The Smiley Smile Message Board

I saw The Beach Boys tonight at The American Music Theater in Lancaster, PA. It was an excellent concert. It was sold out. I paid $75 for a ticket; the hall was small but very nice. Here are some comments:

- The concert started at 7:00 PM and ended at 9:20; there was a twenty minute intermission.
- Mike sounded stronger vocally than he did last year during the C50 tour.
- Bruce did considerably less fixing of his mic and clapping and more singing and playing
- the average age of the audience must've been around 60 years of age
- Scott Totten's guitar was turned up much louder than David Mark's was during last year's tour
- Christian Love was underwhelming
- John Cowsill was excellent drumming and singing; his energy was amazing compared to the rest of the group
- all of the songs were performed like the records in tempo and endings; hardly any of the endings dragged on even a little; they ended abruptly
- they did "Isn't It Time"
- Randall Kirsch sang "Don't Worry Baby"
- "Kokomo" started out strong but faded
- Bruce shouldn't be singing the lead to "Wendy" when Mike is standing right there
- "Good Timin" was well-performed
- most of the time there were only 4 maybe 5 guys singing harmony but it sounded very full; I was pleasantly surprised
- "It's OK" fell flat
- WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
- no Stamos but Mike did mention him
- it was a seven piece band INCLUDING Mike but the sound was very good; after last year I was skeptical but they pulled it off
- they left the stage at the end, only to come back for one more song/encore - "Fun Fun Fun" - so I thought; so they come back onstage and launch into this scorching version of "Wild Honey" with John Cowsill on lead vocal; flat out best version of the song I ever heard; I sat there stunned; 99% of the audience didn't know what the hell they were listening to

This wasn't the best Beach Boys concert I ever attended but it was the most unique. My eyes were darting all over the place. A lot of different things were happening. And a lot of the same I guess. As I was watching the people clapping and singing and rocking back and forth and forth in their seats, I couldn't help but wonder how many of them were even thinking of Brian or Al or Dave. But a very enjoyable evening nevertheless. I'm glad I went.

Seriously, they did "Wild Honey"?  Wow!

For real??

And who sang Brian's lead on Isn't It Time?

After "Surfin USA" they said "good night", were waving good-bye, and left the stage. I was going through all the songs and the only song left to perform was "Fun Fun Fun". I thought it was odd to return to sing just that one song as a single encore. They couldn't have been off the stage more than two minutes when they came back on stage, and Tim  Bonhomme started playing the opening theremin part to "Wild Honey" on his keyboard. I immediately recognized it but couldn't believe it. All of a sudden the entire band launched into it and John Cowsill was incredible. Mike was singing his bass part and playing tambourine; it was surreal. The funny part was seeing these 65-70 year-old people who you just knew had no clue what song they were listening to - but they were clapping along AND dancing along to it. The place was rocking. I'm not kidding. And then they went right into "Fun Fun Fun" and ended the concert. Amazing that they would try something like that. But it worked.

Imagine if they had done that on the 50th tour: people would still be talking about it.

I hope someone got video of that.

I believe it was Randell Kirsch but I'm not 100% sure. It was hard to pick up when John Cowsill was singing because he was wearing a headset which literally blocked his lips, and his long hair was hanging down in front of his face. But I believe Randell handled Brian's part. Obviously Bruce and Mike sang their parts, and Scott sang Al's part. It was a good rendition and was well received by the audience.

.

Congrats sheriff!  So happy you saw this. It makes me want to see how Mike and Bruce are spreading their wings and taking the legacy seriously. I only wish that we could enjoy this as part of a unified BB reality, with the band heading back into the studio to cut an album, planning full-group shows in stadiums, etc. That's what's breaking my heart.  But the reality of the live album and the MIC and the hope for more videos of the 50 are sustaining me. So too is the Sheriff's report that some vital and creative shows of BB music are being performed by the road BB (MB) band.

I'll pass on any future M&B shows if they swing by me, but it's very cool to hear they did "Wild Honey".

Great write up!  Loved that.

So great that they're doing "Isn't It Time"...that's a nice touch.  "Wild Honey" though..that's madness.  Hope a clip pops up on Youtube.  But judging from the median age of 60...I doubt we'll see it!

I personally dig the M&B band.  I'm a Beach Boy fan, so I'll gladly watch any group of musicians playing Beach Boy music ESPECIALLY if they have Mike Love singing lead.  I saw 6 C50 shows last year and loved every one of them.  With that said, I can still attend a M&B and/or BW solo show without any of them marring the memory of any of the C50 shows I saw.  Too bad many other fans can't.

Wow... I can just imagine how great Cowsill must sound on Wild Honey.
As for "Bruce did considerably less fixing of his mic and clapping and more singing and playing" -- this is what I've been saying for a while. Ever since Cowsill switched from keyboards to drums, Bruce has been playing more than he had in the 25 years before that. The reunion tour was the first time in years that his keyboard wasn't necessary, so he went back to the old ways, but he's absolutely essential on the Mike & Bruce shows.

WOW!  If that had been me, I probably would've passed out...that would've been surreal to suddenly hear Wild Honey!  Al's group does a great job with it, but M&B have never tried it as far as I know, and it hasn't been performed by the official BB since the 70's.  The only thing that would've been more shocking would be if they finished it off with "It's About Time"!

Reading this review makes me want to see the M&B show - but not for $70. Were those the cheap seats?  I would fork over $25-$30.

Good to hear that they've added Wild Honey and hopefully that will stay in the setlist for a long while. I always thought it was strange that it was the one song from Sounds of Summer not to make the setlist.

"Wild Honey"? :o Sick. Sure hope this turns up on Youtube.

I'd go see them but not for more than $30. Sounds cool that they did Wild Honey, though.

Surreal is the word!  I was in shock when I could hear the eerie tannerin intro from Tim, on Saturday in Morristown. Whoa!

"Nah!," I told myself, they weren't doing WH! My bad! Sheriff correctly characterized it as a "scorcher."  It was higher in the setlist, after Rock and Roll Music. It just exploded.  And they all "dead on" accurate with their parts, Randell, Cowsill, all of them, and the thunderous percussion from Cowsill. They had to have rehearsed their butts off.  

Anyone who writes off and underestimates this band takes a very foolish position, who will surely "eat their words, with a fork and spoon." They are on a roll.

Just because the Touring Band has not done some of the deeper catalog, doesn't mean they can't.  That WH version would do Carl proud. Scott Totten is working them hard. And, their enthusiasm seemed an indicator that they are all ready to embrace this newer "old" setlist material. It was incendiary. A preview of coming attractions!

IMHO

That is pretty wild.  Here's hoping they're still feeling adventurous with the set lists when they make their way to my neck of the woods in August.  Has the M&B band ever done Wild Honey?  Come to think of it, when was the last time it was performed?

Mike & Bruce have never done it before. Al's band did it in 98/99, don't know if they still do.

This more experimental setlist, to me, shows a confidence of going out of the wisely-conservative and prudent set list.  Not everyone knows this material.  Spoon-feeding a new-to-them song or two, will likely spur some new downloads or dusting off of the old LP, and generally generate new interest in that era.  They ain't "Yo Mama's" jukebox!  ;)

 :lol

Last year in Liverpool in the Cavern (at the I.P.O.)  by Surfs Up  8) shame can't hear the keyboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-iGH2kCu8

For the record, the five-man backing band has been in place since 2008. And it's about the tightest and best that the Michael and Bruce group has sounded in concert. Go see them.

Just wanted to add a couple of more comments that I forgot to add last night:

- they opened with "Do It Again", no "Surfin" tonight
- Scott sang "Ballad Of Ole Betsy"
- they also performed "California Dreamin", "I Can Hear Music", "Getcha BacK", and "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"
- at the end of "God Only Knows", Bruce said "that's for Carl Wilson"; that was the only mention of the other Beach Boys other than a reference to last years' reunion
- Nicko1234 made a good point; I had forgotten that "Wild Honey" was on Sounds Of Summer so I retract my statement that probably nobody was familiar with the song as it was being performed
- Scott did that cool vibrating/stacatto sound on his guitar during "Little Honda"
- during "Barbara Ann" there must've been 20 people on stage; a young kid was standing next to Tim, an attractive girl was standing next next to Christian, a hot babe (who slow danced with Mike during "Surfer Girl") was standing next to Bruce, I think someone was standing next to Randell, and Scott was wailing away - out in the first row - like Jimi Hendrix. And it was funny, but Mike looked like Jim Valvano after winning the NCAA championship; he had nobody to dance with. And all these little kids were running wildly around the stage. It was hilarious.
- Bruce was fan friendly; he ventured to the front of the stage and high-fived, shook hands, and signed some autographs
- no shorts for Bruce, just the ever present baseball hat; he sang "Disney Girls"; Scott played acoustic guitar during the song
- because of the "stripped" sound, everybody in the group is vital, they all play a key role; Mike played a lot of audible tambourine.
- same thing with the vocals, Mike's bass part was exceptionally audible, you can't coast in this lineup
- the saxophone is missed at times especially during "Kokomo", "Sloop", "California Dreamin", and "Shut Down"; if I had one suggestion I would like to hear some horns in the mix
- I don't want to be that hard on Christian Love but I don't think his vocals sound at all like Carl Wilson and I don't think he sings with an energy; also his body language doesn't portray an energy either; he's right up front BUT HE BARELY MOVES!

- to me I was so impressed by John Cowsill's drumming and energy; it was more apparent with this lineup than the C50 lineup; he looked like Marky Ramone!

From that review of the Lancaster show, it sounds like they really blew the powdered sugar off the funnel cake last night!  ;D

(check out that PA reference... :) )

I couldn't agree more.  I've said this before, but Christian does have a really good voice (sort of similar in tone to Carl, but of course nobody can match Carl), and if he actually even pretended to give a sh*t, he'd sound so much better.  He just looks like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world.  The rest of the band is having a great time up there, but he's kind of a buzzkill.

And I kind of wish they'd go back to opening with Surfin', I thought it was a pretty cool.  As much as I love Do It Again, I've never thought it was the greatest show opener.

It's kind of cool to be at my place in life, and able to look in the rear view mirror, and ahead.  Having almost-grown children, I look at their personalities, and thought that they would all grow up as extroverts.  Two of three are, and, one is a very funny, but a very reserved introvert.  Just because someone is on stage, as a singer, doesn't confer a personality as an extrovert.  Maybe not shy, but reserved.  

And, I've been watching this very nice young man, since he began with the band, growing into the job, and I think very nicely.  He is very nice to the kids in the audience, and often  goes over to give them one of his guitar picks.  That is a nice gesture.  And, I think young people like to be their own person's. And not a "mini-me" of a high-profile parent. It is just harsh.

First, I heard vocals on that little Hallmark CD, with Cool Head, Warm Heart, and heard this "voice" (Christian's) that was a déjà vu. It instantly reminded me of Carl's soft yearning vocal quality.  Funny, one might think that looking like his dad would make him sound like Mike.  Kids sometimes resemble someone else, such as an uncle, or aunt, or cousin. If he has even an ounce of Carl's voice, it is just such a gift. It's been a joy to see this second BB generation coming along, choosing music.  

Do it Again is very cool; California Girls, with those sparkling few measures as the former intro, that always make me gasp. It's my favorite intro, and just gets the crowd so psyched for the show, right off the bat.  ;)

So it sounds like that's the only real incentive to see the Mike and Bruce show these days. To see the drummer sing Wild Honey. Fantastic song, and I'm sure Cowsill sings it great, but I've heard the rest of the setlist about 437 times already, so please give me another reason to plunk down 75 smackers to see the Mike & Bruce Travelin' Jukebox. Always liked Blondie singing Wild Honey in that video clip.

Good to know Bruce is finally getting off his ass and working these days, instead of adjusting his mic and smiling and clapping and hippity hopping like the Easter Bunny across the stage in his big ol' white shorts.

There isn't another reason for you, Mikie. The Mike and Bruce version of The Beach Boys isn't for everybody. No problem. So, spend your money on somebody else.

Kudos to Mike and company for adding Wild Honey. Mike usually ups the ante when he feels pressure from Brian. After a period of hearing how Mike and Bruce just did the hits and Brian had all of these deeps cuts,  all of a sudden their setlists got MUCH deeper ( circa 2005-06 maybe) I would bet the Brian/Al/Dave tour prospects will push Mike and his group a bit to do different stuff.

I will.  The Stones are coming to town.  They have a lead singer that dances around the stage like Mike Love use to.

Yep, he sure does!  That's been the trend since Brian started touring in '99.

quote author=AndrewHickey link=topic=15478.msg361872#msg361872 date=1365428709]

Mike & Bruce have never done it before. Al's band did it in 98/99, don't know if they still do.
[/quote]

From Al's "Postcard" cd release party, Roxy Theatre, March 20, 2012. Matt nails it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81tILMF-N0

Not trying to turn this thread into a Mike bashing thread, but I think its ironic Mike only wants to play the deeper cuts to compete with Brian. While on C50 Brian had to beg Mike to play something like "Marcella".

Does anyone really believe that is the only reason deeper cuts are played? Wild Honey was on Sounds of Summer anyway...

Mike's attitude has always been 'give the audience what they want'. For the casino and county fair shows that is the greatest hits and for the theatre shows they add a few other songs. Sometimes Brian's shows (eg. his U.K. Smile concerts) probably have given indications to Mike and Bruce that the audiences will accept more interesting setlists which led to them playing 54 tunes when touring the U.K. But I seriously doubt that Mike thinks about competing with Brian when Brian is only playing a few concerts all year and will probably play a similar setlist anyway.

Who says he only plays them to compete with Brian?
When I saw him in 2004 he did All This Is That, Sail On Sailor, Til I Die, Everyone's In Love With You, You Still Believe In Me, Disney Girls and more
In 2008 he did those plus Good Timin', Let Him Run Wild, Good To My Baby, Here Today and more.
Even in 2011 when I saw him doing a relatively short hits show he still included Heroes & Villains with the Bicycle Rider chorus.
And that Rolling Stone article that people keep talking about doesn't have Brian 'begging' to include Marcella. The dialogue runs:
"I have feedback from my family. They want new songs."
"Like what, cuz?"
"I was thinking Marcella"
"Whaaaaaat?"
"Marcella's pretty cool, Mike. Hey, hey Marcella!"
"What are we gonna cut?"
"Well..."
"Maybe we can alternate songs"
"Yah, OK, all right, whatever"

That hardly reads to me like someone who was dragged kicking and screaming into doing the song, or anyone having to beg.

The actual evidence seems to me to show that Mike, of course, wants to do as many of the hits as possible in a show, but that when the opportunity presents itself (a longer show or a more receptive audience) he's perfectly willing to vary the setlist.

respect to Mike and his band for doing WH. Wonder if it was a genuine ML decision or if his band pushed for them to try it?

Part of the reason Mike upped his game in 2004 was Brian's then deep cut heavy tours. Before that it was the hits and a few covers.

Agreed. Look to the actual evidence. But, now, that setlist analysis needs to "bifurcate" into UK/European setlist choices versus the USA.  The Touring Band has always dug a little deeper, doing stuff like Sail On, Sailor, etc., in the European markets, where those albums sold well.  Wild Honey sold better in the UK than in the States.  One broad brush doesn't cover all aspects of the argument.  

And, please let's not start a bash session.  I think it gets boring, sickening and beneath the dignity and the intelligence of many fine posters, here.  Each band will surely get out there, with their personal best work, and that will only make the next "reunion" all the finer.  I hope the BAD (not badder) band books dates where I can see them; and hope they dig out what will work for them.  I hope they do Don't Fight the Sea and And, I Always Will, from Postcard, to eventually include for all, should that take place in the future.  

If people would only stand back and look at what each band can work on to bring back to the table, they might see this year of not being together, in a more positive light.  They don't need to compete; they only need to work on themselves.  Personal best, here.  I was delighted to hear Cowsill do the Wild Honey lead.  His voice was conspicuously absent on C 50, while he drove the backbeat for the tour.  He "sang" through his percussion work.   ;)

I've never seen it said it was to 'compete' with Brian though. That would be slightly bizarre anyway especially since Brian had been touring solo for years by this point.

Scott Totten becoming the band leader may have changed things as much as anything.

That might be the case, Scott has done wonders for M&B. That 2003 show on YouTube shows how bad they were before he took charge.

Chris Farmer first became the bandleader back in 2004, taking over from (believe it or not) Bruce. It's not exactly a coincidence that the quality of the band's performances improved. Then when Scott became the bandleader in 2008 and the band was whittled down to the most essential members, it's about the best they've ever sounded. They're a great band.

No, the improvement started before that, when Chris Farmer was still band leader. Getting rid of Adrian Baker was a major step forward -- the 2004 UK shows were extremely good, apart from the useless Kowalski on drums. Scott's done a great job as bandleader, but the thing that really made the difference was getting Kowalski out and moving Cowsill over to the drums. The rest was all in place back in 2004.

YouTube can only give you a snapshot of any performance.  They are tighter, now with Scott's fresh pair of eyes.  I think on many levels, his insight might be analogous to Darien's, who also applied a more impartial observer to Brian's work and through technology, that wasn't around when the music was written, look at more possibilities for both recording and performance.  Scott didn't take over, I think until around 2007-2008, but, I will tell you I never saw a "bad" Touring Band show.  YouTube is a only a "snapshot," and hardly a definitive analysis.  

Yikes about Bruce being the band leader....

Sorry, had a brain fart there. Getting mixed up between the 2004 shows with Chris Farmer and the 2008 shows with Scott Totten as leader.

I agree that the band was already excellent in 2004.

Actually, when I first started playing in the band in late 2000, Chris Farmer was the Musical Director, and he remained so until 2007 when the lineup changed.  However, I had started working with Tim on keyboard sounds and parts in 2005 I think, right before our performances on The TODAY show.

I do agree that Cowsill moving over to drums made a big difference!

Scott

Always a distinct pleasure to hear the authoritative voice of one of our heroes. Scott, there is nothing quite like the drama of you and Dave alternating fills throughout the verses of Little Honda live; may I salute you for the arrangement and bit of elegance? Still Crusin' as well is a favorite. Thank you for the unity, professionalism, musical awareness and bardic joy you brought to the 50th shows. The list is no place to interrogate the honored guests, so I make no inquiry about the future. You know surely how we all long for more original work written and performed by this once-in-a-lifetime band, however chimerical that hope may be. For now, deep thanks for your work and infinite gift to us.

The Professor (no doubt speaking for many other here as well).

It did. I hope you don't think, BTW, that my comment was minimising your contribution -- you do a remarkable job. I just don't think that Chris Farmer did a bad job at all either, and I think some people here tend to lay the faults of other ex-members at his door a little.

Agreed 100%

I'm not much of a ML fan, but the more BW's fans bash, the more I'm inclined to check out a M&B show. They don't seem to be headed my way this summer, though....but I can see Kale's Klones aka the bogus Guess Who at the county fair.

Wild Honey!!! AW YEAH!

Isn't it time...umm...awkward...

Hoping they keep "Wild Honey" in for at least one of my two shows this year! Honestly, don't feel that bad about missing this concert. That's the only song I regret not hearing...and hopefully they keep that for the year if it made the encore.

Or They have a lead singer that mYke luHv tried in vein to imitate but fell flat on his face.

Mike's "jagger-lite" stageware was about the worst clothing I have ever seen.

At least Mike and Bruce don't charge over $600 for seats that are halfway up the back of a basketball arena, or over $200 to sit on the top deck behind the stage. Or $1,500 for the privilege of standing for several hours hemmed in to view their show from the "tongue pit." The Beach Boys 50th reunion shows didn't even approach anywhere close to those type of prices. If I had the money and were that big of a fan of the band, I'd still boycott the latest Stones tour on principle.

That's "in vain", Awldsyrfahdood.

I stopped for a cup o' joe on my way to work this morning, and saw a poster advertising The Beach Boys for a July show just 15 minutes from my house.  Tickets are $15.00 (or two for $25.00) in advance.  Are you kidding? I will be there.  Now that's value!  Anyway, Mr. Totten, if you read this, I'd sure like to meet you and talk about Beach Boys music from a guitarist's perspective.  I've been playing for 40 years, and I really enjoyed your playing when I saw the C50 show in Milwaukee last summer.  I've never seen you with just Mike and Bruce and the small band, though, so I'm really looking forward to it.  So, if by any chance you are allowed to hand out a back stage pass, please PM me. ;)

It is amazing how much the ticket prices to the shows can vary and that is ridiculously cheap.

I would love to watch the band at Henley this summer as it will probably be the band's only U.K. show but tickets will be more than 10 times that much! :'(

Yeah. I actually worked out it would be as cheap for me to go to Paris to see them do a full theatre show, rather than hire evening wear, pay for transport down to Henley and somewhere to stay there, and pay for those tickets. (I seriously considered going to Paris, actually, but decided against doing either -- though if they announce any more European dates I'll be very tempted).

There's still hope for more UK/Europe dates though -- there's several weeks prior to the Paris show where they've got nothing booked -- but it is looking less likely.

LostArt, you should be in for a good show, even though at that price it'll probably be one of the shorter sets. And whether you get a backstage pass or not, it's worth trying to meet the band members afterwards -- Scott and Cowsill, in particular, are usually very friendly.

As far as I understand, it's not the band to define the price of the tickets.
They get their agreed fee and then it's up to the promoter/venue to get their money back and make the required profit.

Knew you were good for something, mYkuh. You've found your little niche-spell checking on a message board-Oh my, you'll be up all night looking for those typos. ::)

No, I do that in the afternoon.

I have plans to see the ML Beach Boys on June 9th at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga CA.  I saw them there two summers ago.  A beautiful venue.  Can't wait to see if they cover Wild Honey at this show.  And I am glad they are doing a different intro now.  This will be my 3rd time seeing this configuration with John Cowsill on drums (four if you count the C50 tour I attended last May).   I agree with those posters who say this is the best configuration of the touring band since the passing of Carl Wilson.  I thoroughly enjoyed the C50 show.  So much that it seemed to fly past my senses in a matter of a few minutes leaving me stunned as they left the stage.  There was so much to see and hear that it was almost overwhelming.  But seeing the ML touring band in this configuration is just plain enjoyable.  You can sit back and dig the scene and the music.  If you are in the San Jose/Saratoga area in June, I highly recommend you see the show at the Winery.  Go early and take a bottle of wine and join the picnic crowd on the mountainside  overlooking the city.  Then go in and enjoy the Beach Boys under the stars of the Northern California sky.

Here you go. "Wild Honey"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtYa1QoawU

Nice. A good performance.

The rendition of It's Ok from the same show is sluggish though.

Nick, is Cowsill doing the lead on WH? It is hard to tell in the video.

That's definitely Cowsill.

Thanks for "Wild honey"! I'm not a fan of Cowsill's singing and this certainly won't change that. But it's nice to see them doing that song. Totten's solo is nice although I kinda wished Bruce would play his cool organ part from the record.

Awesome.  I'm still having a hard time believing they played Wild Honey, even after seeing the video.  Hopefully it sticks around for a while.

Bruce has said he didn't particularly like that part on the record so he is probably happy to pass it to Scott.

John's voice sounded vaguely similar to Blondie in the clip. Christian seemed moderately uninterested.

Yeah, Christian is pretty much always like that. You get the impression he really doesn't want to be there and doesn't want to put in more than the absolute minimal effort. Which is a shame given how hard the rest of the band are working.

Really? I seem to remember that he posted on BBBritain that he is kinda proud of that part. But maybe I'm misremembering.

I think he mentions it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nZjikvKQSo

Thanks! Didn't know that. His story of Brian's reaction remembers me of Carl Perkins' description of Sam Phillips' way of working in the studio. Just adds to my opinion of "Wild honey" sounding like The Beach Boys on Sun Records.

I gotta say, I'm not a big fan of the M & B show. But accolades to Totten or whoever proposed that they do Wild Honey. It's not an easy song to sing, by any means. I think it even stretched Carl Wilson's voice to the max. I've always liked the Blondie version from '72 - thought he did a helluva job on it. But Cowsill did a fantastic job on it here and he just cooked on the drums at the same time his voice was belting it out. I think he does a damn good Rhonda too. Good thing they have John Cowsill in the band!

And Totten's searing guitar solo - shades of Eddie Carter. Excellent job, Scott, if you're reading this. Yeah, an extended organ solo in the middle woulda been nice, but Scott pulled it off well on guitar. Very good rendition. See? That's the kind of song the Mike & Bruce band should be singing to garner more respect from the older crowd of fans! Respect, I tell's ya!

Mike seems disinterested. Seems like he couldn't wait to get it over with to get to the cover songs. Pulling a Bruce and waving to somebody in the crowd in the middle of the song takes away from its intensity.

If we gauged Mike's interest by how often he points and waves at somebody in the crowd, he must really hate his life and all the songs the band performs.  :P

Sersiously though, and I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing that if Mike doesn't want to perform a song, they aren't going to do it.

That was terrible but it's very cool they played it

Exactly. I think him pointing and waving is more a sign that he has spotted a lovely whose norks he would like to spunk all over.  :)

Mike would indeed have not performed the song unless he wanted to. Hence the reason why Heroes and Villains is rarely performed by the touring band.

No it wasn't.

Yes it was. But I'm glad you enjoyed it, that makes my day.

I think Cowsill is pretty amazing, singing like that while bandin them drums.   :drumroll

Yeah, Cowsill is an excellent performer and the band did a good job with this one.

That might not be the correct inference.  Mike often steps out of the way, pretty respectfully for the lead singer to shine.  If you see various clips where Mike does not have the lead, he steps back, and only steps to the mic when he has a part to sing.  People are waving at him all the time;  he is waving back.   That analysis is such a stretch of the imagination.  JMHO

Just check out some songs where  others sing a full lead.  Totten, Bonhomme and Cowsill rocked on that Wild Honey.  I'm glad someone caught it.  And, depends on the venue, how persistent the camera police are.  It is a great addition to the setlist and awesome that Cowsill does it.  

When it was released, his Cowsill Family band was at the top of the charts, and he probably remembers WH when it was released on AM radio.  So, I think he grew up hearing it and does a great job.  And the rest of the band is truly engaged, but let him hit that one out "of the park."  ;)

I was just joking around, hence the  :P

My bad, I just read the text. Mea culpa.  (I'm working on an iPad and I'm blaming that!) :lol

 :wave

Exactly. You ain't gonna see him wave to a dude like that!  But not sure "Norks" applies here as you used it in a sentence.

From the Urban Dictionary: (I had to look it up)

1. Nork: a native or inhabitant of North Korea.

2. Nork: A person who is not only nerdy, but also dorky.

And 3rd, but certainly not least:

3. Nork: A furious bout of anal sex, often without lube.



Wait, wait, wait justaminute!

Just looked in the Slang Dictionary and here's what it says:

1. Norks (plural): Australian term. A pair of female breasts that grab attention, not always attractive - can also be unusual in shape and size.

OK, I know where Nicko's from!

Combine all 4 of those definitions together and you've got Mike's dream date!  :lol

Let's see: a nerdy, dorky slanty-eyed Commie with strangely shaped mammaries who's into rough anal sex.

I think the VU meter for offensive commentary has not only been pinned, it's been dixie-fried.

And for goodness gracious sake, everyone, Mike is a happily married man...I'm sure that while, like Jimmy Carter, he had (and still has...) "lust in his heart," he is not going out and getting cross-wise with his wife. Jackie strikes me as someone who's had a serious amount of input into her pre-nup...she did not ride into Mike's life on a load of watermelons, if ya know what I mean.

Care to elaborate? I'm not even a big fan of "Wild Honey" (the song), but even I thought that performance was awesome.

Didn't like the vocals, thought the song was just flat in general..

Maybe it's because I'm such a huge fan of the song to begin with. Anyway relax people it's just one guys opinion

Honestly, I thought Cowsill sounded just a little bit rough...and not in the way this song demands it. The harmonies were warm, the band was goood, the solos were great...but keep in mind that he sang this after performing like four nights straight with some of the most demanding vocals in the show.

That guitar solo on the live WH sounded kinda 1983ish, but I'm a pushover for 1983ish soloing....

Actually, he's waved and pointed at me like that on at least one occasion.

Must have been your "Norks" Andrew! ;D

Slanty-eyed Commie? You do understand that making that sort of racist comment could be considered a lot more offensive than anything else said in this thread right?

Mike and Jacqueline do indeed appear to have a happy marriage but not an exclusive one. As I said in another thread, she knew she was marrying a rich shagger and clearly accepted that. At gigs Mike will sometimes scan the auditorium for a female with suitable norks before the show starts and then get one of the road crew to invite them back stage. After the gig they return there to meet up again with Dr. Love.

It's not exactly a new things as Jack Lloyd's book about the band talks about how Mike, Al, Carl, Dennis and Bruce nailed anything that moved back in the late 1960s.

Indeed.  :lol

I'm with Shady on this one.
Cowsill imo is not a great singer to begin with. I don't care if he can drum and sing at the same time as long as his voice sounds like this. Maybe it would sound better if they'd change the key. But all in all, he should keep to drumming; he's great on that!

A couple of short weeks ago, I lucked out hearing the first night of WH and in total shock, hearing it. My sense after watching this Upload on YouTube, is that he seemed to be using a style closer to Blondie Chaplin's, where my impression on the first night was to have been using Carl's studio version of the melody line.  

My impression after watching the Blondie version on YouTube is that they let Blondie do it the way he wanted.  And, I could be completely off, and this version did not have the tannerin at the beginning.  It might be that they are trying different versions.  There are some alternative/remix versions, with audio only on YouTube.  The guitar and organ sections are screaming and fabulous. The whole band was really into this song, when they performed.  

John Cowsill is a very fine singer.  IMO

I certainly give them props for performing "Wild Honey" live.  ;D

The vocals all sound lower somehow, compared to other live versions of WH I've heard (Blondie, Carl, Matt J on lead). Cowsill's voice has a very different timbre from the other lead singers, and it becomes more of a rock number with him singing, sounding more or less disembodied behind the drumstand screen. Although I don't think Christian sounds that much like Carl, he does have a similar vocal timbre to his cousin -- I wonder if he has tried the lead. I do like that Scott T used Carl's live guitar ending to WH, that was a nice touch.

The whole performance sounded very much like the Good Vibrations From London performance. Right down to the same R&B type ending.

It occurs to me that it can't be Carl's guitar ending, since Carl played the keyboards during live performances of WH. Anyway, I like the nod to the days when the BBs performed WH.

Forgot about Matt's version. May be third best after Carl's and Blondie's versions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81tILMF-N0

The version on Al's Live in Las Vegas CD is certainly excellent and Matt has a great voice. It's just a shame that Al played so few gigs from 1998 onwards and that he didn't make a genuine attempt to have a solo career. Vocally his group was much stronger than the other 2 factions at the time. It's a shame also that Matt wasn't part of the C50 tour...

From Mike's Facebook page:

I didn't make this up, I swear.

Classic stuff.

The best version of WH with Matt on lead I experienced was at the CWF benefit concert at the EL Rey theater in 2001. Matt wailed his best and Skunk Baxter burned on guitar -- it was righteous!

http://www.carlwilsonfoundation.org/walk01/concert01b.htm

Now we know that Mike indeed writes the comments on his facebook site.

There is a very classic early concert version live, at around 27:18 on YouTube, under "The Beach Boys Live Detroit, November 17, 1967" ( I saw them on the 27th) and Carl barely has the lyrics down.  Daryl Dragon was at that show. (Boston)

It is fantastic audio and gives a true Carl vocal to compare to the studio version.  I'd give the link but always mess something up.  Cowsill does take a good swing as does Matt at filling those shoes, for that WH lead.  I thank the uploader profusely.  ;)  It is an historic audio recording.

...and there are still some around who think Mike should write with Brian right?

You know, I don't think those are new song lyrics (but I could be wrong).  ;D

Unless Brian ever wants to write another car/ beach/ girl/ surf song that mentions a hit song title from the 60s in the lyric, then its a case of "Don't call me Mike, I'll call you!" ;D

I think that would depend on what song title Brian suggested to Mike. Last year he gave him Spring Vacation and Beaches in Mind and it was obvious what he was going to get in return (though Mike still has to take the blame for those references clearly). If Brian suggested more serious subjects then there is no reason why he couldn't write more serious lyrics as he did on Unleash the Love.

Don't know if Brian "gave" him the "Beaches in mind" title. But Mike certainly did bring in the middle part of "It's beautiful day", melody and lyric (even including the "Fun fun fun" reference).

That's on a Beach Boys bootleg set called "A Vocal Element". Wild Honey was played and documented here in Detroit, New York, Boston, and Pissburgh in late November, 1967.

Thanks, Mikie for that info.  I vaguely remember Mike saying that the show was being recorded.  And, I keep this for my cheapo streamer, BBTV + Netflix. 

What impresses me, is that as between the M&B version and the 1967 lineup, it is a "no-frills" band.  Except for Daryl Dragon who made them "six" onstage, and a little later, Ed Carter. It worked well.  It is a good snapshot of an 11 song setlist, written on their palms!

It drove me crazy when they did a cover.  11 songs were like a blink!  After sitting through 3 (often really great) acts! 

A frosty Smiley :beer  (beer) for you! Thanks!

You're quite welcome. :)

There's a fifth recording from that tour...Washington, D.C. It was right after Detroit, if I remember correctly.

You get two  :beer :beer  Smiley beers!

Thanks!  ;)

That recording and background info are what exactly what belong in the History of Rock and Roll curricula!  Let the students hear the real deal instead of propaganda.  They could learn so much about how the music was written for the band's voices with Brian's innovative concepts and style and how his band brought it to the public with 5 guys.

Well, to be fair...the band on those live recordings numbers seven - Dennis, Carl, Michael, Al, Bruce, Daryl Dragon on keyboards and Ron Brown on bass.

Fair is fair!

Thanks.   :)

The Detroit show ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMbI-SVtM3I ) is indeed a really cool performance. Interesting to hear the band under-rehearsed.

I actually like Mike's nonsensical patter too.

 I'm not a fan of my voice either but that was the first time we ever did it. I know. No excuse. The voice is what it is. Christian would sound good on it if he had the range. We'd have to lower way too far... I am generally a back ground singer. I dred singing Darlin, especially after sitting next to Darian when he does it.  sh*t! I sound more like Kermit the frog... oh well I like singing. But I don't want to hear me either. so for those who agree I'm sorry for your misery...

No way. I've been at shows in the past where there were gasps of incredulity at how good your voice was on Darlin'. Wild Honey sounds cool too and I think everyone hopes it sticks around in the setlist for a good long time.

I wasn't there, but loved your voice in the clip, Mr. Cowsill.  I thought it suited the song perfectly. The way you worked the REALLY high parts was masterful. Please continue to sing Wild Honey, at least until I get a chance to make a show!

Mr. Cowsill - with all due respect and deference, the music and parts you are covering are those of the Great Voice - Carl Wilson, who I will analogize to Tina Turner's expression ( in a literal context, please!) - Carl could "take it easy, or take it rough," (the Tina quote IIRC was for the intro of Proud Mary.) Really, three jobs, if you count the drums/percussion, that you rule.  

Even attempting it is courageous. Give yourself some credit. Carl Wilson left Size 18 shoes to fill. I did notice that Mike and Bruce seemed to groove out as though it was 1967.  Mike looked almost giddy with glee to hear that song performed.  They got to be 25 years old again for about 3 minutes.

It takes two people to cover many of his (Carl's) parts.  Maybe it could be a classic BB split lead? With Christian, with whom I think you share a section of Getcha Back?  

And, I thought you "rocked the house," in Morristown!   ;)

Hey Cowsill, I thought you did a helluva job singing Wild Honey! And you DO have an excuse that it was your first time - it can only get better after that! And Darlin'. Next to Darian and Matt Jardine, I think you do a fine job on that song. And Rhonda too! You're too humble, man. Worst case, you can ALWAYS fall back on your great drumming skills!  ;D

P.S. Enjoyed seeing you get the thumbs up from Brian in the "Do It Again" video last year. Good stuff!

Mr. Cowsill I must just comment that your drumming for the C50 tour was truly fantastic. One must go back to the Dennis Wilson days if one wants to have something to compare to. Most importantly your drumming has a subtle sense of taste and modesty, unlike the wildly excessive drumming the band had during the 80's and 90's. Very skillful drumming indeed.

Also, thank you so much for doing Wild Honey with ML and BJ! Very adventurous and tough song to sing!

Add me to the long list of praise, Mr Cowsill - Saw you at Wembley Arena last year and you put in a bloody fine performance. You laid it down on every song. As for your Wild Honey... don't be so hard on yourself  ;D

Mr Cowsill. Hats off to you for your performance during the C50 tour. I was at Wembley and that concert was easily the best night of my life and you were a huge part of the magic of that show.

Anyone who sings Wild Honey has huge shoes to fill. As I stated earlier it's just fantastic you guys are doing it.

I saw you perform "Wild Honey" THE NIGHT BEFORE and you/it was incredible! I started this thread having seen the 4/7/13 show in Lancaster, PA and I praised the hell out of your version of the song. YouTube videos don't do justice to live performances (no bass, poor acoustics, etc.). Anyway, you're a helluva drummer and singer and provide much needed energy. Keep up the great work and keep dropping in and posting!

Personally, I think you're the best singer by far in the touring band, and the one disappointment about last year's tour for me was that you weren't given a vocal spot. Should have let you do Sail On Sailor -- you do a far better job on that than Brian.

This.

I've never been the biggest fan of the studio version of this song but when I saw Cowsill singing it with the touring band I was blown away.

Good that you don't take it personally (as it wasn't meant as something against you and your work). I just think your singing (based on the video!) wasn't very fitting for the song (I tried singing it myself with my old band in the same key and I still can't stand listening to myself on that. Carl had it down great for the studio recording but the live versions from '67 show him struggling as well). I don't know if Christian Love would fit since I only know his voice as very smooth and cool one and not rough and rocking but who knows.
I absolutely love your drumming and think your work for the Beach Boys tour was one of the instrumental highpoints.

I was really impressed with it as well, and especially considering you were drumming at the same time, because a lot of drummers say that's very difficult to do and then Wild Honey itself is a very hard song to sing. You were great on the C50 tour, I was lucky enough to catch you guys in Raleigh, NC.

Rocker - from where I sit, I think the enduring nature of this Band, confers "qualifying" my expectations.  If I wanted something perfect, I'd stay home and listen to a studio album.  What I love are the "sessions" like Pet Sounds or 73/4 concert or better, still YouTube! And I know I'm getting, for the most part 50 to 70 year old vocal cords.  Jet lagged, poor plane air quality, or hotel air quality, etc.  What I'm getting is a bunch of guys who sing from their hearts and their toes. (Not from their feet.)

On any day, whether it is the Boys or anyone else, it is the fire for the music, the interaction with the crowd.

Ever see Steve Stills solo? OMG. Feisty, earthy and someone whose heart still has passion, and whose ears now sport hearing aids, and reading from a TelePrompTer. He does not care that he isn't 20.  He's ALIVE! Is he off key? Maybe. We love him more, because he does.  He is not aging gracefully; he is kicking and screaming all the way. 

Cowsill is a wailing, ageless rocker.  Not unlike the guys he sings with, who are now, not holding back!   ;)

So, I say again, to all of the  M&B band doubters, go out and see this band.  John and Scott, and the others, are all very talented and put on a hell of a show.  This band stands on its own with barely more than a handful of people when compared to the C50 Big Band.

Coming soon to a town near you.   Don't miss it! 

Rocker..I have thick skin. In this business? hahahaha if you don't you'll go crying to mama "I'm tellin you as sure as I am standin here...hahahaha dude i totally get it and take no offense... see ya'll out there and thanks to everyone who loves the beach boys music. I am just a fan like most of us here. BUT ... with the better seat. And that 50th tour was the best time of my career... Bar none. And thanks to those who said nice things about me. my wife really likes that. hahahahaha it's just music gang and we all love it!!!!! Keep on Rockin in the free world

kudos to Mr. Cowsill for nailing one of the most difficult songs to sing of the entire band's catalogue!!!

BTW, if people are going to pretend that Mike should not write with Brian anymore based on a silly FB post, then allow me to pretend that they should collaborate based on the quality of the song being discussed here.

Great post.



(Also, best BBs drummer since Dennis himself.)

Loved seeing that clip of Wild Honey.  Nice work Cowsii!  Shut up, your vocals are solid.  Ha Ha.  I am driving a few hours from Calgary to see the band next friday (May 3) in Edmonton.  It is a casino show so I have my doubts, but I would kill (OK, maybe not kill but you get the idea...) to hear Wild Honey.  I have also heard tale of you guys playing Good Timin' recently and I haven't heard Mike's band do that since Farmer was MD.  Name your price.  If you can persuade Mike and Scott to get those 2 songs in the setlist for the Cree River Edmonton Casino show I will beg, borrow or steal.

Re: Wild Honey.  All the recordings I have of Carl trying it out live are not shining examples of his wonderful singing, as it is a beast of a song to belt out.  I heard Matt Jardine sing it live but was really disappointed.  I love Matt's voice and he is my fave pick to do Brian's high parts (no disrespect to Foskett, Kirsch, or even Adrian Baker as anyone who can consistently reach those notes on a regualr basis for hours on end have my admiration) as he has the whine in his voice that Brian often had.  But what made Matt's version such a let down is they moved the key from G to E and it took the "wail" out of it.  The song just begs to be near the edge of the singers range for authenticity's sake.

At the risk of sounding like an over the top fan boy (too late), just wanted to say that I just saw The Cowsills doc by Louise Palanker and I would recommend it to many here.  Great doc, though I had hoped to for more a bit more Billy footage.  I lived two blocks away from Billy Cowsill for many years and had the pleasure of seeing The Blue Shadows twice and The CoDependents dozens of times and had the good fortune of chatting with Billy many times.  He told a great story of being considered as a candidate to join the The Beach Boys band and going to speak with Brian about it.  Fascinating stuff.  He was without a doubt in the top ten vocalists I have ever heard live.  Truly right up the with the great Carl Wilson and the best of The Beach Boys vocals in their prime.  It was a pretty big thrill to see you for the first time with The Beach Boys band in Calgary in 2001 as Billy was standing right behind me in the audience singing along.  He looked pretty proud of his kid brother belting out Darlin, I Can Hear Music and Help Me Rhonda.  I over heard him say, "why the f**K isn't he playing the drums".  Thankfully that has since been remedied.  Keep on Rockin' indeed.

Now if said group whould just allow Indian Lake into the setlist, I think it would work and be a nod to the big push JC has added to the show over the last several years.

even though i bought that 45 when it came out..after watching that doc i don't think the  cowsill group was fond of that single! at least some members...  :o

I love how John Cowsill, of all people, can take a critical comment in stride yet so much of this board's membership is ready to go apeshit over the same issue.

Oh, and he rocked out on that Wild Honey vocal.

exactly.

I think of Rain, Park and Other Things as the Cowsills Good Vibrations.

So glad you brought up the documentary. Awesome.  And, even though the Boys have played the Hatch Shell / Esplanade in Boston, there is only ONE band, I've seen there: The Cowsills!  With the high school crew!   ;)

And, yes Mr. Cowsill - What he said !  ;)

I finally got an opportunity to watch this clip of John Cowsill singing Wild Honey.  That is excellent.  Mr. Cowsill....you rock!  You guys are playing 20 minutes from my house in July, and I hope I will be able to attend.  Right now I don't have a band job scheduled, but it's rare when I get a Saturday in July off.  I've never seen the Beach Boys show with just Mike and Bruce and the rest of you guys, but I was fortunate enough to see the C50 thing in Milwaukee last July.  You, sir, are the best drummer that the Beach Boys have had since Dennis Wilson.  [begin extreme fanboy rant here] Did you play on "The Rain, The Park, & Other Things", or were you limited to singing on the track?  I had the 45 when I was a kid (11 years old then), and it was one of my faves, along with "Hair".  Man, I'd love to hear stories from those days [sorry...fan boy rant over].  Keep rockin', man, and I hope to see you sing Wild Honey in July!  A.

...or "Hair". That would be a challenge for sure, but it would sound so cool! 8)

Under FYI - Cowsills related!

In the "to do list" of the Boston Globe is an announcement of the Berklee School of Music, doing "Hair Day" at the Berklee Performance Center.  Last night (April 25) and tonight (April 26) featuring Berklee's Musical Theater Ensemble.
Info at www.berkleebpc.com.  Tix are $8-20.  617-747-2261 - 7:30 p.m.  "Hair Day" features the peace movement and social revolution of the 1960's that inspired "Hair" are in the past, but the musical lives on." (Boston Globe)

22 cast members and 11 orchestra musicians    ;)

To John Cowsill:
I just want to add my praise and thanks to you along with the other messages in this thread. I've seen you several times touring with Mike and Bruce as well as last year's C50 Tour. Without a doubt you bring enthusiasm and energy to your performance in every show. Your drumming in the C50 Tour during the opening part of the show - about 8+ songs non-stop - was remarkable and so enjoyable. And, whether doing background vocals or a lead on a song, the consensus here is that you do just fine, notwithstanding your own perspective of your voice.   :)
Thanks!

http://www.fox19.com/story/22096376/the-beach-boys-are-coming-to-gabp


The Beach Boys are coming to GABP

Gonna try to see these guys at Sun Fest the day AFTER we see them at the Frederick Fair! Didn't expect this many MD shows! Fun, Fun, Fun!

Going to see the show tomorrow night in Edmonton.  I'm still hoping for Good Timin' and / or Wild Honey.  Doubt we'll get either (it being a casino show and all) but one can hope.  Looking forward to it regardless and plan on having a good time.  I'll post a report setlist by the end of the weekend.  Haven't seen a show since last year's trifecta of Berkeley, Hollywood Bowl and Irvine and I need to get me another fix o' good tunes...

I just got back from Edmonton yesterday where I had great seats for the River Cree Casino show and had a wonderful time as it was incredible.  I know some folks on here take issue with Mike and Bruce touring as The Beach Boys (many who have not even witnessed one) but, damn, if they don't consistently put on a great show.  My first Beach Boys concert was in 1987, and since Carl Wilson passed, I have seen 37 Beach Boys shows by all 4 different configurations (many shows each by Mike and Bruce, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and of course all of them together at reunion shows).  This show was up there quality wise with the very best.  Being a casino show with a very limited playing time imposed by the venue I was wondering if there would be a chance to include anything but the biggest of hits but we got a great balance in a well paced show and the mix and quality of the sound in the house was pristine.

Highlights for me were:
Warmth of The Sun!!!
Wild Honey!!!

At first when Mike was giving his standard banter introducing Scott as Musical Director, Lead Guitarist and now Lead Vocalist, I though we were going to get Betsy  (which suits me fine as it is a killer song and Scott nails it) but then Mike talks about he and Brian writing the next song on the eve of the Kennedy assassination and they launched into a chilling version Warmth of the Sun.  The harmonies were sublime and the lead was a corker.  I have heard Brian's band do it but it didn't do much for me as they have to lower it so much for Brian as it is a bastard to sing in, or even near, the original key.  Totten really served the song well and I was jazzed to hear it's premiere as I had no idea it was coming and also because it was done so well.

Security were pretty terrible for the majority of the show; discouraging dancing, standing, coming up front, and generally killing the vibe and stopping people from having fun though.  Mike left the stage for all of California Dreaming.  Not sure if he really had to pee or whether he went to have a word with someone re - the over zealous security but soon after his return the floodgates opened and people were allowed to come up and dance and the audience really came to life.  As the show grew near it's end after Do You Wanna Dance, Barbara Ann and Surfin USA the band left the stage.  People were on their feet and rockin out and calling for an encore and only Tim and John came back.  Keys, Theremin sound and Drums.  Enter the rest of the band.  I nearly lost it.  Wild Honey was a scorcher.  No YouTube video can really do it justice.  It rocked HARD.  Cowsill just shredding his vocal cords wailing and nailing it.  The guitar solo was also transcendent.  Even though it is by far the least known song near the end of the set and many didn't know the words it didn't clear the floor and those who didn't know it still danced their face off.  I can only guess it is placed where it is in the set as it is such a vocal shredder that putting it earlier would make it harder for John to sing parts afterwards.  Regardless it was a moment and a performance I won't soon forget.  Thanks Scott for getting it in there and John for knocking it out of the park.

I also really enjoyed Christian singing I Can Hear Music.  They have lowered the key significantly from when Carl and Cowsill sang it but it works as the vocal arrangement doesn't suffer and Christian's vocal tone is quite Carl-like here.  Mike looked as if he has lost a pound or two since the 3 reunion shows I saw in California last year round this time, and he was in great voice.  His bass part vocal work in particular floors me and the clear mix gave it a chance to shine.  He is a very good showman.  Bruce impresses me with his range as he still covers the super high falsetto bits on Fun, Fun, Fun and Surf City.  Plenty of great singers half his age can't nail those notes.  His lead on Do You Wanna Dance was great.  Nice Carl dedication for God Only Knows was classy too.  His lead on God Only knows seemed a bit reedy for me.  I'd like to hear Christian on that every once in a while as he can really channel Carl there as he did at the Reagan performance.  I do enjoy Bruce's vocals though and in a perfect world it would be great to hear him sing Disney Girls at every show.  Every time I have heard him sing it in the last few years it has been wonderful.  Randell sang great, he said he was fighting a bit of a sore throat, but it didn't show.  Tim got lots of applause as the token Canuck on stage and his keyboard work was nice.  John Cowsill is just a monster on the drums and elevates everything the band does.  Totten has really brought an integrity to the arrangements and both he and Cowsill's passion, technique and reverence for the original material make this show worth checking out every time the band is remotely near the area.  Thanks a bunch gents for being so generous with your time, it was great chatting with you.  I had chance to speak briefly with Mike (and Bruce), and thank him for a great show and told him that Wild Honey knocked me out and that I very nearly peed my pants it was so good.  He gave me a cheeky grin and recommended I wear depends undergarments next time.  Nice!  Thanks all of you for a great show and a super fun time.

Setlist:
Do It Again
Honda
Catch
It's OK
Surf City
Safari
Surfer Girl
Hear Music
Fools
Grow Up
Darlin
Don't Worry
Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
Get Around
Warmth
God
Vibes
Cal Dreamin
Sloop
Cal Girls
Nice
Kokomo
Rhonda
Rock Roll
Wanna Dance
Barbara Ann
Surfin USA
---------------
Wild Honey
Fun Fun Fun
 

I loved everything about the reunion tour (backing band, setlists, and of course seeing all the principals on stage together), but I still really enjoy hearing, and would go see ALL of the separate splintered acts as they all deliver for various different reasons.  I have a tough time understanding why any fans of The Beach Boys' music wouldn't go and check out these shows.  But different strokes I guess.  When played well as all of these acts do, the music is the star anyway.  I am going to catch a Brian, Al and David show later this summer as I am curious if it will be a standard Brian show with Al and David mostly on the sidelines or whether they are given more stage time.  Can't wait.  Catch 'em all while you can.  Won't last forever...  

Hey, Rich, thanks for taking the time in writing such a descriptive review. Sounds like it was a great show! As someone who saw an earlier show on the tour (4/7/13), I can vouch for everything you wrote. Catch 'em while you can!

My pleasure Sheriff!  It really was a wonderful show.  I read your posts and enjoyed hearing about the concert you attended too!

Thanks for that review. Nice to read that they are still changing the setlists a little.

Interesting to see which hits they cut like Come Go With Me, Be True to your School, In My Room, Dance Dance Dance etc.

The story changes every other year. One time it was written on the eve of the assassination, then another time it was the day of the assassination.  Mike can't make up his mind.

Good job, Rich!  :)

Wasn't it written the day after the assassination as a reaction to the events ?

I don't think so. I've seen Brian say that but Mike always says that it was written before.

I've always bought Fred Vail's account of the story:

http://forgottenhits.com/the_story_behind_the_warmth_of_the_sun

that setlist would bore me to death. inclusion of WH is great though!

Yeah, those songs that Brian wrote are so boring aren't they.  ;)

I completely agree.

Very cool to see "Warmth of the sun" added along with "I can hear music" and "wild honey"- definitely hope they stick around!! And "darlin"  :love

Would like to see Disney Girls come back...

Thanks, Rich for that setlist and great post!

Wild Honey is a wailing, screaming encore!  :drumroll

They are on a mighty roll!   

Thanks, again.    ;)

Just got my tix for sun fest! I'll be seeing Mike & Bruce July 20th...Sept. 20th + 21st...I'm very much looking forward to it! My attitude has changed a lot since post-reunion.

Good setlist overall, but I've never understood why they think they need to do Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Sure, the Beach Boys covered in back in the day, but I always think Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers when I hear that song.

Mike loves it

I think Mike likes the original harmony arrangement that Brian conceived of back in the day that takes advantage of the Beach Boy harmony sound. He might also enjoy doing the bass vocal runs in the song.

I thinking about taking my sons (ages 11, 9, 7) to a Casino gig near me next month.  Is the show pretty family friendly?  If you've gone to a casino gig, have you seen families at all? 

Kermit the Frog was a mid 70s pub rock artist that some claim "paved the way for punk," which I think is bullshit since he's a felt frog.

Wow!  I always preferred Blondie's rendition over Carl's and from the sound of it, Maybe John does, as well.   ;)  The similarity is astonishing!

THAT.  WAS AWESOME.

This should be enough to convince anyone to go see a Mike & Bruce BB show.  Scott was all over that solo...so good!

Agreed gsmile!

And the Edmonton 5-3-13 performance was even better than that.  Truly one of may fave and memorable moments in all of the BB shows I have seen.  The band was on FIRE!

And this weeks M&B worst cut and paste award goes to....

http://innsbrookafterhours.com/concert-schedule/beach-boys-concert/

For this Ebay auction, Mike has evidently donated two tickets and Meet/Greet passes to charity( alzheimers): 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-BEACH-BOYS-TICKETS-AND-MEET-AND-GREET-PASSES-TO-ANY-SHOW-OF-YOUR-CHOICE-/140971987111   

[deleted]

Er, it's a joke. As you were.

[deleted]

In the name of all that is holy, please tell me you're joking when you say this....

March 22nd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBIIpGd9wXc

It'd be cool if Brian and Al just joined Mike's band for a couple dates.  It'd just be so easier.  I wish we lived in a world where that was possible.

Or Mike and Bruce joined Brian's tour with Al and David,  :-D Maybe Brian's band is bigger than needed to play "Shut Down", but Mike's band is smaller than needed for "Heroes & Villains",  ;D .

I'd very much like for Brian, Al, and Dave to show up to a M&B show right before they open and ask Mike "When do we go on?"

 ;D  For Al and David I wouldn't think it was impossible for them to make an appearance.

Brian would have to bring Melinda, Jeff, Darian, Scott B etc. so I can't imagine it.

Or a BAD show where Brian says "M&B couldn't be here tonight, they had to play a casino in Kokomo, Indiana."

 :lol :lol :lol

Good vocals by Mike, excellent drums from Cowsill as always and well done with much energy delivered by all those performing.
I do wonder however why BJ gets such little to do in these concerts besides encouraging the audience to clap, sing DG, get flattered by Mike's banter on 'I write the songs' and the occasional microphone adjustment. Can it really be that fun? I mean he still got good voice, so why not give him more to sing? Also Christian Love looks bored in every single clip I've seen from the Mike and Bruce show.

Aye on that Bruce query. Even a dude with talent such as his could make a fine living writing, and yet, he does not. Maybe he's holding his cards close to his chest for his Rick Rubin Produced MOMENT IN THE SUN.



I doubt it.

Why make music when Mike Love pays you to mic adjust and party with John Stamos. ;D

Bruce hasn't cared to make music since the 1980s...

It's so weird, the dude writes one of the legit biggest songs of all time (bet Mike's sore about that) and just thinks, 'guess I'll hang it up and half ass my way through all the Beach Boys tunes that I didn't sing on?'

I mean, I don't want to think the dude's a hack....

Franky I don't think the world needs another "I write the songs". One is more than enough.

I was talking from a purely mercenary standpoint  ;D

You could wring that song out and produce enough pancake syrup for the next three hundred years. :o

 :lol

I think this kind of proves (in my mind) you can't have a group touring as "The Beach Boys" without Mike Love. He's just so essential to the image, and he still has a very distinctive voice - the same one that is singing lead on the majority of the hits the fans come to hear. The BAD thing touring this summer (damn, I can't believe I just used that acronym) is bound to be incredible and no doubt I'd enjoy that show much more if I were to go see it, but Mike, even at his age, is still the livelihood of the BBS.

it seems he needs 10+ lush tropical plants and a surfboard to remind everyone of that.

Excellent performance, great energy! 71 years old! and as said excellent drumming. Nice to see that they can still thrash out a punky surf performance like that.

Thanks, Rocker, good video.
Btw, liked the tree-decorated design & half-subdued lighting in the stage.

Well this was surprising!!


The Beach Boys played "Okie from Muskogee" this week, either on May 17th or 18 in Tulsa, OK!

http://youtu.be/vzCq3wj1z3k (http://youtu.be/vzCq3wj1z3k)

Wow! Thanks, STE for that link!

That is awesome and harkens (also spelled hearkens elsewhere) back to the early 70's setlists! That rocks!

Ya, they are on a roll!  ;)

$35 is what we paid to see Herman's Hermits w/ Peter Noone, I would pay this to see M & B but not $70.

Sounds like a decent show though and I hear the tickets can be less depending on the venue so I will hold out.

Interesting - I hear a  "China Grove" vibe in the break. someone pass the doobie!  :smokin

It seems like these past 1-2 years Mike sounds the best he has since at least 1980 which is fantastic. The classic Mike Love nasal voice but not the over nasal zone he spent the 80s and 90s in. GREAT JOB!

Whoa, what a great reminder of a song! I very like the 1971 cover, one of the best covers The BBs did! Very groovy. Cool that Mike & Co. revived this gem again! Despite the fact they slowed it a little down & the guitar licks are played differently, I still considerably enjoyed the 2013 rendition. There's sth. fresh about it. Also, Mike's vocals aren't that nasal as in other performances & the drum/cymbal beat gives additional rocking sound to the whole.

Many-many thanks for the find, STE!

California Dreamin' featuring Michelle Michelle Phillips, June 1st:

http://youtu.be/Fv1ojDjmlWs (http://youtu.be/Fv1ojDjmlWs)

Check out the set from May 31st in New Jersey.....about 10 songs longer than the benefit gig the following evening...hopefully things beef back up to this level for the summer shows!

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2013/bergen-performing-arts-center-englewood-nj-43d9939f.html

Are there any recordings of "The Warmth Of The Sun" with Scott on lead?  I'd really like to hear this.  I think he did a great job with "Let Him Run Wild" and "Balad Of Old Betsy".

Ambha Love siging Sail On Sailor. Not too shabby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TGhIFn8KIA

Nice voice. She did it justice. :)

Still no footage of "Isn't It Time" from any recent shows?

Just left the Saratoga mountain winery tour;

Lots of energy.  ML was strong and engaged.  JC was killer on several lead vocals including WH.  Hearts were full of spring was sweet and with near perfect harmony with mike,Bruce, Randall, and Scott acapella......VERY nice!
B$ was stronger than usual.  ST blazed on lead.  RK took the lead with BJon some tunes.  Interesting to b close enough to see who was doing what.  JCs energy on drums is as good as any drummer Ive witnessed.  Surfer Girl harmony was odd and a little off for my ears........hwfos on the other hand was perfect.  A 3 hour show with a 15 to 20 minute intermission.
 Perfect CA night.

Nice! I'm happy she didn't oversing it with trying too hard to sound soulful like it seems to be usual today.

Really want to hear/see Scott on Warmth of The Sun... :)

Great post.
And look a Cowsill circa 1:20!!! He seems to be channeling DW.

For a high school girl, she did cool vocs. Surely got talent. But overall, I prefer this song to be sung by Blondie; Brian wasn't bad on leads as well.

Mike and Bruce: Please come back to the Stanislaus County Fair and do Wild Honey!

Glad to hear the good reports. M&B always put on a great show; I've been seeing them since the late 90's and they're sounding better than ever lately.

Of course the 50th tour last year and TWGMTR was great (and still is a big hit on my 5 CD changer...it's aged ok with me).  So... now I'm hoping that Brain's new album is that 'Rock n' Roll' record he's been threatening for awhile, and then the whole group gets back together afterward for the final amazing album with all the cool suite stuff and then they tour again...or is that too much to dream?

bought my ticket to see them in September. I'm also going to see Brian and co play in Illinois in July so I will see both factions this summer. These will be my first "Beach Boys" concerts ever

I almost started a new topic, but this thread might be the right place.

Who's handling the falsetto parts for M&B these days?  Is it Scott? I know he sang Ballad of Ol' Betsy last year.

Baker, Foskett and M. Jardine have filled the role for the BBs over the last few decades.

But my question is this: when did Bruce quit his original purpose of subbing for Brian's parts on stage?

And how much did he ever do?  While searching this site before posting, I see Al is credited with a lot of the work.
And I see that Bruce reportedly still has a very nice falsetto, even though my ears can't pick it out on TWGMTR and his C50 performance in Atlanta of Disney Girls sounded a little croaky.

How high is Bruce going in this year's shows?
Does he have any standout harmony moments in the show at all?  It just seems his voice is lost in the stack unless he's got the lead like in DG or Wendy.

And, while I'm at it, who handled the wailing falsettos during the years of Bruce's absence? Looks like Baker didn't join until the early 80s.

Thanks!

I don't think Bruce subbed for Brian's high parts for all that long anyway - that seemed to be Al's domain on things like Live In London or In Concert, at least. If I can stomach listening to a 67 era boot, I think it's still Al.

As for his absence, Blondie, Billy Hinsche (right?) Al and Carl went up higher in the stack - certainly something like You Still Believe In Me has Al singing the verses whilst Carl takes the falsetto on the tag, for instance - a similar division is on DWB from the same record, Al takes the verses whilst Carl takes the choruses, maybe it gives each voice a chance to rest for a while. Post Blondie & Ricky, I'm not sure.

Scott and Randell both -- Scott sings the same parts he sang last year, while Randell sings the parts that Foskett sang (they have *very* similar voices.

As for your other questions -- in the 60s Bruce and Al used to both cover the falsetto parts, depending on the arrangement, but Al did most of them, while Bruce either covered Al's part or Dennis' (if Dennis had a harmony part on the record but was playing the drums). And obviously as Bruce became more prominent on the records themselves, he ended up mostly just singing his own parts -- in the late 60s and early 70s they were mostly doing new material that didn't have very much falsetto.

In the late 70s and early 80s Al and Bobby Figueroa used to cover the falsettos between them, though they largely just dropped the falsetto parts altogether, except on one or two songs like I Get Around where it's essential.

Bruce nowadays mostly sings Carl or Dennis' parts in the harmony I think -- he's definitely very audible in the smaller Mike & Bruce group, but obviously his voice is weak enough now that he got drowned out a bit in the reunion shows.

The only falsetto parts Bruce takes now are the tag of Fun Fun Fun (which he's always done, and he still sounds spectacular on), and the high notes in Disney Girls.

I wish they played Wild Honey at my show!!! I saw them in Macau, and it was 90 minutes of bliss. I soaked in every note of every song. I was in the front, touching the stage, in the very middle.

Good Vibrations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwZUKkZ633A

Audio is great, ok video. A guy actually runs on stage and start singing with Bruce during the church organ section. You can't see it in the video, but Bruce didn't look very pleased when the guy got up there. But they shook hands, Bruce whispered something in his ear, and the guy was taken off stage.

Great show, great night. I just wish it had been longer (and with more deep cuts).

 I've often seen Bruce or Mike invite people onto the stage towards the end of the show to sing with them (usualy kids or young ladies), but rushing onto the stage without invitation is a pretty serious matter.  I would think the guy got into a bit of trouble for it.

Yeah, "Barbara Ann" usually floods the stage with women and children!

 Bruce whispered something in his ear, and the guy was taken off stage.

Bruce whispered "prepare for the beating of your life, when I get off stage"

Mike and Bruce are gonna be out my way in August - Snoqualmie Casino - but I probably won't go. Those 2 were always my least favorite Beach Boys, but I don't doubt that they put on a good show.

+11111111111111

Also, did Bruce do the falsetto on the end of "Fun Fun Fun" on the C50 shows?

He did, but I wouldn't know if he did it at every gig.

Macau security is pretty tight. I jumped on stage after the band left the stage to grab the setlist, and had a guy pretty much tackle me.
(got a setlist though :P)

Just checked the M&B dates and see they're playing Montreal, a restaurant turned rock venue outside the city. Its costs CAD 75 (kind of the same in USD) and there's a free bus shuttle from downtown.

I also checked Brian's dates and he's playing Atlantic City. Prices start at USD 65 but good seats go up to USD 200. And would need to add plane, car or sth to get there.

So, guess I'm going to see M&B here, anyone else from Montreal coming?

I'm thinking about going to see M&B in Atlanta in October, but it's at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

I'd like confirmation that it is a full show and not just an appearance at a race. I don't want to see a short set in front of a crowd that came for a race.

I called the venue and they didn't even know anything about it. I said I found the info on the Beach Boys website and they said since we don't have it listed, it's not confirmed.

The Atlanta show is going to be at a state fair being held at the Speedway. I'd expect an outdoor stage setup.

Here's a link, but there's not much on the website for now:
http://atlanta.georgiastatefair.org/

Interesting that the venue told you it's not confirmed yet, since the date is listed on Capitol's official BB website.

Thanks for that info.  I just wish I could get an idea of how long their set will be. 
If it's a full show, I'll be there.
Maybe instead of contacting the Speedway, I'll try to get  in touch with somebody at the fair.

If it's a state fair show, probably 90 minutes/35 songs, very heavy on the hits.

I hope the set's long enough for them to perform "Wild Honey," my favorite song of all time. 8)

They performed "Wild Honey" at one their fair shows in June...I'm seeing them at a regular concert, a fair, and a festival this year...so I'll get a little of everything! :lol

I saw them last night in east-central Wisconsin.  It was a good show, but not a great show.  They may have been tired from traveling, since they were in Iowa the previous night, and in England two days before that.  Christian Love was not there for some reason, but nothing was said about him.  At one point, out of the blue, Mike started talking about John Stamos, and how he never aged, and how he gets girls all the time...he talked for a minute or two about him, so I thought that he was going to introduce him.  Nope.  I guess he just wanted folks to know that they knew John Stamos.  That was weird.

Cowsill rocked on the drums, and sang a mean Darlin'.  Totten was great...nice guitar tones and good solos.  Kirsch was okay good on the falsettos...no complaints here, but I slightly prefer I think I am more used to hearing Foskett's tone.  Of course, nobody can match Brian's 1960s falsetto (no comments from you, H...you know what I mean ;)) in terms of feeling and timbre.  Mike's voice was mostly good and strong throughout the evening, and Bruce did a fine job on God Only Knows.

Meat and potatoes show, though.  No All This Is That.  No Wild Honey.  They did do Goin' To The Beach, which was kind of boring.  They also did Cool Head, Warm Heart, which was the worst song of the night in terms of performance.  The harmonies were off, and it sounded under-rehearsed.  Lots of good songs, though, and I really enjoyed myself.  The weather was beautiful, the music was great, and I'm very glad that I finally got to see these guys.  

::edited after some more reflection::

The gig at Henley was pretty damn good - 90 minutes of wall-to-wall hits.

Lost Art, without Christian Love present did Mike by any chance sing lead on GETCHA BACK? Wendy?

90 minutes of nothing but the hits??
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Couldn't have said it better OSD... :lol :lol :lol

I'm not saying the show I saw was bad...quite the opposite, in fact.  I just thought that the band may have been a little bit tired, but when I consider that Christian Love was not in the harmony stack, that might explain some of what I was missing.  But you are right, AGD.  90 solid minutes of hit after hit after hit.  It really is incredible how many songs they've released that most 'average, ordinary, casual fan' type of folks are familiar with.   The festival trucked in a beachload of sand, and spread it out in front of the stage.  There were lots of beach balls in the air.  There were some pretty young girls dancing on stage at one point.  It was, you know, a Beach Boys show.  A summer celebration.  And I had a great time.  


No Getcha Back, but I think they did Wendy.  I don't remember who sang it, though.  I was probably too busy having fun, which is what the Mike and Bruce Beach Boys is all about.  I do wonder where Christian Love was, though.


It's a good thing that you slept through the party, Mr. oldsurferdude.  There were so many scantily dressed pretty young girls there having fun, I don't think your old ticker could've handled it.  Now take your meds and go back to bed.

Oh sure, you could've.  You could've typed Z 666 times instead of the 665 that Mr. oldsurferdude typed.  You two would've gotten a big laugh out of that.  

Hey SB, we better watch this guy LA-sounds incredibly clever doncha think?? Sounds like we missed out on  actually seeing sand and some beach balls with some scantilly clad girls to boot. And getting to see myKe  and br00th  up there for 90 whole minutes-Wow, mahn, kule! Wonder if LA gpt to touch a beach ball? Do think myKe did Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn?

Oh, the faux beach was cute, and the flying beach balls were expected, and the scantily clad young ladies were certainly nice to look at, and the party was oh, so fun.  Yep, you missed out on all of that boring stuff.  But you forgot to mention the best part of what you missed, Mr. oldsurferdude.  The very kulest part, mahn.  You missed nearly 90 minutes of some of the best pop music ever written.  Ever.  But then again, you're not a fan of the Beach Boys, so what do you care?         

I'm starting to think that oldsurferdude is a paid troll from a certain wing of Beach Boys fandom...

So, he's a gigolo or prostitute Troll?
Oh my!

Been there, done that more times than you can count up to.  It was The real Beach Boys-you know the ones you've read about with Carl and Dennis and Brian and Al. But you go ahead and have tons of sand, er, I mean fun with that group that should be billed as The Imposters.

Nah, I've already seen The Imposters with Elvis Costello.  They had some pretty good songs, too, but they weren't as much fun as The Beach Boys were the other night.

LOL! That's great.  Just snarky enough to bring a SMiLE to my face.

Seeing one M&B show with the hits in 2011 for was enough for me. :lol

Seeing C50 blow them out of the water convinced me who the real BBs were. M&B are two lesser pieces of a greater puzzle.

Are they really lesser pieces of the LIVE show puzzle though? In the studio, I totally agree with you. But really it was just Brian's presence that contributed to the live show last year...what did he really do that enhanced the show? I never heard his piano once, and his lead vocals were good, but not outta this world. David really spiced things up too but again, he was really more of a "historical aspect" of the show. I never heard Al's guitar BUT, his voice really brought a lot of life to the show and I would say that next to Mike Love, AL Jardine brought the most to the table as far as voice quality/strength, setlist influence (California Saga!!!), and onstage charisma.

But it's obvious that the real stars of the C50 tour were Scott Totten, John Cowsill, Jeff Foskett, Darian S.....

Only with The Beach Boys could the lead singer and frontman be considered a lesser piece...

People usually know the names of "real stars." Nothing against those guys - they are all great but I think they would likewise find it strange to be called the real stars of a Beach Boys show.

They really are the unsung heroes though.  Hard to deny they've individually and collectively done some heavy lifting out there for quite awhile now.  Not saying The Beach Boys can't carry their own wait but unsung heroes indeed.

Being there and restoring the luster that had been lacking from the BBs name for decades. The band's main songwriter righted the ship and rediscovered being a BB.

Agreed.

How? Most of the time he just sat there. When he sang, it was good. He moved his arms up and down on "Sail on Sailor". I'm SO glad I got to see him and meet him and thank him for all this wonderful music, but some of the best beach boys live footage does NOT have Brian Wilson...jussayin. Love the guy to pieces, but he isn't the most important guy when we're talking live shows. He was only there because he's Brian Wilson.

If The Beach Boys were a law firm he'd be the senior partner with his name above everyone else on the letterhead.  He might not take as many cases as the rest of the firm does but he gives them more legitimacy than any other member of the firm.  He was a huge reason (if not the sole reason) why the C50 was able to gain access to certain venues and draw certain crowds that the M&B hasn't been able to do for years.  Like I said when Brian is on stage with The Beach Boys he's at the head of the pecking order as far as a lot of the public is concerned.  I also think that he could deny it until the cows come home but this still rankles Mike Love big time and might have been a contributing factor to why he isn't touring alongside BAD this summer.  It's been said that the C50 was extremely Brian centric which flies in the face as to how Mike Love has run his version of "The Beach Boys" since Carl passed.  Add to the fact that when Brian Wilson is part of the act, that he is no longer the "senior partner of the law firm" and well...

Just how I see it.

So damn well said John. It's all about the legitimacy which myKe and br00th do not possess and never will.  :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

That is well put except...the beach boys aren't a law firm. They're a band, and I've seen what members of this band are capable of, and what others are not. But, I also understand the nostalgia, sentimental and historical value of having certain people on stage. I think the best solution would be to set up an annual residency with Brian at maybe three venues spread throughout the year, and let the other four members tour as The Beach Boys.

For many years following the Brian is Back campaign in 76, that's basically what they did. Mike, Al, Carl, Dennis (up to his death) and Bruce (after his return in 79) toured regularly, and Brian joined them from time to time. But it doesn't appear that Mike particularly wants to work with Al and David again.

It still holds a great deal of water.  To be honest in my opinion vocally Mike and Brian are probably the two members of the five piece that are dramatically off their pace.  Brian Wilson more so than Mike Love but Bruce, Al and Dave can still go out there and pitch every five days.  Mike and Brian have their on nights and off nights with more off nights likely to increase given their age.  Mike Love is a great MC and in fact fills the role that Paul McCartney did for years with The Beatles from that perspective admirably.  Mike Love knows perhaps more so than any other member of the five piece as to how to read an audience and connect with them the way a great performer can onstage at least from that perspective.  Brian Wilson connects with them in another way through his words and music but Mike Love has perfected an on stage persona now for decades which while campy as hell is also pretty damn entertaining if you can allow yourself to enjoy it.

The problem is from every other perspective Mike Love doesn't come anywhere near the stratosphere as to what Paul McCartney brought to The Beatles.  He needs Brian Wilson onstage for that to give the band legitimacy beyond a nostalgia act.  There will always be a section (and to be fair a decent sized section) of the general public that enjoys the nostalgia trip but there are many Beach Boys fans who won't sniff a M&B show let alone attend one not merely because they think they are above it but also because M&B do not accurately represent the complete spirit of the band.  They have the nostalgia trip down, they have an ace band backing them up and Bruce Johnston as he proved during the C50 can still sing his ass off when he wants to.  The problem is without Brian Wilson they lack everything of true emotional value that The Beach Boys are capable of bringing to an audience either in concert or on record.  Mike Love is a great MC and can read his audience very well in that regard and connect with them by throwing them beach party after beach party.  But as far as making deep emotional connections with their audience that all great performers (including Brian Wilson) are able to do in concert, M&B hit that roadblock every time out.

Which to me is still a rosetta stone in understanding exactly why the C50 did not go forward.  Again so much ink and press has been spilled about the fragile dynamic between the two cousins, there also seems to be a separate issue regarding Mike's relationship with any Beach Boy not named Bruce.  My only inkling as to a guess is that the reason Al and Dave aren't touring with M&B this summer is because Mike didn't want to stretch his budget in order to include them.  Mike obviously has a lot of people on his payroll so to speak and perhaps realizes that it isn't necessary for his incarnation of "The Beach Boys" to sport a four piece when a two piece gets the job done as far as his audience is concerned.  So perhaps he considers Al and Dave to be excess to the requirement and therefore choose to save more than a few dollars by not including them in his incarnation of the band.

Another possible reason is that perhaps given the fragile dynamic between the two cousins perhaps the other members of the band took sides in whatever conflicts the cousins were having and how it shook out is how it stands now.  Although this is a long shot in my opinion as I think Bruce Johnston is still with Mike Love because it's a familiar role for him and the rest of the boys aren't because well they weren't invited along.  

John, I usually agree with a lot of what you post, but I highlighted part of your above post that I really don't think is accurate - in my opinion. First, Mike (and Bruce) have PROVEN that they don't need Brian Wilson to give the band legitimacy. Sure, Brian adds a lot to the mix - that's an understatement - but without him over the last decade and a half, Mike and Bruce have been vital and prospering. And, to an overwhelming number of fans that attend their shows, THEY ARE THE BEACH BOYS, not some nostalgia act. They are far from one of those nostalgia acts like The Temptations, where NONE of the members WERE Temptations. They're not ready for the PBS oldies concerts - yet. Really, most of the people who attend the Mike & Bruce shows don't know who is who, don't know who or how many died, don't know who are original members, and really don't care. To an extremely large percentage of people attending the shows, they are going to see THE BEACH BOYS - the Beach Boys of today.

I also think you're way off base when you say that Mike & Bruce aren't able to make deep emotional connections with their audience. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a Mike & Bruce concert? I only ask because they CAN touch their audience with their current show/lineup. The ballads like "Surfer Girl", "In My Room", "God Only Knows", "Good Timin", and Bruce's performance of "Disney Girls" consistently hit the emotional mark. The band can sing with emotion. And, remember, there's more than one kind of emotional connection. I saw people singing and dancing to every note of the car songs. I saw Scott Totten wowing the audience with a Hendrix-like solo on "Barbara Ann". I saw 70 year-old people dancing in the aisles - to "Wild Honey"! I saw people walking to their cars after the show smiling and singing and talking about what they just experienced. THAT was pretty emotional.

Lets get the elephant in the room out of the way before I begin: I don't have a lot of respect for the majority (note the majority) of the fanbase that M&B draw in each summer because I don't believe them to be music fans.  To me the majority of fans M&B draw are people who view music as "just something to listen to" and never go further beyond that.  If you want to say that is elitism, I can roll with that as there are worse things in the world that one can be.  So while M&B draw money each summer they draw it by and large from a section of the public that are not music fans and are mainly just looking for a party.  I think you said it best yourself, to the majority of their audience "They Are The Beach Boys".  Well as Mr. Lennon once said "Living is easy with eyes closed" or if you prefer "Ignorance is bliss".  So to me once I factor all that in, it sort of skews any amount of success (financial or otherwise) M&B have had in the past decade.  

Now the next part of the argument goes like this: You can make the argument that neither M&B are anything near to a draw as far as any section of their audience is concerned and it is the name "The Beach Boys" that draws in the crowds.  This is key to understanding why so many on this forum continue to be forever knackered at Mike Love retaining the rights to "The Beach Boys" name as it is the name that gives his act legitimacy in terms of drawing an audience not necessarily the personalities in the band.  I personally don't have a problem with the fact that he and Bruce market themselves as "The Beach Boys" but it seems to be a major bone of contention that many Beach Boys fans have with the M&B show.  

Now as much as it pains me to say this, unfortunately The Beach Boys have become a nostalgia act for all intents and purposes.  They may not be in the vein of certain doo-wop groups that no longer retain any original members of the group but they are right at home with the "PBS crowd" and sadly have been for quite sometime now.  I don't know if you have DIRECTV or not but I do and they are on there every night alongside other one hit wonders of their generation on nostalgia compilation albums being sold to the masses.  You know who aren't on those albums?  The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and many of their sixties contemporaries who nobody in their right mind would consider to be one hit wonders.  

You second point regarding the emotional connection that the M&B lineup of "The Beach Boys" is arguable under the header that what connects with one person emotionally won't necessarily resonate with another.  To put it another way, it's subjective.  To me Brian Wilson is the soul of "The Beach Boys".  That isn't to say that M&B are stiff as soldiers up there and are basically going through the motions like a gang of surf robots.  As I mentioned Mike Love is a great MC and is able to engage his audience very well but he's missing the other key component that every great performer has and that is the ability to deliver those moments to their audience that make their concert presentation truly unique.  They may be dancing in the aisles and singing along with the hits but quite honestly I've seen those reactions in many different places from Bruce Springsteen concerts to the local Beatles impersonators act that plays at my local park every summer.  The difference between the two?  Springsteen can sit down at the piano at any given time and play "Thunder Road" or "The Promise" and make you feel that you are having a one on one connection with him that goes above and beyond the concert/party atmosphere that is inherently a part of almost any live performance worth it's salt.

That emotional connection is what Brian Wilson brings to the table as far as what he adds to the overall "Beach Boys" presentation.  Is he on his game 100% of the time?  No in fact, on his off nights it can be painfully obvious to the audience that he would rather be anywhere else than onstage.  But when Brian Wilson has his mojo going he is able to deliver some very special moments to his audience which I think was one of the main reasons why the C50 shows last year were so unique.

It's not part of a race or the state fair. It's part of a RV convention called "The Rally". You have to buy a day pass for $79 to see the concert and that's not with reserved seating.

http://therally.com/2013/03/vince-gill-and-the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-the-atlanta-rally/ (http://therally.com/2013/03/vince-gill-and-the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-the-atlanta-rally/)

I might go to M&B's show next month at a local casino, but not because I am under any illusion that their group is the real Beach Boys. If they had been making albums with that lineup for the last 15 years.....maybe.

The fact is that Brian Wilson is one of the worst live performers out there today. He often sits there blankly with his arms by his side and when he does decide to play a little piano it's inaudible anyway. And his shouty, robotic vocals are often way off key. His band carry him in every way. How anyone can listen to a M&B show and think that it would sound sooooo much better with Brian there is baffeling.

From what Ive read, Mike was always the guy to bring back David into the fold including having him at M&B shows a couple of years back. I think I read somewhere that he wanted him back permanently in the early 70s?. So I'm wondering if he may be a little pissed that David has decided to tour with Brian and Al? taking sides maybe?

Legally, they couldn't - their license to use the name "The Beach Boys" was, and remains, for touring only.

In my experience whether Brian is having an off night is considered irrelevant to much of the audience. As is how well or badly Brian sings. If people are having emotional connections then I think it`s often based just on the fact that he is there and isn`t dead (putting it bluntly).

I'm not sure that's the case. The first few times I saw Brian live I went with non-fans, and they all came out saying how wonderful he was -- precisely because of his unusual stage presence. The first time I saw him, for example, was with a cousin of mine who barely knew any Beach Boys music, but he *loved* Brian pointing to the musicians in the instrumental break of Please Let Me Wonder and said to me "that guy's a buzz!"

On an off night Brian is, frankly, awful. But on an on night he's certainly not the kind of dynamic stage presence Mike is, but he still connects with the audience, even if they don't have a pre-existing reason to feel that connection.

This thread is supposed to be a haven from the C50 Wars, isn't it? I think it's best to preserve this as a space free of Love bashing and focus on the work that M&B are currently doing. There are enough other places for that stuff.

Not trying to shout anyone down, but we just let OSD derail this thread.

There are a couple M&B shows coming around my area soon. Everyone is all like "Hey did you know the Beach Boys will be playing near here soon?" And I bite my tongue, trying not to sound like a music snob. So, I'll probably just suck it up and go see them. Hell, I'm not really too cool for Be True to your School, am I? Even geeks can have fun sometimes.

I'm seeing my first of three M&B shows this year on Saturday, should be a fantastic time! It's the same venue I saw them the first time, and it is my absolute favorite venue in Baltimore and as of now.......NO STAMOS! :lol

It was probably mentioned here already, but I just found out today that the Mike and Bruce BB's recently performed Goin' To The Beach. I wonder if they'll perform other songs from the MIC box set?

l certainly don`t think they will perform any other unreleased songs. They may well play some deeper songs in the right venues (as they always do) but I`m not sure they will do any songs they have never played before. There aren`t that many songs on the box set that they both haven`t played and that have any real connection with Mike. Things like Surfer`s Rule, Amusement Parks USA, Country Air etc are among the more plausible though I guess.

While that may be true - fans going to concerts "just something to listen to" and mainly looking for a party (hell, after seeing The Beach Boys over 30 times, I'm starting to go for that reason,too :-D) - it doesn't necessarily mean those fans don't view the band as the legitimate Beach Boys. Fans can do both, go to a show to have fun but still appreciate the legacy of the band. I don't want to measure that legitimacy entirely on ticket sales; I'm not ignorant. But, Mike & Bruce continue to book a lot of shows, sell a lot of tickets, get good reviews, and leave fans happy. Those "oldies" bands who lost their legitimacy CANNOT do that. They are part of a traveling oldies show with multiple groups on the bill. They couldn't tour on their own like Mike & Bruce - The Beach Boys!

Well put Sheriff...a good comparison would be The Happy Together Tour, that The Turtles put together. I saw it at Wolf Trap this year and it featured The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett, Mark Lindsay, and Gary Lewis.........all of these groups were around and popular and scoring hits when The Beach Boys were BUT, it took all FIVE of them to fill a venue that Mike & Bruce can by themselves.

Great analogy John, the BBs could be lawyers since they know the law after suing each other so many times... ;)

brian was  on fire on his tour in late 2009. jaw dropping compared to other tours he did. if he would be like that all the time it would be a sight to see and experience.

Hey Butch, do ya think you used enough dynamite? ;)

@JohnMill

Here is the difference at shows. Mike connects with the fans. The fans connect with Brian. Personally, at Brian's shows, throughout all but the encore, I feel like Brian could care less about being there or about the fans being there. Most of the time he is very disconnected. It is the fans who come and show the love. Mike on the other hand is just the opposite. He includes the audience in the show. He talks to them, jokes with them, and makes them feel that he is happy that they attended the show. He connects to the fans by inclusion. Two very different approaches for two somewhat different types of fans.

Yeah they both can do different things up there that's for sure.  Brian is never going to be a great MC for a number of reasons but engages the fans through his performances when he's having an on night.  When he's not he relies on his crack band and as you mentioned, his audience to pull the show through. 

Agreed.

It really is something to see a Brian concert when you know he wants to be there and is loving it. Then it can be incredibly depressing when you know he wishes he was anywhere else.

I've seen both.

Ah.   So M&B are playing RV Rallies now?  Hm.

Thank you very much.  This is what I needed to know.
No, I won't be going to this show.  Now I need to see if I can make a Thursday show in Tuscaloosa or make the drive to Biloxi the week before.

But probably neither will work out.  Shame.

Anybody have a recent Mike and Bruce U.S. setlist, i'm going tomorrow night in Baltimore and i just wanted to see what they have been playing recently and if there were any changes since they got back from the Europe leg of the tour.

ditto this!

I've been looking all over for a Tampa setlist...they're playing in Virginia tonight so a list may creep up tomorrow morning...but would love to know what was played in tampa! Even though they usually swap a few songs from show to show.

He just posted one on his facebook page for tonight. Interesting songs include Darlin and Cool Head, Warm Heart

Thanks for that! That's funny...he's never done that before!

Tonight's set is...

Do it Again
Little Honda
It's OK
Catch a Wave
Hawaii
Summer Means Fun (VERY interesting!!!)
Surf City
Surfin' Safari
Surfer Girl
Getcha Back
Why Do Fools Fall in Love?
When I Grow Up To Be a Man
Darlin'
Be True To Your School
Still Cruisin'
Don't Worry Baby
Little Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
I Get Around
God Only Knows
Cool Head, Warm Heart
California Dreamin'
Sloop John B
Wouldn't it Be Nice
Dance, Dance, Dance
Then I Kissed Her
California Girls
Good Vibrations
Kokomo
Help Me Rhonda
Rock and Roll Music
Do You Wanna Dance?
Barbara Ann
Summertime Blues
Surfin' USA

ENCORE

Goin' To The Beach
Fun, Fun, Fun

.....very interesting assortment, even for Mike and Bruce! I didn't expect to see It's OK, Summer Means Fun, Still Cruisin', Cool Head Warm Heart, California Dreaming, or Summertime Blues on there!

We'll see what sticks and what they try out tomorrow! My only complaint? Where's "Wild Honey"? :(

It's great that they play "Cool Head Warm Heart" because everyone goes to a Beach Boys show to hear Mike Love solo material from an obscure and out of print Hallmark CD.

While I personally think "Cool Head, Warm Heart" is pretty great, I gotta say that, yeah, it is pretty interesting that Mike uses "Beach Boys" shows to promote his solo music. And at the same time, "Summer Means Fun"? Meh. Not a Beach Boys song, nor one they ever covered on record. For Bruce, more than any other Beach Boy, it seems like they try to find solo vocal spots for him, and they usually drag down the show. Like at the C50 show I was at last year, why does he need to play "Disney Girls"? Why is that one at nearly every show? Hardly anybody knows that song honestly. I'd say "Surf's Up" is more well known that that. Or "Friends". My thing is, if there aren't any Bruce led live favorites, then lets not give him a vocal. I don't think anybody would go home saying, "man I wish they played 'Disney Girls'!"

I happen to like Disney Girls! I happen to like Bruce's voice actually. There's a real pretty youtube clip from around 1990 of him singing "Please Let Me Wonder"...again, it isn't better than the original, but I enjoyed it. The one that kinda bugs me though is when he sings "Wendy"...I mean- Mike is RIGHT there! It's his lead vocal! ???

I hope they keep "Summer Means Fun" for tomorrow night's show...AND add Disney Girls! :lol  I wouldn't mind if they decided to dust off "Tears in The Morning" or even "Deirdre"! I doubt the second one has EVER been played live.

They`re damned if they do and damned if they don`t aren`t they...

I`m not sure they should have only played the, `more well known`songs as you seem to be suggesting. If they`d done that then there are a lot of other songs that they played last year that are less well known than Disney Girls. The song is considered something of a classic from that era and is a sensible choice for the setlist.

Disney Girls was one my unlikely highlights on the C50 tour.

More artists have covered Disney Girls than Surf's Up, so a few more might just know it more than you think, especially older fans. Cool Head... was on a Beach Boys CD. Had each played one song from their respective solo albums last year, I would not have had a problem with that. Almost everything that they do solo sounds Beach Boy-ish anyway. ;)

-----------

Disney Girls blew me away last year. I didn't really expect to be moved so much by anything, much less a Bruce song, but it was my first BB show, sitting next to my beautiful wife... The spot where nearly everything drops out and it's just Bruce singing this sweet, nostalgic lyric just got to me. Definitely the highlight of the show for me, and I was super happy to have it on the live CD.

GO BRUCE!

I would think a few people know "Disney Girls", Art Garfunkel recorded a version of it.

As did Doris Day on her top ten album of a couple of years ago.

‍

Adrian Baker is also on it and did the vocal arrangements I guess.

‍

Credits are:
Produced and Arranged by Paul Fauerso
Additional Vocal Arrangements by Adrian Baker,
Mike Love – lead vocals, background vocals
Adrian Baker – background vocals
Kurt Bisquera – drums
Paul Fauerso – programming, keyboards, percussion, background vocals
Cliff Hugo – bass
Christian Love – background vocals
Joel Peskin – tenor sax
Scott Totten – guitars

Baker's the one taking the highest parts, who can't sing very well, and is most prominent on the intro, with Mike obviously in the bass end. Christian's the one who sounds a little like Carl who repeats the last three syllables of every line after Mike sings it, and taking most of the midrange parts in the backing vocal stack.

I know this is super last minute but I have an extra ticket to the Mike and Bruce show tonight in Baltimore t Pier 6 Pavilion if anyone's interested it's section 109 good seat, it's only 1 ticket and i'll take any price for it really.

PM me if interested

Thanks Derek

(sorry if this breaks any rules i'm unware of)

Bruce Johnston gets 15% of the proceeds or he pistol-whips you.

Thats what happened with me in 2011.... :o

Nah. He does a good job on this one.

Here's the set from Baltimore this evening w/ any thoughts tidbits I thought should be added...

Do it Again (not nearly as thrilling as last year, but it still sounded good.)
Little Honda
It's OK (Bruce motioned for most of the crowd to sit  ??? ...I persevered!)
Summer Means Fun (Bruce sounds GREAT on this, it's a nice addition to the set. I think it was supposed to connect w/ It's OK though and Cowsill stopped between songs.)
Catch a Wave (weird not hearing it in the second spot!!)
Hawaii
Surf City
Surfin' Safari (The security was just coming over to ask people to sit when Bruce flailed his arms for everyone back up!  :lol )
Surfer Girl (Bruce sang the bridge...it was sweet, but I preferred Brian last year for sure.)
Getcha Back (Still not sure why Mike doesn't sing this...but Christian did well.)
Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (This was downright rough at first...this is a song that requires Brian's big fat band.)
Darlin' (John Cowsill knocks it outta the park again!)
When I Grow Up To Be a Man
Good To My Baby (Scott Totten added this one to the set on the spot (yeah!!!) and Mike forgot a line...)
Be True To Your School (This got the best reaction of the night thus far.)
The Ballad of Ole Betsy (Mike introduces Scott as if he's never sang before...of course it's beautiful as always.)
Still Cruisin' (This was kinda lame...but nice to hear once I guess.)
Don't Worry Baby
Little Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
I Get Around (Bruce did..."the pogo"  :lol )

INTERMISSION

California Dreamin' (Scott, Randall, and John went ahead and started this song without the rest of the guys...I guess it was due to the 11pm curfew...which they weren't anywhere near anyways.)
Sloop John B (Bruce took the leads on this...I was surprised!)
Wouldn't it Be Nice
Dance, Dance, Dance ( I had never heard this live...it's a great concert track!)
Then I Kissed Her
Cool Head, Warm Heart (Nice song and message but it sorta broke the flow.)
Disney Girls (Beautifully sung as always by Bruce. This song and "Don't worry baby" were the only times I heard Bruce's keyboard...and I was paying close attention!)
God Only Knows (also beautifully sung, but will agree that the french horn did not sound good but the flutes did...the opposite of clips I had been watching.)
California Girls
Good Vibrations
Kokomo
Help Me Rhonda
Rock and Roll Music
Do You Wanna Dance
Summertime Blues
Barbara Ann (Stage flooded with women like in 2010)
Fun, Fun, Fun (Interesting swap up in the setlist!)

ENCORE

Wild Honey (I'd say this was the best song of the night.)
Goin' To The Beach
Surfin' USA

Ugh.  Had I seen this several hours ago...   :-\      I hope you had a good time.

It's great that they're playing some songs the audience doesn't know alongside the dozens they do!

Cheers,
Jon Blum

When me & the wife are driving around listening to GVBS disc III and the Disney track comes up she will invariably hit the NEXT button before Bruce gets a chance to say Tootsie Roll.

I don't argue with her.  ;D

More interviews.

http://www.app.com/article/20130725/NJENT/307250003/Beach-Boys-play-Ocean-Grove?nclick_check=1

Well, that was pretty terrible.

"I'm just pleased that we had the opportunity to work with each other (for the 50th-anniversary tour) last year because it's never easy with Brian (Wilson),'' says Mike Love. "There are always obstacles."

(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/CiRhFbRUHAY/0.jpg)

FIG. 54354. Joe Thomas' Castle.

“I would love to write another song or two or five with Brian,” Love said. “We have that connection. We’ll have to see what happens in the future. There’s hope but for right now we’re going out without him and like we’ve done in the past, we’re making the best of things. We’re headed back to New Jersey.”

“I love that the ocean is right there,” Love said. “It fits in with what the Beach Boys are all about.”

(http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Mike+Love+2013+Hong+Kong+Sevens+Day+2+mKeXGbGzN4gl.jpg)

"The great thing is that they still stand up today. It takes me back to 1966 when we were the No. 1 group in England, ahead of The Beatles and Rolling Stones."

“Take that, you mop tops.”

(http://image.funscrape.com/images/p/paul_mccartney-12799.jpg)

I hate to say this but this interview is indeed really terrible.

All appeared mended between Love’s Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, but the enigmatic visionary left the band again.“That’s fine,” Love said while calling from Austin. “Brian has his band and we’re doing our thing."

Wow, Mike is really doing a hard push on blaming Brian for ending the C50. Obviously the press are now receiving talking points from Mike's organiztion that reflect that.

quote author=Rocker link=topic=15478.msg386348#msg386348 date=1374782639]

I hate to say this but this interview is indeed really terrible.
[/quote]

I also find it funny that they say "Brian left the band". I mean I guess if you truly consider the guys out there playing Bumfuck County Fair THE BEACH BOYS then he isn't in the group anymore. But the current lineup of The Beach Boys is still Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and whoever else they deem to be a member, as those three (along with Carl's estate) run BRI.

Mike, you could still be making records! Musicians make records! You're a musician! Make records with Brian! I mean that's all i'd like him to do. At least Brian still has a strong desire to make records, which ultimately I'll respect much more than Mike being too proud to accomodate the needs of a 70 year old with mental problems who he really wants to write with in his touring schedule.

For a guy that has everything, ML is a miserable man.

He sounds pretty content! Do you think he really cares about writing a few more songs with Brian? No. I think he cares about making a quick buck off of Brian. Since he seems to have lost the lyrical creativity, he'll have to wait until people forget about TWGMTR to make another album with him.

He`s as happy as Larry.

He`s still getting the adulation from the crowds and having sex with women less than half his age. I bet he can`t believe his luck.

And he gets the manly companionship of Bruce Johnston, which is surely worth a thousand nights with girls half your age... the endless explanations that it doesn't happen that often, really, and they can try again in ten minutes. None of that with Bruce. Just good solid brotherly love. And shorts. Teeny tiny shorts.

And he always will be. It's obvious that he believes he deserves the same adulation that Brian does. He does not get that his success, money wise, is because of his first cousin and the timing for him was correct. Honestly, I would have been more than happy to see his ass kicked out of the band before Pet Sounds-after that album he was on his way to being a has been which he is now and has been for decades.

Funny, it's gone from Brian feeling fired to Brian left the band. Wonder when Brian or his people are going to address this rewrite of the C50 end?

And it would be totally cool if Mike was singing this tune from the beginning. But he wasn't. Which is why I'll continue to believe that it is ultimately on him that the group didn't continue on.

The Lovester and  Historical pulled quite a surprise at their show at the Mohegan Sun tonight - a guest appearance by everyone's fave pint-sized big-voiced lassie, Lulu.

 She performed "To Sir With Love," which is to be expected, and "I Can Hear Music," which is somewhat more startling.

 Photo below:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=498414270237419&set=a.249407895138059.60323.125419450870238&type=1&theater

That would have been nice to see. I remember she covered Sail on Sailor a while ago so a shame she didn`t get to sing that one.

It`s cool that that they occasional have other guests up there. Matt Jardine and Hayleigh Love having made other recent appearances...

Hands down, best Touring Band casino show, I've ever seen.  Kathy Troccoli did I Can Hear Music for Stars and Stripes.  No surprise that Lulu performed it last night. 

Show was for The Reach Foundation.  Impressive charity.  Lulu, whom I've never seen, was tremendous, and during the show, the backstory told, was that Lulu had "opened" for the Beach Boys back in the day.

Really a fun show!   ;)

Yes, I think she did that with Sting

As early as Dec. 1981 when they performed in Sun City, South Africa.

Back in the 60s too I believe.

Yes, they played with her in the UK on 6 November, 1966.  (Maybe earlier as well?)

Really? Why is he always publically praising Brian as the genius?

Typical mYke luHv backpedaling or his guilty conscious for being a bad clown.

Well played.

Oldsurferdude - Mike has been objectively "giving credit, where credit is due," with respect to the team effort of music composition and lyrics, since I remember first seeing the BB's in 1967.  Supposing that he has a "guilty conscience" sounds like "practicing medicine without a license."

Mike continues to say good things about Brian, and probably is under no obligation to do so.  It is his MO, not a new MO but one that has been consistent in my concertgoing experience since the era of Carl's CO status. 

This board has some great members, but some are becoming very subjective and biased.  And, likely much of it is not based in personal first-hand knowledge, nor a product of seeing their shows.  I would bet there are plenty of YouTubes from the 60's that would support Mike's crediting the compositions of his cousin.  As far as the Touring Band shows, I have never seen one show, and I've probably seen at least a hundred, where Mike does not take the time, to tell a Brian backstory, or some event which led to a song writing session. 

Do any other band members ever give Mike credit for his lyrics for records that have gone gold or platinum? Just sayin'.

Mike hasn't been "giving credit" to Brian the whole time. I remember seeing the band live in the 80's and 90's where more than once Mike alluded to the fact (with a somewhat sarcastic tone) that Brian was sitting home while they were "out working".

Mike has usually praised Brian, very true. Well, he occasionally was negative (I'm thinking of his comments about Brian's '88 album for one example), but he has said nice things. I think the issue is when he overplays things about himself. Mike thinks Brian is a genius, but I'm totally convinced he believes "Kokomo" is as much of a landmark achievement as "Pet Sounds." That's the disconnect I see. He thinks he is McCartney to Brian's Lennon. He specifically made that comparison in a recent interview. That comparison I'd say is all kinds of wrong.

Mikie - I can only speak for myself and can honestly say I've never heard a bad word about Brian by Mike.  That is my experience.  It seemed to be what they did. Carl would mention Brian often, Mike did, and in that time following Brian's quitting the road, it was emphasized that: first, Brian was there "in spirit" and, that, second, Brian was home "working in behalf of" the Band. 

I have heard Mike make similar comments, but saying something about sitting home versus giving him credit for his musical genius are two entirely different things. Mike has always given Brian his due, musically.

He may have said the "in spirit" part but I've never heard him say "working on behalf of the band". Maybe in the 60's Mike said that, but not after Brian left the road again in the early 80's.

Mikie - I was paraphrasing.  Perhaps I should have said, "at home writing music?"  ;)

Dudn't matter anyway. Then was then and this is now. Mike isn't saying stuff like that now.

You mean in concert, Mikie? It seems to me Mike gives Brian genius credit in almost every one of his interviews. 

God forbid someone might talk about themselves and their personal accomplishments when they are the subject of an interview. Jeez.

Al talks about his accomplishments when he is interviewed, no body is carping about that. Double standard much? He also gives Brian genius credit in his interviews too.

Al talks about what he's currently doing in interviews. But I don't see nearly as much of reminders of literal accomplishments, as in touting chart placement, poll results, oldies radio statistics, etc.

At the same time, Mike's comments sometimes seem more insecure, hence the "McCartney wasn't chopped liver" comparisons, and constant "Kokomo" reminders.

I remember the 'quote', and I'm paraphrasing here:

From a M&B gig @ the pier in Seattle (circa 1999). I was walking down the sidewalk outside of the venue - could plainly hear the show. Mike said (ever so slightly paraphrasing) - "they say my cousin Brian is a genius. he IS...we tour and he sits home and collects the money"

Now full disclosure here; it was delivered and received as a joke. A joke. Mean spirited perhaps, but classic sardonic Mike (and this coming from a guy who has plenty of issues with the Lovester). Kind of a double edged joke, but basically harmless. That being said, in bad taste imo.

These guys have always had this weird relationship with their reclusive 'genius.' I remember Carl's interview in Musician magazine prior to the release of Beach Boys '85. He said, 'for us to make a truly GREAT album, we need Brian in the studio calling the shots.' Mike was interviewed on Larry King in the late 80's, and a caller gave him the question, 'Mike - what did you think of Brian's solo album? (BW '88).' Mike's response was 'I thought it would've sounded much better as a Beach Boys album'

THEN, when Brian more or less got his sh*t together with Andy Paley in the early 90's, Carl walks out of the sessions. You can't win!

Oy vey. What a crazy dysfunctional bunch of guys...I love 'em!

Yes, those were jokes [but true] but did he not also seriously praise Brian in those shows? He almost always praises Brian in interviews even though the interview is for him.

Does Brian routinely [or at all] praise any of his bandmates in his shows when he is doing the Beach Boys catalog? Carl maybe?

I'd say there is a different standard for representing the "other" members of the band when you go out as "The Beach Boys."

YES!! that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Almost to a word, too.

Cam, the live Beach Boys concerts are what I'm talking about.  Even when Carl and Al were still around.  80's and 90's. I took 'em as negative snide remarks towards Brian.

Different standard meaning you are freed from praising your bandmates/brothers when performing the Beach Boys catalog? They aren't Beach Boys songs anymore and Brian isn't a Beach Boy and it's not praiseworthy to be praiseworthy of your bandmates if you aren't under license?

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

See, but this doesn't count because it was "a long time ago" and he says different silly stuff in interviews these days. Also, Keith Moon was pretty weird.

That's what I thought you meant Mikie. I take it as a joke, they were delivered as a joke. You think the rest of the group would have put a stop to it if it wasn't a joke? It also was true, right?

Did he also praise Brian at those concerts too?

 ???  

Just meant using the name carries a higher standard when it comes to representing the band. To me anyway.

Seconded. BW88 is not a good album.

This when Mike had just been slandered by Brian's autobiography and they were about to go to court because Brian had cheated him out of royalties and Mike still says of Brian in that interview "Hey, there's nobody more talented at arranging and writing".

In other words, Brian doesn't much praise any of his bandmates.  Occasionally, but not as a rule where as his bandmates as a rule praise him in their interviews.

I've seen Mike tour at least 20+ times without Brian in the show since the early 80's and just about every concert (if not every concert) he acknowledged Brian in a positive manner (whether as writer, composer etc.). And, I do recall that "joke" being said in 1 of those years and recall that our friends at the show took it as meant to be funny (also someone here put it in context with the timing).

PS: Did BW ever thank the group for donating some of their share of the touring revenue (over and beyond any share BW received) to pay for the cost of his treatments which I recall reading is what did happen? They don't tour, no revenue.

Really, the sniping on the board should stop. All the guys have their share of credits and issues.

Nope, not what I said, nor what I meant or implied, nor is what you're saying necessarily true, and you of course know that. I'm bummed 15 years later that your posts are still like this.

Brian has rarely mentioned the others. Mike never mentions Al at his shows. Nobody mentions Blondie. I'm talking about standards for doing so, not who did do or how much.

Sorry to disappoint you. Maybe I don't get what you mean. Why would there be different standards for interpersonal praise because you had a license? Was Al praising Mike and Blondie while Al had his "license"?

Have you ever noticed that when we snipe at each other, whether pro Brian, pro Mike, or pro Beach Boys that nothing anyone says ever changes any minds? Yet, we continue to fight because the other factions different than our own can never have the last word. Personally, except for 3 songs BW88 sucks, as does Mike's solo album. Considering they were the two main song writers in the band, you'd think both would have turned out much better than they did, especially Brian's, considering he has ALL the goods to do so.

Of course it's a good album. One of his best if not THE best solo.

Mike was just jealous 'cause he wasn't involved!

I've changed my mind despite sniping, you Snipe hater.  I used to be a Mike detractor and a Brian apologist or whatever non-snipey terms you care to use.

Guys I wouldn't bother with Cam. He has defended absolutely disgusting behavior by Mike. Sometimes however, he has provided a different view. Occasionally people here get too Brian-centric. But Cam is either fully a put-on, or he's just so blinded that he will defend anything out of Mike.

Yeah. That's what's happening.

Later: I was going to let this roll, but, what the hell are you talking about: "has defended absolutely disgusting behavior by Mike"?

Sorry to disagree with your opinion but I'm pretty sure I've never asked anyone to ignore someone else over their opinion about a Beach Boy. Don't remember ever speculating that someone was possibly a put-on or "blind" because they didn't agree with my opinion of a Beach Boy. Not even OSD [tickles OSD and we both laugh].

RE. "defended absolutely disgusting behavior by Mike".

OK, I'm going to wait awhile and see if anyone wants to clarify the whisper campaign this comment is based on.

Gotta love the fact that another thread has degenerated to this.

Just to say that Brian has said far more insulting things about Mike than the other way around. He also, of course, insulted all of the group members including Carl and Dennis by claiming that his band are better singers than The Beach Boys (BS). Plus his comments about Dennis having sex with Lynda, Marilyn and one of Mike`s wives weren`t exactly classy.

Didn`t Al say that he wished Dennis were still alive to beat Mike up?

Mike has said his fair share of things too.

The music is the important thing. They aren`t exactly angels as human beings.

Yeah, his argument doesn't seem valid.  "First of all the lyrics."  Yes?  What about them?  "Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough."  The hell does that even mean?  "Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like."  What standards is Mike putting Brian up against?  Because in my opinion, it had been eleven years since Brian wrote so much good new material for a single album.  Mike was clearly jealous that he was doing something without him.

1. He thinks had it been a Beach Boys album he would have written better lyrics.
2. Had it been a Beach Boys album something would have been arranged around the voices. Something on it that maybe had hit potential.
3. Had it been a Beach Boys album Brian would have had help to make the album sound better. It is not a great sounding album.

Short story, Mike thought Brian deserted The Beach Boys. They basically lost their recording contract because of Brian. None of the Caribou albums had much input from Brian, and the contract was most likely given figuring on Brian to write the majority of the music.

Now, the band had lost their recording contract and did not have anything in the works in 1987-1988. He probably was not happy that Brian got a deal and he knew that without Brian there would not be a new deal for The Beach Boys in the near future. Probably more of a Landy issue than Brian, but until Kokomo hit big, their prospects were not looking too good. Mostly due to Brian's lack of participation.

Not saying this is gospel, but I do remember reading that Brian actually offered to produce a new Beach Boys album a few times in the late '80s, only to be rebuffed. However, this may have just come from his "autobiography" so that might render the point moot. But I feel like I read it elsewhere.

Late at night...when the world is sleeping...I bet Cam quietly slips on the headphones and digs on some "Lookin' Back With Love"

Lookin' back...ooooo, lookin' back with LOVE, lookin' back...oooo, lookin' back with LOVE...

Nah, the word `jealous` doesn`t fit in this situation. BW88 was not a big hit and Still Cruisin outsold it (not to mention the fact that Kokomo`s sales urinated all over it). Then Brian`s second album which Mike also talked about in that interview was deemed unreleasable. There`s no way that Mike was jealous of Brian`s solo career at that time because Brian`s solo career was dead in the water.

I absolutely think Mike was bitter towards Landy and the fact that he said he`d like to kill Landy at the time is all the evidence you need for that. It must have been galling for The Beach Boys to have hired a doctor to save Brian at no considerable expense and then have Brian not working with them and being actively brainwashed against them (RE: the song Brian on Sweet Insanity).

When you talk of threads degenerating, I really hope you realise who one of, if not the, main culprit is.

If that is Mike's opinion, why should he lie? And while I'm sad that Mike did go back to the M&B show instead of staying with the BB5, I share Mike's opinion about BW88. I'd avoid the term "f***" though. :)

And before any of those (few) b/w minded people come over me, "Summer Of Love" is Mike's worst lyrics and one of the worst songs in BB history. Me not liking BW88 doesn't equal with liking everything Mike ever did.

Oh yeah. With my turban headphones, levitating in my Kokomo robe, "waxin' down" the ol' "surfboard" to Stamos' pix. Good Vibrations!

Really? How so?

This thread is about the touring this year isn`t it? Or was...

Sure, but when it comes to Mike's comments, we perhaps should weigh accordingly the musical criticism of the person who, in the same year the interview was given, spearheaded the "Summer in Paradise" album.

Good point.... :lol

Who's the main culprit?   Sourdudejim?

On my way to the M&B show tonight near Montreal...will take pics and post set list & comments later.

A bien tot :)

Show was really good, Mike is amazing!

Wanna share with you all my impressions from last night's M&B's show  8)

First thing I gotta say is that it was my first time going to see them. I saw Brian solo twice before (Smile & Gershwin) and the full band  last year during the C50 tour in Montreal. My knowledge of their show comes from people's opinions here in the Board and some review's I've read in magazines and stuff. So when I found out they were going to play this small restaurant called 'Maddie's Place' in Kahnawke, an Indian reserve, I didn't hesitate and got myself (and my girlfriend) tickets.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2015_zps5eb2081c.jpg)

For those of you curious about the venue, here's their website (check Maddie's Place Rocks upper-left menu):
http://www.maddiesplacerestaurant.com/ (http://www.maddiesplacerestaurant.com/)

So this place had shuttles from downtown Montreal to the venue throughout the day. School buses, actually  :P but they were free and you had one leaving every hour until 7pm. The show started at 8pm.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2007_zps19842f7f.jpg)

The place itself was ok, big cabin like restaurant with a huge tent where they hold concerts. There was also an 'antique cars' exhibit, quite small in reality, gave me the impression it was a last min thingy put together to emphasize the 'hot-rods' feeling of the BBs music. Or sth like that. Lots of food, kids running around, families, old people,...your regular 'meat & potatos' crowd I guess.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2014_zpsdf29baed.jpg)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2010_zps1ac04a49.jpg)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2009_zpsbd65ecc8.jpg)

Inside the tent the seats were organized in 2 main areas: general admission and VIP. All were seated, but obviously VIP was closer to the stage. We got GA tickets (not paying almost $500 to see these 2 guys  ::)) and they were actually ok, not too far and pretty much center view of the stage
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2006_zps463bbf41.jpg)

There was first an awful, awful warm-up act called 'The Jersey Kid' or sth like that (it felt more like the Jersey devil to me). They were a tribute band to old 50s doo-wop songs, but the singer (stupid kid) sang in such a really loud, out of tune, annoying falsetto... that we actually had to swap our beers for Jack Daniels to wash down the pain. It was bad, really bad, and it lasted for almost 40 mins. No photos of that crap.

Why do some people think they can sing? And sing in falsetto? You know, that's tough, not just because you do falsetto it means that it comes out good. Oh, the humanity.

The stage was exactly as I read in this board: full of fake palm trees and cheap-looking surf boards. The drum kit was isolated by some glass panels, with two keyboards on each side, guitars in front.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2020_zps23f835ce.jpg)

Show started at 9:15sh with 'Do it again' and right away I noticed the following (which held true for the rest of the night):

• Mike's voice was stronger/louder/better than what I heard in the C50 concert
• The band rocks! Sound was really good, Totten's an amazing guitar player
• Backing vocals are not as strong as Brian's backing band; but Mike compensates with really strong leads
• Show is simple, straight-forward. No videos, no gimmicks, just fake palm trees & an amazing setlist

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p699/pvelezor/IMG_2034_zps934ed1d0.jpg)

About the setlist, it was very, very similar to what I remember from the C50 show last year. First part all surf & car songs, very energetic, with Mike in top form. Second part was about the post-surfing hits, with some cool surprises; for me the highlights of the evening were:

• Surf City! First time I hear this song live, it sounded really good and now I understand why they were so mad at Brian back then when he gave to Jean & Dean. The song rocks!
• I Get Around. Its my girlfriend's favorite, and we both agree that the song needs Mike doing the verses. I believe the bass player did Brian's falsetto part, and IMO he did a better job than Foskett
• California Dreamin' !!!! One of the songs I love the most from the 60s. It was a pleasant surprise, think Bruce sang it but Al does it better in the original recording. Still it was tight and felt good.
• Wild Honey. This has been said before in other threads, Coswill did a great job. The song was amazing, very cool, although didnt get a great reaction from the audience - I was dancing & screaming like crazy  >:D
• Barbara Ann...they got some girls on the stage, one of them took Totten's guitar, he followed her and continued playing from her back until she broke free from him and started running around the stage. It was funny his reaction, throwing away his pick and doing a 'whatever' kind of face

On the other hand, the not-so-cool moments were:

• God Only Knows. Bruce didnt sing it with the same fluidity and strength as Brian. To be honest, Bruce didnt sound good, sounded tired and his voice was not strong. Most of the time he was just clapping, adjusting his mic stand but not singing. It was sad, 'cause I really liked 'Disney Girls live last year...
• Good Vibrations. Not sure who sang it (Christian?) but it came out flat...aside from Mike's verses, what an amazing bass voice. But that song needs Brian! Missed his weird hand movements, even his harmonizing with Foskett.
• Wouldnt it be nice. After seeing/hearing Al sing this last year, no one else can do this song. And its my fav BB song, so not a cool moment  :(
• Kokomo. I really, really hate that song. Mike extended it for a singalong that was utterly annoying. But the crowd responded loudly to it, so I guess I understand why they play it. But doesnt mean I have to like it.
• Going to the beach. Had higher hopes for this song. Nothing special, actually very boring. Wished they played Getcha back instead.

The show ended with Surfing USA and fireworks show. Tried to sneak to the back of the tent, to see the band, but I think they got into the bus right away.

Overall it was a good show, they did the old surf & cars songs very competently. Mike sang very well and he was a strong frontman. Bruce was completely irrelevant. The band was good instrumentally but vocally not nearly as good as Brian's. Dont regret going, actually had a good time, but dont think I will see M&B again.

But will be seeing Brian in Toronto in October  8) yeah!

Hope you enjoy this quick review.

Thanks for the review, schiaffino. Sounds a lot like the show I saw earlier in the summer. Good setlist, good performances, good time. It appeared from your description to be a smaller gig so I'm glad they didn't "dial it in" or shorten the setlist. I'll bet there were a lot of smiling faces after the show.

Thanks for the review.  Bruce was sick at the show I saw on friday.  The few leads he sang were pretty weak and they shuffled the set list around midway through the show since they had to drop Disney Girls at the last minute (it was in the set, and Mike made a comment to Bruce about doing Disney Girls at another show, unfortunately.  Always a highlight of the show.)  Bruce usually sounds good on God Only Knows, so I'm guessing his voice wasn't back yet for your show.

What a dump!

...so I said it. Lock me up. :police:

That really is a dump

Central Park > Washington Monument > Baseball stadiums > concert halls/auditoriums > ampitheatres > county fairs > wineries > casinos > restaurants.

When are they going to play supermarket and car dealership grand openings?

He was just like that during the C50 last year. Nothing has changed. Disney Girls sounded good on the CD, Wendy did not. His voice is pretty much shot, except for doing a few nice background vocals here and there.


Christian Love sometimes does sound flat. And easygoing blase. Not much expression. He's not a belter. Can't project. Sounds like Carl sometimes but without feeling. He's boring, really.  


Bruce Johnston is irrelevant. He's a figurehead. He's there because Mike needs him there as an "original" Beach Boy to complete "The Beach Boys" requirement on paper. Going through the motions. Walking across the stage smiling, clapping, waving, and constantly adjusting his mic. Bruce should throw in the towel and retire to Montecito to knock back Pacifico's, contribute articles to Right Wing political web sites, give surf reports, and keep track of who comes over to Opera's house across the steet.

They won't. But they will play at your funeral. ;)

...were you there?

Thanks for the comments, Sheriff. It was a small venue, maybe 500 capacity. It felt very intimate and indeed lots of smiling faces at the end  :) (moi included)

Thanks for the comments! And ok, that would explain why Bruce sounded so 'short-of-air'. He sang GOK in phrases, you know, not a continuous flow like Carl did but like when you're running out of air and you need to stop to breathe after every sentence.

He did Disney Girls really well last year in Montreal. For me it was one of the highlights of the concert. 

Not the nicest venue ever, but not sure I'd call it a dump. I mean, I felt weird there, specially since I saw them in all their glory at the Bell Center in Montreal last year. But there was a cool feeling of intimacy going on too...and to be honest, sound was very good and Mike sounded top form.

Only think that really, really sucked (aside from Kokomo) was the cheap fake palm trees  :(

The mountain winery in Saratoga is great venue, beautiful spot for  a show under the stars.  Saw the band there twice and it was  a delight each time.

That restaurant pictured above, on the other hand, looks depressing.

Posted in wrong thread. :)

Hi Mikie, thanks for commenting. I can understand how you feel, I do agree with the majority of your comments. But I have to acknowledge that I did enjoy the show. Not that I'm a Mike-believer now, but they do know how to give a crowd their money's worth and at 70+, he's very energetic and fun as a frontman.

Bruce unfortunately didnt do it for me. I have respect for his music skills, some of the work he did for the band back in the 70s and for his overall commitment to continue toruing at his age - even if I know he does it for the money (as he told Peter Carlin in Catch a Wave). He's a professional, does his thing as good as he can (even when sick like last weekend as the Sheriff clarified) and then gets payed. A reliable employee I would say.

But to be honest with you and all board members, after this show I ratify my 'Brianista' condition. Brian may be awkward onstage, sometimes flat in his singing, not engaging and literally dull. But he has a mystique that goes pass whats visible, literally moving vibrations that touch your heart in a deep place. Something unexplainable, that can only be felt once he opens his mouth and sings a melody. The 2 times I saw him solo, I literally cried of joy during the concert. With M&B I cried of sickness when they played Kokomo.

So first thing I did Sunday morning? Got my tickets for Brian in Toronto  ;D

Just out of curiosity, about how many people would you say that place held?

500-700? There were seats, maybe full GA could hold 1000+

It really is, Don. I've seen Brian and the band twice now (along with a couple of other bands) at the Mountain Winery, and it's a nice intimate setting with good acoustics. As long as you don't drink too much beer or wine and then try to negotiate all those curves coming off the hill, you'll be in good shape!  :-D

Good man!  And good review, Schiaffino.  I'll take that red Camaro in the picture!   ;D

 8)

Coming off of that hill is a real test of sustained attention.  There are two exits, one that comes out at the main entrance on the mountain road back to Santa Cruz and the other out on the highway on the way back to San Jose. The first time I was dumped out on that highway back to San Jose I had NO idea where I was.  I took a wild guess and turned right and wound up back in Saratoga.   Anyhow, the Winery is a great venue.  Apparently they are a part of a group of venues that rotate many of the same acts over the course of the concert season.  We get brochures from several performing arts venues and they often include many of the same acts over the course of a few months.  Pretty amazing how all of that is coordinated.

Went to see Mike Love's Historical Travelling Beach Boys last night in Hampton Beach, NH. First off, this was my first M&B show. I stopped going to shows after Carl died (although I did see Brian solo). Like a lot of people, I had a problem with Mike calling his outfit the Beach Boys, but after last year's shows, and all that's gone on, I figured I should at least check them out, as they aren't going to be around forever. I will say that I was very impressed. I think last night's show was as good, if not better than many shows I saw in the 80's and 90's. Mike was in good form, and Bruce was too, although he didn't sing too many leads. Bruce was prancing around so much that at one point my wife asked me if he was gay. I said, no, he's Republican.
During the intro of Be True to Your School, Mike went on about how the song came out in 1963, 50 years ago, and that "Uncle Jesse" would be turning 50 in a few months. I will tell you that as soon as he mentioned Stamos' name the place erupted, and if he would have walked out on stage at that point the roof would have come of the place. Very strange.
I didn't quite take to Christian Love immediately, but he started to (almost) win me over by the end of the night. I didn't write down the set list but from previous ones I've seen listed, some differences were that they dd Good Timin' and Warmth of the Sun last night. I had not heard the BB's ever do Summertime Blues and I thought that was especially good. I was hoping for Wild Honey in the encore and they did. That number was absolutely scorching! Cowsill also knocked it out of the park on Darlin'.
I would tell you that if you've stayed away from M&B because they bill themselves as the BB's, you should consider changing your mind and going to see them. They put on a great show. As good as last year? No, but very good.

Not a popular thing to state on this board. :)

I agree with your comments about the touring group. Not as good as last year but very good nevertheless.

Ah another post of the year candidate here my friend.

:lol That is a great quote.

I think it would be more widely accepted if after throwing bouquets in the direction of John Stamos, that Mike Love would actually bring him out on stage.  But he doesn't because obviously Stamos isn't at any of these gigs where Mike Love is tossing him bouquet after bouquet.  So it takes the scenario from throwing a bouquet towards someone who you are about to introduce to the crowd and bring out on stage (which almost every performer does) to using the name of someone arguably more recognizable than you yourself to elicit a positive response from the crowd.  

So yes I can see how that could irk a number (the majority?) of fans on this forum who thinks that it should be beneath a "Beach Boy" especially at this stage of their career (legendary sixties band, rock and roll hall of famers and all that) to continually use the name of a pop culture figure in order to elicit a response from the crowd.  

That's not what I was referring to. I was referring to the fact that according to some posters on here Stamos is long forgotten and nobody wants to see him on stage with the group. The reaction from the crowd at this show indicates otherwise.

Never miss an opportunity to ridicule your opposition, its the Alinsky way eh?

Yeah but here's the thing....Paul McCartney doesn't go onstage and say, "hey did you know I knew Michael Jackson?!" or "you guys are aware that I had Natalie Portman in one of my music videos, right?", while Pete Townshend doesn't announce at Who gigs, "you guys know Eddie Vedder? Well I'm friends with him!"

It just makes Mike (and The Beach Boys) look pathetic. He had to introduce "Forever" at the C50 show I saw by mentioning something about how "Uncle Jessie sang this one on Full House." Be proud of your own accomplishments Mike.

Actually, Paul McCartney uses the "My Valentine" video featuring Natalie Portman AND Johnny Depp on his screen during "My Valentine"... ;)

*sigh* M&B are going to be near my area in couple weeks.

Gag me. I haven't a clue what you're even talking about, but seeing as you mentioned Saul Alinsky it's probably fair to assume you're the kind of person that takes Newt Gingrich seriously.

Really? well the anti-repub posts on this board havent escaped me. Politics need to be kept out. My post was to point it out so go ahead and gag till your purple if you like

Take the politics to the Sandbox, people.

I agree they should be kept out. But mentioning Saul Alisnky cuz somebody made a joke about him being a Republican, and therefore not being gay.

In Bruce's defense, however, and I'm no fan of his politics, he actually has spoken up against homophobia in rock 'n roll. When he was doing an interview and talking about "Here Comes The Night", I remember he spoke of how he thinks the record didn't do well because to many in the "rock 'n roll" community disco was considered a "gay" thing, and therefore many rock 'n rollers wanted nothing to do with it. So at least Bruce came to the defense of gay people in rock music (especially at a time where even Elton John and Freddie Mercury hadn't come out as fully homosexual).

It wasn't a post of the year candidate because it ridiculed Republicans.  It was a post of the year candidate because it was damn funny and made even funnier because it was slipped into the middle of an otherwise straightforward concert review. 

I take it you don't work in the public relations office of their operation? 

Seems like half the board does M&B's PR. ;D

Which isn't relevant to what I said at all.

Well, you as part of the other half, does not. 50/50, baby! What's funny is, I bet we are more vicious fighting and defending than the actual parties are.

I think the Stamos issue is just another one of those things that somehow gets lost in translation around these parts and then we end up doing a twenty page thread on the subject.  Bottom line unless the person in question is absolutely blind there should be some recognition on their part that John Stamos is widely known by a pocket of the general public due to his association with "Full House".  In fact his star is likely to rise as the years roll ahead due to the fact that the pocket of the general public I referred to become nostalgic for the television they grew up with in the eighties, much like the baby boomer generation rocket fueled "Nick At Nite" for several decades.  So Stamos forgotten?  Not in the least.  But as I mentioned a few days ago, he's famous for one thing which is a sitcom which outside of it's considerable audience isn't remembered all too fondly.  

Also lost in translation somewhat is that when you address the forum, you are mainly addressing music fans not the general public.  We tend to view things in a vacuum of how music fans react to the situation at hand and many of us therefore don't have much respect for the minions that patron the M&B show each summer.  Acknowledge them?  Yes.  Respect them?  In many cases no.  So while many of us acknowledge the fact that Stamos has an audience, we do not necessarily put much stock in that audience's opinion or review of his talents which is why he is almost universally derided around these parts.  

Again so many of the disagreements that come to a head on these forums is when people incorrectly assume that they are addressing the public in general within the confines of the various topics on the Beach Boys forum.  In most cases you are only addressing music fans and to be more specific diehard Beach Boys music fans who have a very specific reality which they choose to embrace in terms of how they view their favorite band or how they think they should be viewed.  Ignorance is bliss?  Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed?  Perhaps.  But it's also the atmosphere that from my experience tends to dominate much of the conversation around these parts thankfully most of the time without incident.

I don't disagree with that at all and very eloquently written.

I do feel some on the board could move beyond the 'I want this to happen therefore it should happen' mentality though.

No, the main reason it's a post of the year candidate is because it ridiculed Republicans!

If you can score some tickets on the cheap, you should go.  You'd more than likely have a good time.

And I care why? Nearly every topic on this thread veers off from where it should be. I took your Stamos defense and pointed out how apparently Mike is so insecure in his band's work that he has to big up John Stamos on issues that have f***-all to do with anything. Honestly, the "Forever" connection, well I can understand that. Be linking "Be True To Your School" to Stamos birthday stinks of insecurity on Mike's part.

I did in 2011 at the dawn of my BBs fandom for really cheap, It was a good show for the most part.

I just miss C50.

Honestly, I do too, but the show I saw last week was still a great time.  Worth it just to hear Wild Honey, IMO.  But they did a lot of songs I'd personally never seen them do before, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wasn't ridiculing Bruce or Rebublicans (of which I am one). Just goofin' around a little. No harm meant.

Mike and Bruce surpised me on a few songs...which I really was not expecting ANY surprises this year...Summer Means Fun, Good To My Baby, Wild Honey, Goin To The Beach...this is probably the best setlist (in the states) that The Beach Boys have toured since the '93 tour.

...excluding C50 of course  :lol

What Stamos defense? I didn't post the review of the show you know.

I honestly think that you are reading waaaaay too much into Mike giving a mention to his friend Stamos. I've seen Mike called a lot of things in my time but insecure? I don't think anyone has a higher opinion of themselves than Mike Love.  :)

Obviously he's insecure. Otherwise why would he always point out the 1966 poll with The Beatles? Or the fact that "hey, I wrote a bunch of lyrics with Brian" or this or that. He needs to trumpet it, because he apparently must not feel appreciated enough. I personally think that this is a shame, because the guy has done a lot of awesome lyric-writing and singing.

I think the 1966 poll references are an attempt to sell the group (and because Mike has an ego obviously).

His decision to reference Stamos is because they are friends and probably to mock Stamos for turning 50 I would guess. I remember a show in the U.K. a few years that he joked about Mick Jagger's birthday at the time. No big deal I would have thought.

Just got back from seeing M & B at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. It was a standard M & B show, meaning it was very good. The crowd -- who seemed to be loooooooooongtime BB fans-- were super-enthusiastic. I don't know whether this is par for the course or if I'm just accustomed to subdued Canadians. Also don't know whether it was that audience response or the act of them returning to their pre-C50 formation, but the band seemed tighter, more energized, and in better voice than when some were part of C 50. Mike was in fine form. He led a great version of "Rock and Roll Music", which had never been my favorite. "Goin' to the Beach" was a pleasant novelty, as Mike gave a shout out to the boxed set. Bruce sang "Do You Wanna Dance," "God Only Knows" and "Summer Means Fun", which was an interesting addition. It would've been nice had he done "Disney Girls," with its Cape Cod reference and all. As always, everybody — except Canadian keys man Tim Bonhomme, who's a swell guy —got their chance to sing. Cowsill is great on "Darlin''", "Help Me, Rhonda," and "California Dreamin'". Scott Totten sang "Ballad of Ol' Betsy" and ripped off some spot-on guitar solos.

It was a special occasion for me, because it was both of my kids' first concerts, and I'm glad that it was the Beach Boys, as it was mine 34 years ago. My six year old daughter seemed transfixed by what was going on onstage, while my eight year old son fell asleep during the second set. But that had more to do with his viewing of Good Burger late late the night before. We got to chat briefly with the band after the show. Spirits seemed high.  I must say that it was sad to not see Brian, Alan and David there this time round. But it was a fine show, and now I look forward to seeing those guys with Jeff Beck in Toronto in October.

As heated as things sometimes get around here, it's positively tame compared to the Mike bashing I saw over on fb after his latest interview comments.

It's terrible over there...and there is absolutely no room at all to say a kind word about him on there...you get chewn to bits!

  Yeah, and I'm not one that thinks Mike is an evil guy. I don't really like the idea of just Mike and Bruce touring as the Beach Boys, but in one sense it's not false advertising - it is an evening of Beach Boys music. I probably won't go see their show next weekend when it's in my area, but  I wish not harm upon M&B. Many people WILL go to the show and have a great time, nothing wrong with that.

Atleast we're informed here

Forget about that Wild Honey live thing...

This defecates all over it!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYu7N2RuPTs

*sigh*Where is the suicide emoticon when you need it.......

Two great drummers share a birthday today - 8/19/2013 - Ginger Baker and....................................John Stamos! :o ;D :police:

Beware of Ginger Baker... :lol

It would've been okay if there had been the teeniest audience reaction when they said his name and not just "Uncle Jessie" it was kinda pathetic...

God D@mn that was lame. Why not sing happy birthday to Mr. T while they're at it too, since he once drummed with them.

So...is Bruce still in the band? :lol

(https://sphotos-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/1150308_514958205249692_1163643544_n.jpg)

That was on his Facebook page, btw.

I just saw this on Facebook. Kind of an odd departure from the norm.

I found that weird that they'd single Mike out like that.  well it was on his FB page so I guess it was relevant since it's HIS page.  But who "likes" Mike's FB page and NOT know he is still touring with the BB?  Odd logic there.

Go see "The Beach Boy(s)" today!!!!! :lol

'See Mike Love perform'

Is he gonna pole dance or something?

Doctor Love's solo, um, tour.   :lol

Mike Love is the gift that keeps on giving.... :lol

Mike is starting to get a big Buddha belly pushing out his shirt. Obviously, too much cheese!

i bought a cheap ticket to the Sunday show in Elkhorn, Wisc but I don't know if I'll go...

No, no, you must go and report back to us

Yes, please do...we haven't had one in about two weeks...and the show has been changing more than usual this year...I'm also curious about Bruce!!!

Bruce is no doubt there...let's all hold our horses shall we? 8)

Why would you not go? Great music performed by a fine band.

No doubt, but if you post a pic like that on fb, people are gonna react to it. Feels kind of like a slight to Bruce, at least at first glance.

I think Bruce is missing out big time by not having a facebook page!

That's from hanging out with Brian in the last year from the reunion  :3d

He does.

Finally! We're getting to the root of the break up!

Going to their show tomorrow night in Indiana...Wonder how it will hold up next to the BAD Show in Kettering, OH I saw.

No, there's a wikipedia page which by default, exists as a facebook page.

I think Dr. Love heard us...

(https://sphotos-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1185928_515070238571822_303975472_n.jpg)

This was JUST put up.

So happy for Bruce!

Last time I saw Mike and Bruce, Under the Arch in St. Louis in summer of 2001. How much has the setlist changed since then?

You'll be disappointed to hear that you will no longer be able to savour Duke of Earl...

Oh really?
When did that leave the setlist?
Has Goin To the Beach and Wild Honey been on every setlist since they first performed?
Is there and good merch at these shows?

Duke of Earl's been out since 2006. Goin' to the Beach and Wild Honey have appeared at every show (as far as I'm aware) or at least one of them per show. At the Hyde Park gig there was a very nice orange shirt and, of course, a cap (I grabbed both, why not) and there was a black shirt as well. I forget what else and there may be new merch since July.

Forget about the setlist for a second but just think that the band today is so so much better than the one in 2001.
You saw a band led by Chris Farmer, with Mike Kowalski at the drums and Adrian Baker singing falsetto.
Now you will see a band led by Scott Totten with John Cowsill at the drums. And no Adrian Baker!
It's like night and day, really.
On top of that you may find interesting additions to the setlist, e.g. Ballad of Ole Betsy, Wild Honey, Going To The Beach, It's Ok, Isn't It Time, Good To My Baby, Disney Girls, etc etc.
It sure beats Duke of Earl, Sherry and I Saw Her Standing There!
Just go, you'll enjoy it!

Oh don't worry, I'd go no matter what was on the setlist…whether it's Imagine or the whole SIP album performed.

I Saw Her Standing There was on the setlist?

Yes it was...  yes it was...

 :shrug

Wild Honey & Goin To The Beach have been played at ALMOST every show since they've debuted this year.

There were quite a few deep cuts when I saw them last month...It's OK, Summer Means Fun, Good To My Baby, Still Cruisin, Cool Head Warm Heart, Disney Girls, Goin To The Beach, Wild Honey...

The show is miles better than anything they were doing in 2001.

Great to hear

I HAD A GREAT TIME!

I saw Brian/Al/Dave in Kettering/Dayton a little over a month ago, granted I love their setlist better but I felt more involved at Mike's show. Granted, my seats were closer in this show than the BAD Show, but I just felt like Mike acknowledged me. I had my black Carl Wilson Foundation shirt on and Mike pointed at me (among pointing at every other lady in the crowd) gestured to his shirt and waved, I just felt like more involved.  The only deep cuts we heard was Summer Means Fun, Surf City (not totally a deep cut but a good Jan and Dean song), Cool Head Warm Heart, Wild Honey, and Goin' to the Beach. It was still really a great time.

Side note, I will say it's weird that there's no Dennis tribute and BARELY any pics of Dennis...I saw like one pic of Brian and Al, none of Dave.

here's the setlist from a friend of mine:

started about 8:02pm - 5 players + Mike & Bruce
do it again
into little honda
into catch a wave
into hawaii
into summer means fun
into surf city
into surfin' safari
surfer girl
don't worry baby
little deuce coupe
into 409
into shut down
into i get around
in my room
why do fools fall in love - bruce lead (?)
when i grow up to be a man
darlin' - drummer vocal (john cowsill)
be true to your school
cool head, warm heart
god only knows with carl on video screen singing
good vibrations - guitarist to right of mike lead on verses (christian love, mike's son)
sloop john b
into wouldn't it be nice
then i kissed her - christian vocal
california girls
kokomo - christian switches to acoustic guitar this song only
help me, rhonda - john cowsill vocal "she let mike love come between us..."
rock 'n' roll music
do you wanna dance - bruce vocal
into barbara ann - girls on stage, one fake plays scott's guitar
summertime blues - interesting arrangement
fun, fun, fun
 
9:34 encore (they were only off stage a minute)
wild honey - drummer john vocal
going to the beach
surfin' usa

Good to hear you had a great time!
Do you feel it was a better show than 2001?


Scott Totten was likely the lead on WDFFIL.

This is interesting.  They're doing it like they did on the C50 shows?  Mike isn't touring with his own screen is he?  Did they use the venue's screens?  If that's the case, what happens when they're performing a venue that doesn't offer screens...do they still have Carl "perform" the song?

Still the Brucester.

This is something that happened early August I believe. Scott Totten said they're working on "Forever" with Dennis as well for those saying he's getting the shaft. On July 20th, Bruce was still on lead...and it was VERY good! NO screen at all...I'd rather it stay that way too.

Personally, I'd rather cherish the memory of C50 with everyone there and the recordings going. But I likely won't be seeing a screen at my next two shows either since they are fair/fest type shows.

Oh, and that's Randall Kirsch (the bass player) on lead with that one.

Thanks for the review/setlist, punkinhead.

I'm surprised Bruce hasn't been singing "Disney Girls".