think many of us feel that way.

P.S. Joe Thomas being in that particular photo doesn't have to mean he's in any way connected to this particular tour. He's probably just visiting.

[Micha]

"Accidental"? I'd wager the guys knew they were being photographed.

Of course by "accidental" I meant "the one photo I accidentally happened to see of him which may be not the most flattering". He doesn't look that creepy here:

But yeah, I've always thought he looks like the typical music biz / manager type. He might actually be a nice guy and decent human being (Brian likes him..), that I obviously can't judge, it's just his actual professional influence on Brian's music I don't like. I think many of us feel that way.

I don't know if I can really judge that. I don't know what the last BB album would sound like without his influence. I like the 90s Paley influence better, I can say that.

[HeyJude]

I knew Joe Thomas had to be lurking somewhere. "Your Imagination" is not that great of a song and it's not one of Brian's favorites or he would have performed it more often. Joe is another weird figure who seems to exert some kind of strange pull on Brian. Brian has strange taste.

How much influence Thomas has is an interesting topic. But I somehow doubt he's dictating adding that song. Brian has occasionally resurrected the song post-1999. Brian's opinions of songs can change as well. He was rumored to rather dislike "Let It Shine" when it came out, yet it was supposedly his idea to add the song to his setlist in 2000.

[Phoenix]

My first thought was Billy Hinsche. Sorry Billy!

At least I wasn't the only one. 

[coco1997]

Is there a setlist from last night's show anywhere?

[Nicko1234]

According to BW.com the setlist was:

Set List

 Wilson Phillips
 Impulsive
 The Dream is Still Alive
 You're In Love
 Already Gone
 California Dreamin'
 Dedicated
 Release Me
 Hold On

 Brian Wilson w Jardine/Marks/ and Band
 California Girls
 Catch a Wave
 Dance, Dance, Dance
 Girl Don't Tell
 Little Deuce Coup
 Surfer Girl
 Please Let Me Wonder
 Then I Kissed Her
 Don't Worry Baby
 In My Room / Brian and Wilson Phillips only
 Darlin'
 Old Man River / Cottonfields
 Little Bird
 Our Prayer/ H&V
 Do You Wanna Dance
 I Get Around
 Do It Again
 Summertime Blues
 That's Why God Made the Radio
 Cal Saga
 Sail On Sailor
 Marcella
 Wouldn't It Be Nice
 Sloop John B.
 God Only Know
 Good Vibrations
 Encores
 All Summer Long
 Rhonda
 Barbara Ann
 Surfin' USA
 Fun, Fun, Fun

If accurate then a shorter main show and several rarities like Your Imagination, Goin Home and Summer`s Gone cut (along with the previously omitted Breakaway).