The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey all, new member here, I'm sure this has been covered before so feel free to link me to another thread...

 'The Beach Boys' (Mike, Bruce) are playing my hometown in May, fourty quid a pop. Of those of you who've been, is it worth it? I'm really more of a Brian Wilson fan and not overally flush with cash. I'm torn between saying 'I've seen the Beach Boys live' but don't want to waste my time if it's a bit like a tribute act (which I suspect it might feel like).

 So, is it a good night?

It's a good night.

*Buying a popcorn machine*

It's probably a very good show!  The band's really tight, and infinitely better than a decade or so ago when the then-backing-band got a dodgy rep.  If you're looking for the artistic side of things -- it depends on the venue how many "interesting" deep cuts they do.  Some sets are very meat-and-potatoes, others get more into the obscure side of things.  They've pulled out some surprising tracks in recent years!

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Save your money for the real deal, Brian Wilson. Don't fritter away your money on some tribute band with only one original member who hams up the show with stale jokes and points at sheeple in the audience. :tm :tm

Since you're saying forty quid, I'm assuming you're somewhere in the UK, which means you'll probably get one of the better shows M&B do with longer sets and deeper cuts.

The way I like to put it is; twenty years from now, are you going to regret going to the show, or regret not going to a Beach Boys show?

If you only have funds for one then BW - if you're sure he'll come close enough. But both shows are good nights.

If you go with an open mind then there`s no reason why you wouldn`t enjoy it.

The last couple of tours they have done in the U.K. they have played 50+ songs including numerous rarities.

The band sounds great. You should go check it out, even if it's just once. I've seen the Mike & Bruce show more than ten times and I'm telling you they're better than ever, especially with Jeff Foskett in the group. Is it a tribute band? Yeah I guess so, but it's a tribute band with 2 actual Beach Boys and some great musicians. You will enjoy the music very much and you'll be surrounded by lots of fans having a damn good time! Of course Mike Love will tell his corny jokes (hasn't he always done that?). They play a huge setlist and it's pretty much one song after another...bang bang bang! Check it out.

Well worth it, and they sometimes drop in deeeeeeeeep cuts for the U.K. fans.

As I've said before, you should never take people who use the term "sheeple" seriously.

But honestly, it depends on what your expectations are.  If you're looking for a musically incredible experience that meticulously recreates the sound of the Beach Boys records, you'd be disappointed.  But if you're just looking for a fun time out to see one of the original Beach Boys play some rough but competent versions of the hits with some replacement singers and you just want to sing along, yeah, go for it.

 Caveat: I haven't been to an actual BBs concert for as long as many of the members here have been alive 

Yet I'd venture that many here would disagree with your assessment.
Brian's shows strive to meticulously recreate the musical sound of the Beach Boys on Record; but generally there's ONLY ONE original Beach Boy with some replacement singers on stage.
Mike's  touring group  strives to authentically recreate the same sound that has been made by the touring Beach Boys for as long as they've been a touring group.

So to the original poster, I'd say: If what you want to hear is Brian only, go only to his shows. If  not, try the Beach Boys concert. It sounds as if you'll have a great experience

I'm not saying a Brian solo concert would be an authentic Beach Boys experience either.  But I saw the Beach Boys live only once, on the incredible 2012 tour so I'm just saying if you have expectations to see a concert like that, you would be disappointed.

From all I've heard (reviews, videos, audio recordings) you'll see a very cool show and certainly will have a lot of fun. But unfortunately you come too late to see "The Beach Boys". The last time you could was 2012 and I don't think it will ever happen again. Nowadays you (again) have at least two very good bands playing the songs (Brian&Al - Mike&Bruce, David Marks joining from time to time and I don't know what will happen with Blondie and Ricky in the future) but The Beach Boys is over.
If you got the time and the money I'd say you should definitely check out Mike&Bruce.

Cheers for all your replies guys, it's nice to see a positive general concensus.

 I am certainly going to try and go, it's just persuading the the missus (who likes to BB too, in  a less obsessive way) that £80 + babysitter + merch (gotta consider the merch!) is gonna fly.

 Do people think that BW will hit the North of England on this 'fall tour' then? I would probably consider selling one of my kids for that one  ;D

 

Which gig? I have a ticket for Manchester (and both RAH gigs)…

Alas....Sheffield, if anyone is meeting up for it though, I'd certainly be up for a chin-wag over a pint...

You couldn't really say you've seen the 'Beach Boys' live, but it's well worth seeing Mike and Bruce.  It's different to a Brian show, but I would say there's a degree of authenticity when seeing Mike in that you get an original Beach Boy voice still sounding like it, and it's the lead voice of all those hits.

The UK shows will be great.

I've seen M&B four times and every time I've absolutely loved it, and I'm the kind of person that goes to a gig for the music not just to drink and get rowdy. That said every time I've seen M&B so far has been at a racecourse or festival so I'm super excited to the upcoming theatre venue tour. I'll be at Sheffield too, Rentatris, (and also Manchester and the 2nd RAH date) which I'm the most excited about. Sheffield is my 2nd home city and it'll be the closest to home turf I'll ever have seen the 'Boys.

If it's a UK gig...  well, what I said about setlists?  The UK gets a *lot* more of the deep cuts and generally longer shows.  Put it this way -- after what people who saw Mike & Bruce's last big UK tour have said, I'd go to a gig there like a shot!

Cheers,
Jon Blum

The Touring Beach Boys are great: the original lead singer, with the songs in the original keys. Can't be beat. The songs that made them famous about surfin', cars and girls. Money well spent! (And you can watch Bruce Johnston adjust his microphone alot).

I think you should go.  It's not going to happen for too many more years.  The songs are GREAT.  They're fun to hear live.  If Mike is 'ON' it'll be worth it.  I think you might regret not grabbing the chance to do it while there's still time.  [the clock is ticking]

I'm going to go this summer IF they ever wrap up the deal they agreed to verbally with the Rotary Club here.  It'll be the FIRST time attending a Beach Boys show since Carl died.  W/O him I just didn't really think I could enjoy it.  I've reconsidered...given the 'hour'.

ALL THAT SAID.  Do NOT miss catching Brian live if the music is truly important to you.  It is to BRIAN and it's performed that way. :hat

I'm mostly a Brian guy too and have only ever seen Brian solo when he was really really REALLY on form - the gig after which he said something like he'd go back to Europe tomorrow if he could, or something like that. It was so good I almost don't want to see Brian again, because it was the perfect Brian experience for me and I don't see how it could possibly be topped.

That said, I still want to to see Mike & Bruce. They were integral parts of this music we enjoy so much, Mike in particular. He's still here, he's still very much the Mike Love - I mean when you look at 60's footage of the guy compared to current footage of him, there's no doubt about it, that's THE Mike Love. I want to see his part of the show for what it is first hand. You know what song made me LOVE the Beach Boys? The Warmth Of The Sun. On the Good Morning, Vietnam soundtrack, I believe, which I bought on cassette from a charity shop. Mike wrote those words that made me love this band. That guy's still around? That guy's still performing? f*** yeah, I want to see him!

Even if you saw the reunion tour (you mmphfffbbmphff lucky mphhrffeers) you can only ever see pieces of the Beach Boys now. The Beach Boys without Carl or Dennis, to me isn't the Beach Boys no matter how you bill it. That there are these iterations and parts floating around putting on great shows, 50 years later is a miracle. If you have the money, do yourself a favour and experience all of the living parts of this most beautiful of bands that you can. Set your prejudices aside and hear the music.

Do you have money for a ticket? Ok, imagine you read in the paper next week 'Mike Love, founding Beach Boys member dead' and you didn't go. Would you be kicking yourself for the rest of your life? Well, I hate to be morbid, but if the answers are yes and yes, don't cheat yourself out of the experience.

If it were a choice between Brian and M&B, go see Brian, but I'm guessing it's not, so go. First time I saw them I was expecting the worst - I had a freebie and don't think I would've gone if I'd had to pay. They were great. Mike's singing was nowhere near as nasal and whiny as it was through the 80s and 90s - at least not until the medley. The opening numbers were performed with a punk-like intensity and, presumably because Brian had upped the game at the time, they played a few deeper cuts. The next time they came, I willingly paid and they were even better - and they had David Marks with them. You'll regret it if you miss them.

Pretty much this. If you like to hear good musicians put on a solid show, you won't be disappointed seeing Mike Love's band. Especially if  you're a fan of the hit songs of The Beach Boys.



If the lack of Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, or Dennis Wilson is going to put a damper on the amount of enjoyment you would get from living these more than adequate renditions of songs you like, may as well pass, and spend your evening alone at home listening to one of The Beach Boys' recorded albums of live musical offerings....


If money's not an issue, just go. It's only a matter of time before nobody at all will be able to see the REAL members of The Beach Boys performing live in concert. Personally, I'd take any Brian, Mike, Al, Dave, & Bruce shows I could afford.

Based on the replies on here making some really good points and recommendations I've just ordered 2 tickets for Sheffield's Beach Boys gig.
I called in a birthday present I hadn't had yet.
Can't wait! 

Awesome! Hope you have a blast! I'm going to see them in April in Rhode Island.

Must disagree. The last time anyone saw "The Beach Boys" perform was the summer of 1997.  Every version since has been lacking, though the 2012 tour came closer than any other.

And to the OP:  Since my knowledge on the value of a quid – much less "fourty" of them – is nonexistent, I can be of no help to you.

Apples/Oranges; Was Dennis in attendance the summer of 1997?

No, and I missed Dennis as much as anyone following his death in '83.  But the Boys were still the Boys as long as Carl's voice, guitar and presence were part of the mix.  When Carl died, sadly the band died too.  There's really no disputing that fact.

It's easy to dispute as it's not a fact;
They could be the BBs with any individual member(s) MIA so long as it was still possible for them to appear; W/O any possibilty of a Dennis appearance they weren't " The Beach Boys".

Looks like Mr Marks will be joining the UK tour

Yep and he just posted on his Facebook page:

`Band politics can bite me. It’s all about the music and I just want to play Beach Boys music on stage as often as I can because it’s what I love to do. I love Brian, Mike and Al and negative comments about any of my friends or bandmates will be deleted. Keep your negativity off my page, please.`

Most excellent !

Seriously, these guys fight less amongst themselves, than we do about them. I think we should all do as Dave is doing and take the high road.

Pity they're not coming to Scotland  ???

Must disagree. The last time anyone saw "The Beach Boys" perform outside a recording studio was some time in 1965 when Brian rejoined the group for a few occasional gigs after leaving the touring group in late 1964. The boys were only the Beach Boys as long as Brian's old voice, bass guitar and presence were part of the mix.  When Brian left, sadly the band died.  There's really no disputing that fact. OR IS IT???!? ::)

That's only natural. Their actions provide the impetus for our speculation, discussion and opinions. It's just what fans do.

Touché…I guess.

But the point is: The Beach Boys did die as a band shortly after Carl's death. And – all condescension aside – there really is no disputing that fact.

Really don't know why you seem to think your opinion, and ONLY your opinion is a fact  Sounds bloody bull-headed to me.
Fact is the Beach Boys are still touring, so as a band they haven't died yet, even tho some of us believe they stopped in 1965 / 1983 / 1997 or... 

I've been to numerous shows of both Mike and Brian.   I have tickete to see Mike's Beacboys in Nashville at the Ryman on March 22nd.  first show of his with foskett I will see.   I've enjoyed Mikes band tremendously with Scott and Cowsill.  I'm hoping this will be even better.     sure, if u have limited funds you have to choose.    but I would not rule out having a great nite at a Mike show.

Sorry, bgas; wasn't trying to be bullheaded.  I thought it was a known fact that the touring band broke up after Carl's death.  But I do agree with your argument that a band known as the Beach Boys exists today.  And I'm glad that Mike and Bruce are keeping the band's music alive.

Darn caps. :-[ Fixed it now in the original post.

The classic lineup died with Carl, if not Dennis. I think though, that as long as there is some direct lineage to the original band there will always be a Beach Boys touring group. I have to admit I often wonder if Mike and Bruce or BRI have discussed plans for the 'name' in the event that they pass on or are no longer able to perform. Of course this would be too morbid a subject to ask them about directly, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wondered.

the music will outlive the creators.     foster, Gershwin, Carmichael, Wilson

Well, Mike is going to live to be 100, so that "passing of the baton" is a ways off. But when Dr. Love does finally take that trip to the other side, the Beach Boys name will revert to Brian - because Brian is going to outlive all of them.