The Smiley Smile Message Board

Source of the announcement and the dates: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMikeLove/photos/a.249407895138059.60323.125419450870238/1343598602385644/?type=3&theater

EDIT:
Oops, had no idea it was already reported the new tour was Wild Honey in the Mike Love upcoming interview question thread! i figured i must have missed out on something, delete if necessary.

Nah, this can stay. Other thread is about Mike getting interviewed by his gopher/lackey.

I will say this...I wish Brian was doing a Wild Honey tour.

Every tour is "wild honey" with Blondie! ;)

True, but I wanna hear Brian bust out with "Aren't You Glad"

True that. :bw

I'm not very much followin the Beach Boys discussions here so this was news to me. Thanks! As I mentioned a lot of times, Wild Honey is probably my favorite Beach Boys album. To me it resembles what the Beach Boys would've sounded like if they were on Sun Records, produced by Sam Phillips. It certainly has some weak spots here and there. But all in all it is a lot of fun and rocking.

Another thing I try to imagine now and then is what it would've sounded like if they had recorded it at a "real" studio and doubletracked their voices like they used to do. I think "The girl from New York City" could be a hint for that.


EDIT:

And yes, although he wasn't on the original album, Blondie is the Beach Boy to sing Wild Honey nowadays. That's unfortunate for Mike's group. As I stated before, as much as I love Cowsill's drumming, his singing especially on "Wild honey" never did it for me. But I only heard youtube videos, so it might sound better in a live setting

EDIT 2:

Interesting to note that both - Mike and Brian - seem to be eager to perform complete Beach Boys albums live but can't get together for it.

Is he performing the whole album?

Everybody should get ready for the summer of WH.
MAJOR stuff coming soon that will not disappoint.

Best case scenario, guys.
Get psyched.

Thanks for this Howie...WH is in my top 5 favorite albums.

Color me excited!

-Billy

That's how I understood it. But you're right; it isn't mentioned. I just thought why call it the Wild Honey tour for just three or four songs from the album? Well, let's wait and see.




Thanks for that! I look forward to the news

Thanks for chiming in Howie.  Your teaser post has me drooling.  Wild Honey has always been a big fave in my house!

My guess would have been that it's more of a marketing angle, and they'll do a large hunk of the album.

I could actually envision them doing WH in full for one of those lengthy UK shows where they do 55+ songs. WH is only 11 songs, has three songs *under* two minutes in length and no songs over 2:40.

But I would tend to doubt that we'll see Mike doing the full WH album at every 2017 show worldwide from here on out. And frankly, I'm not sure how interesting it would be to see the backing guys sing "How She Boogalooed It."

So I'm taking Howie's post to mean we are *hopefully* getting some kinda deluxe Wild Honey set this year?! If so, that would be frickin' amazing! First, just getting it back on shelves would be great, hopefully with the original mono mix and the entire album in as close to full stereo as possible. Secondly, getting bonus material as well like "Can't Wait Too Long" (either the five minute plus edit from the Smiley Smile/Wild Honey 2fer or a new edit or will be fine), "Lonely Days" and maybe Dennis' mysterious "Tune #L" along with  the covers of "The Letter", "Game of Love", and  the "corrected" version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" would be great as well, especially to have it all bundled in one place rather than spread over a few different releases. Also, weren't there a few attempts Brian's solo "Surf's Up" from the Wild Honey sessions? Maybe we could hear the session tape if there is one? Just a thought.

Regardless, now my hopes are sky high! Maybe I'm way ahead of myself, but I guess we will find out.

That's great news for this major WH fan, Howie!

:woot :happydance

The first thing I think about is that on that album Mike has like, 1.5 leads- in my opinion no way he does an entire album where only one of the songs are his.

Yet it's the last hurrah as an album mostly written by Brian and Mike, so it makes sense he'd be more wanting to promote his contributions. I am thinking Let the Wind Blow, Aren't You Glad, and A Thing or Two will, at minimum, might be played, with Mike on lead or partial lead.

Let the Wind Blow is ridiculously neglected by the band.

If I'd Love Just Once to See You is played, I'll eat my shorts.

Oh wow, i'm more than glad my thread could be as helpful and open to bring even more exclusive news! somehow i knew about the interview coming but either i totally missed on the news of a Wild Honey tour or it just happened in there??? i know Mike Love posted a teaser, like how Europe and especially England has been a special audience to the Beach Boys (true that! Pet Sounds and the following records sold amazingly well there overtime) and that the next tour would be special...

Now with this, titled as the Wild Honey Tour to be exact, it seems to be a celebration, the same as it is for Pet Sounds, so i'd be pretty sure it's gonna be played live, if not, it's a bit of a ripoff haha! plus the album has some good known tracks here and there, including a Stevie Wonder cover for the less familliar audience!

That is a cool move, even tho it is obviously only motivated by Brian's camp move with the Pet Sounds tour and how well it is doing, so in a way, no surprises there, it's more about business.

However mikeddonn has a very solid point, but the previous selected titles in these examples are popular names to beach culture and of course the Beach Boys heritage, something with Fun, Fun, Fun or Good Vibrations naturally won't apply they'll play these songs on repeat the whole show haha, neither does Summer Days, as much as an album picks on those words, these are just gimmick things for Mike Love! but Wild Honey? what's the commercial on that? for a tour name? also look at Mike Love's post the album cover it put into the announcement, so clearly it's about the album, let alone the fact this comes at the anniversary of the record too, so it seems pretty obvious by now.

Let alone with Howie's info dropped here, which implies it would promote a new physical release regarding the album, perhaps a deluxe ??? boxset ??? if anything, a true stereo remix is my strongest bet as it has been mentioned by Alan Boyd himself at that Beach Boys conference in England.

Maybe it will come in the same shape of the recent remasters editions ???



Regarding Blondie i agree that he is the best case to represent the album now, he got a very soulfull voice, it doesn't work for every songs, he has the DNA of Wild Honey, to which i agree, a record would have been even more perfected on Sun Records.

Much love everyone!

On an unrelated note, checking bits of this full Mike Love show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2isP5a03BK8

Bruce is terrible on You're So Good To Me, and the whole massive introduction to Be True To Your School is a true embarassement .... just straight out total white trash ... Mike sounds flatter than ever, my hope for any decent and tasteful Wild Honey album performances has been shut down..

I would imagine his Wild Honey tour will be like his Pet Sounds tour. A few extra selections from the album.  They already do Darlin so throw in Wild Honey and Aren't You Glad for sure. Maybe Country Air.  One of the following  I was Made to Love Her, How She Boogalooed it, or Here Comes the Night and bam that's your Wild Honey tour.

Agreed that Bruce is absolutely abysmal on YSGTM. It's an odd choice to have him sing . It requires a strong voice which Bruce has never had. There are many other better choices for Bruce to sing.  The best YSGTM singer ever in the BB  blowing the rest out of the water doesn't sing it currently, but he's short, blonde, and often wears a white suit.

If they do How She Boogalooed it, that would be a treat, a special and underrated song, i believe the first original band composition without Brian, and one Noel Gallagher even loves (and he ain't a Beach Boys fan by any means) (i think he knows of Wild Honey because he is best friends with Paul Weller from The Jam who himself is a huge Beach Boys fan, and as any typical english from back in the day who enjoyed him, he didn't stop at Pet Sounds and followed what came after, he gives love to Friends too! sorry, totally sidetracking)

Hahaha i think i know who ;) YSGTM is such a great song, it's a shame truely, i guess they handed it over Bruce cause he has a high pitch ..? but man, his voice is out !!! there is no conviction at all in it, he sounds like he's about to go in a coma.

Yeah, myKe's been flat out flat for years with it resembling pure flatulence than anything remotely akin to singing. Br00th is absolutely useless and both of these losers should do everyone a favor and get out of the business ASAP before there's no legacy left at all.

Interesting - got the link to back it?

Should quit singing cold turkey.

Bruce has a fine voice when it is used properly, and that is rarely on a lead vocal.

You're So Good To Me is a horrible choice for him. I've heard him sing it twice and he sings it so breathy and weak, like a plea for help. The song needs power and dominance behind it.

Mike mentioned "Country Air" in his book, right? It'd be cool of them to dig that one out, mellotron roosters and all  ;D

Again, the "Pet Sounds anniversary" thing that happened in Mike & Bruce camp, it wasn't a tour based on it or named after it, right? so it's only natural you couldn't expect more from it, but here? "Wild Honey Tour"? i mean that's black on white!


Just forgive his very sarcastic english humour when you read it  ;D
http://www.aux.tv/2016/06/noel-gallagher-defends-wings-calls-beach-boys-most-overrated-band-ever/

He's a biased Beatles fan heh but i thought it was interesting he mentioned that one specifically out of the hits.

Love how they go from GV, WIBN and SOS to How She Boogalooed It.

The interviewer then offers up the grand piece that is Kokomo. I can easily mention 50 songs which beat HSBI and Kokomo, right off the bat.

I'd like to know how a supposed Beatle fan  does NOT own anymore Wings albums than just "Band on The Run"...but knows "How She Boogaloed It"???

Doesn't come close to Brian's original lead on the studio version imo

Isn't it interesting? SOS is def something Noel would pick on, the more bluesish (kinda???) vibe of it, 70s touch, i guess he must have heard of it from the movie The Departed by Martin Scorsese, perhaps?? oh hell, maybe he just really gave Holland a shot, i do know the Beach Boys were still big there and he's from that generation, i tink that single did well over there?


Hahahaha, right? and i know Noel by heart, that -really- took me by surprise, the only reason behind it is that Paul Weller must have mentioned to him, i can only imagne they were having a tea around Pet Sounds, and Paul understanding Noel wasn't getting into it threw that soul vibe to show him what they got, especially since that one has an organ solo kinda like The Doors, you know??? so yeah i can see how that's more into Noel's stuff

Again like i said, Paul Weller is a huge Beach Boys fanatic and they're best friends.


Yeah, actually one of my fav early Brian performance, very energetic! come to think of it, has Carl ever sang it? can't recall at the top of my head (don't be so hard on me, they have such a long touring career and switched singers and leaders for different versions...) he would nail it!

As long as he does I'd Love Just Once To See You with him singing alone, and him & Bruce solo do You're Welcome. 
Aren't You Glad is one of my favourite BB songs & he sung the verses well.  Apart from that I've got no interest  in seeing him him attempt to vocally mount any other song off this beloved album like some aged prize bull...
I'll go if Bruce rocks his bowler hat & Sgt Peppers moustache combo off the back cover. Is it easy to get a Nike bowler hat or one with 'Trump 2016' on it?

 :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

I'd love You're Welcome or a bit of Can't Wait Too Long too!

Another possibility is that he'd encountered one of those odd compilations that included it for some reason?  Like, er, Sunshine Dream (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Dream (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Dream)) or something.  (Actually a really solid compilation, that, HSBI notwithstanding.)

Cheers Ziggy. I can't help feeling this is an appeasement to the Brianistas and/or the specialist album tour.
That said, if Mike 'n Bruce do a Beach Boys Love You tour, I'll buy front row tickets.

Cool, thanks. Noel's Paul to Liam's John, maybe?

That's crazy! that seems like an very unlikely scenario tho, even more so if it's an US release! Paul Weller seems a safe case for me, here for example in a must-have albums list he brings up Friends:
http://ew.com/article/2005/09/30/paul-weller-lists-12-must-have-cds/

Another great talented dude with amazing taste!


Oooh, not bad not bad!


Indeed, that's a very good point!

Hahahahaha a Love You tour by Mike and his girlfriend would be the biggest yet wildest move!

"Wild Honey" -- Wilson/Love's finest hour.

I sure hope Mike does the WIld Honey album or atleast more WH songs  in his American tour starting now and through out the whole year! Would love to see and hear that!

Yeah, Cowsill could sing those Carl leads pretty well. And let's hope Brian tours Smiley Smile when the PS tour is over. I want to see them put an empty swimming pool in front of the stage so Brian and his bandmates can get down there and replicate the vocals from "Wind Chimes".

Amen to that!

There was actually a kind of funny and awkward episode on this board several years back when someone posted a video of Cowsill singing "Heroes and Villains", and somebody else noted it was pretty painful, and then Cowsill came on and posted and was actually pretty self-deprecating and honest about being open to the criticism.

Normally I'd say he probably couldn't necessarily handle some of those Carl leads (I don't think anybody in Mike's band could do Carl's take on "I Was Made to Love Her" in the same key), but at the risk of being kind of pessimistic about the whole thing, if Mike does an album in concert where the backing guys are doing the majority of the leads, I kinda wouldn't care who's singing them. If I weren't turned off by Mike's attitude and demeanor to the point of not wanting to go to his shows anyway, I'd point out that if I were going to his shows, I'd rather hear Mike sing "All I Wanna Do" or "Big Sur" than hear Totten or Foskett singing "Here Comes the Night" or something.

Bruce said today that they're learning Aren't You Glad. Great news!

Ha! Few posters said they couldn't stand his vocals. Cowsill agreed saying he sang like Kermit the Frog! Then me or smb. else added he's right, terrible voice. He was completely OK with it! Now *that's* "professional musician". He gained respect after that. :3d

Now if we could only get him to admit that while John Stamos is undoubtedly a cool guy to hang out with, he's an amateur musician and a blight on the band's legacy and the quality of live shows, then I'd have even more respect!

But I agree with what someone mentioned back when Foskett jumped ship to Mike's band; Brian should have simultaneously been trying to lure Totten and Cowsill into *his* band!

Well there you go! StamoHs is an amateur musician and a blight on the band's legacy. No wonder myKe luHv wants him on stage to help him tarnish the legacy. Two peas in a pod  ::)

HJ, I guess you are thinking about the same Stamos fiasco I'm thinking about...  ::)

As corny as it is to have a Full(er) House actor in the lineup, I don't really mind Stamos too much. Mainly because I suppose I haven't heard him tarnish a live recording by standing out in an amateur way - although I haven't really listened to much live stuff during the Stamos era.

On one hand, because he's a BBs superfan, it's kinda cool that someone like that gets a chance to be a part of his favorite band. And since he seems like a genuinely nice dude, I can't really hate on his presence *too* much.  But yeah, ultimately if one thinks about it a little deeper, it becomes somewhat of a ridiculous joke, because it's no big secret that he's likely primarily there with a specific intent to attract a certain demographic of the audience.

What would be amazing is if Brian added Dave Coulier, Bob Saget, Mary Kate Olsen (and her much taller and older husband), and Andrea Barber to a string of BW shows, just to outdo the Stamos factor on the M&B side.

M&B use Stamos to get the chicks backstage.... ::)

Plus use AGD as the bouncer/ butler.

The only thing KokoDoe can bounce is his blubber.  ::)

I'm surprised Mike hasn't added Mary-Kate or Ashley to the show just so he could hit on them. "Hey Little Tomboy", indeed!

Or should I say Wilson/Love's finest 23 minutes and 58 seconds!

Plus being a blubbering idiot doing M&B's bidding.

Uh yeah, they're 30 years old

Am I right in saying that Brian has hardly ever sung this live? He did at the Kenwood House concert in 2008. My one and only BW concert and he sang "ILJOTSY". ::)

Strange to find oneself bellowing "IN THE NUDE!!!!" along with a bunch of complete strangers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CSVt6prH9g

That video is great! :lol

(https://s23.postimg.org/yp8hb6biz/IMG_0625.jpg)

For this dinner cruise costing € 125 a skull, "we shall transform the James Cook with Californian surf ambiences, present Beach Boys performances on big screens and serve tropical cocktails. There'll also be a buffet with desserts and appropriate music". Top-notch concert seats included in the price. (I bought standard tickets long ago.)  

100 dates announced.

http://www.noise11.com/news/the-beach-boys-add-100-more-dates-for-2017-20170514

I will be on the 24 Juny concert on Fuengirola. I´m Nervous :hat :hat :hat :hat :hat :hat :hat

In addition to the Wild Honey tracks they'll likely add i really hope they try some other "deeper cuts" i'm sure the Royal Albert shows will have a few but how about leaving some of those gems in the set for the U.S. fans?

Couldnt agree more! us US fans want to hear deeper cuts too!

Wow, I wasn't aware it's THAT short. Super cool album.

I'm really excited to see what makes the cut and what doesn't. This is a big chance for Mike and Bruce to show they're still aware of the back catalog. Of course, then we have to get these proposed "deep cuts" back to the states...

Syracuse (my hometown) is being treated to Mike & Bruce in August; then Brian, Al & Blondie in October. Wild Honey tour, Pet Sounds tour.

Yes, yes life is good indeed  ;D

Haven't read the whole thread, but they did Aren't You Glad and Lady Lynda (sung by Brian E) at Royal Albert Hall.

so the "Wild Honey Tour" only has 3 songs from the album?  ::)

Decent setlist otherwise but surely at least 5 or 6 form Wild Honey should be played....songs are short.

seriously.
save Lady Lynda for the big Light Album tour in a few years. or better yet... keep your grubby mitts off Al's song, M&B.

For some reason, all of a sudden Mike seems okay doing Al's songs. He did "California Saga" for the first time *ever* without Al a few months back, and now "Lady Lynda"? It's just weird, especially in the case of the latter having one of the backing guys sing a love song about Al's ex-wife. It just feels a little more like weird expensive karaoke. It would be kind of like Al doing "Looking Back With Love" in concert, and having like Tom Jacobs sing it or something.

I get it, Mike's just treating these songs as "Beach Boys" back catalog songs. One would hope Mike all of a sudden doing Al's songs means some sort of admiration from Mike towards Al rather than, say, passive-aggressive antagonism. But doing his songs really isn't statistically/logistically weird. But viscerally it's just odd, and certainly Mike has tended especially over the last 20 years to have a rather weird, antagonistic and dismissive attitude about Al, so that's probably part of what makes it weird. But yeah, I'm kinda viscerally with Bossaroo on this one. Leave Al's songs alone. He has so few that he wrote without input from anyone else in the group.

This *does* highlight how Brian's tour should give Al a few more slots (and/or Al should finally do some deep-cut solo gigs). Mike's band seemingly does more Al songs than Al does himself in Brian's show.

Hey Jude, it doesn't seem weird to me. As a fan its great to hear any Beach boy deep cut. And Mike is performing a song he originally sang on. It's definitely not the same as Al doing Looking back with love, It's more like Al singing Kokomo or Do it again  which he use to on his tours. Let's not forget Lady Lynda was written with Ron Altbach and is derived from a Bach composition. 

Jude, don't forget Mike randomly taking "Rhonda" away from Cowsii and singing yet another "hit". Poor Al....

Agree with Mr. Jude. Did they introduce it as "Al Jardine song"? They should tell everybody to know.

I thought they always played Lady Lynda in the UK as it was a hit in England.

Nope. They've usually (but not always) worked "Then I Kissed Her" and/or "Cottonfields" into UK/Europe shows/tours, both pre and post-Carl/Al.

But with "Lady Lynda", it was dropped during the 1982 tour (last played in the UK in 1980) after being in the setlist relatively regularly between about 1977/78 and 1982, resurfaced briefly as "Lady Liberty" at a few shows in 1986, and then was done one more time on one UK tour in 1993 as "Little Lady" (with Lynda's name scrubbed).

I don't believe any band touring under the BB name has done the song since that 1993 UK tour, and it hasn't been done under its original title since 1982, and since 1980 in the UK.

Al has never done it live post-1993 (although he reportedly planned to perform it in the early 2000s at his canceled performance at the Pop Overthrow Festival; which title he would have used is anybody's guess), and, setting aside the C50 reunion, I don't think Al has done a non-Brian gig in the UK since whenever his last BB tour was in the UK (1993?). So he's never had  a chance to do it solo in the UK, which is the region where he would most likely consider adding it.

Brian did blurt out a few lines of "Lady Lynda" during a soundcheck in 2000; a random story burned into my mind recounted by a fan.

I figured someone might bring up Al doing Mike-centric songs at his shows. As I specifically said, in terms of statistics/logistics, Mike doing any "Beach Boys" song is just that, doing a Beach Boys song. But Al doing "Kokomo" (which as far as I can tell he has *never* particularly enjoyed playing at his solo gigs and seemingly only does it when he does the short, "meat and potatoes" gigs where the big hits are expected and nothing more) just isn't the same in that Mike has historically, in the last 20 years, often had a rather standoffish attitude towards Al. Through most of the first decade of the 2000s, Mike seemed to go *out of his way* to not even mention Al's name as much as possible. I remember reading Mike interviews during that decade, and it was so surreal after the guys had been together for 37 years, all of a sudden it was like surprising to even see or hear Mike *say* Al's name.

But again, I think it's more just a visceral thing that seems odd in terms of Mike doing a song Al wrote without any of the other BBs. Indeed, it's not just random happenstance that *2017* is the first time Mike is doing it. If Chris Farmer had pitched "Lady Lynda" to Mike in 2004 or something, I'm not so sure Mike would have gone for it. The "ten thumbs up to everything!" fans who think having two or three splintered touring groups just means "more chances to hear great music!" are probably indeed not going to pick up on why Mike doing an Al song is just a little odd.

Mike doing "Lady Lynda" is a bit like when he popped up doing "Surf's Up" in the UK a couple years ago. Both songs are songs very strongly identified in one way or another with something and/or someone that Mike has been antagonistic towards in the past, and in both cases he also had band members poached from Brian's band singing them.

I think from the fan perspective you either immediately "get" why that's viscerally and contextually off and why it leaves a bad taste in one's mouth (and different from Mike having his guys sing "I Can Hear Music" or "Darlin'" or whatever), or you don't get it and it's all good and five different Beach Boys doing 100 different songs in five different bands is cool.

Another thing that is weird about it: post-Lynda breakup, Al clearly has had some issues with the song being sung with its original lyric, which must obviously be due to some difficult feelings about singing specifically about an ex (and her name, specifically). So even though the song was somewhat of a hit, and somewhat beloved to the point that the band continued playing it occasionally, it was surely Al who made the decision to change the name and lyric to something he felt more comfortable that the song would be presented as. Al's prerogative, which again, must have been based on some difficult feelings.

It seems kinda odd for that one particular song to be sung by the touring band again, under its original name, without the input of Al. I don't think Mike called Al on the phone to ask if it was ok. It would be like if Mike, on a current tour, sang Til I Die with the "happy" lyrics he tried to force on the song in 1971 - a very specific song that has deep emotional ties to one other member, and the lyrics of which were of a touchy, personal nature, where only the other (non-Mike) member should be making those types of calls about the song's presentation.  I know some people may say that Brian changing the lyrics of Good Vibrations on BWPS is somehow equivalent to this, but really it isn't. Those weren't deeply personal lyrics where Mike mentioned an ex-spouse by name, and Brian decided to bring them back.

I'll put it this way: if it were pre-1998, while Al was still in the band, I don't think he'd be cool for the song to be played with the original lyric being sung simply if another band member jumped in for that one lyric to squeeze in the "Lynda" part. I don't really see how this is much different, even though he's not in the band anymore (and of course, that wasn't his choice either!)

All that said, I can't say I'm unhappy that deeper cuts are being played by any touring faction. This one just seems weird and particularly uncool, considering Al's sacking.

I can imagine how Mike would feel if the apparently very personal Pisces Brother was performed by Brian's band. But yeah, that would not happen ever.

Ironically, I could just as easily see Mike getting a big ego pump if Brian did one of *his* songs.

But Mike doing an Al song, etc. underlines one of the key aspects of Brian's shows over the years that isn't often underlined. As much as we like to think of Brian's show as basically Brian's version of a BB tour (especially post-C50, and especially with Al in the band), it's different in a key way to Mike's. Mike does (mostly) material recorded by the Beach Boys over the years. He does the covers, he does songs Brian wrote without his input, and now he's even doing Al songs. Whereas, Brian's show is a showcase of Brian Wilson compositions. With a few exceptions, he does almost all songs he wrote or co-wrote. He doesn't do BB hits he didn't have a hand in, doesn't do too many of the covers the BB had hits with, and only rarely does BB material written by others (a Carl or Dennis song here and there, Al's Cal Saga, and even most of the songs Al does in Brian's show are covers or songs written/co-written by Brian).

So again, I get that Mike sees his band as just a continuation of *The* Beach Boys, and therefore he might tackle an Al song the same way he'd tackle a Dennis song or Carl song. But I think in particular that doing key Brian or Al songs these days is also off-putting to some in light of Mike rejecting Brian and Al after the C50 tour. He's doing "Lady Lynda" without Al because *he* (Mike) didn't want to keep touring as the BBs with Al and Brian, etc.

Well here's video of it....

https://youtu.be/1fQ---GodHU

Really weird, and rather bland sounding. Pick something else, guys. I'd respect picking even "Sumahama" more.

I agree, I love Ike's voice but this one it's just not happening.

Bland is right on the money...and yes, it does seem like Mike is passive aggressively undermining Mike via his setlist all of a sudden considering he never touched any of his original compositions onstage prior to...well, this year really! He also always makes a point to mention him before "All This is That" (perhaps to pass off the blame if people are bored with it). I bet there was no mention of Alan prior to "California Saga" a few months back or "Lady Lynda" last night.

I'm also a little disappointed there isn't more from "Wild Honey". I was expecting "Aren't You Glad" and I am indeed glad it made the cut! I hope it sticks!! But really? They couldn't even try one more? "Let The Wind Blow" would've been perfect at this concert.

From my last chat with Mike regarding shifting setlists for different regions. . .

"Like, for instance, 'Cottonfields,' which Al Jardine came up with and sang the lead on, went to Number One in a lot of European countries, which is an amazing thing in itself. 'Then I Kissed Her' was released after 'Good Vibrations' (in England) because we took a little bit of time before we released 'Heroes And Villains' and so, 'Then I Kissed Her' became a hit. So, there are some songs that other fans in other parts of the world do relate to -- and so, we like to honor that. If something was a hit specifically in Great Britain, or in Germany, or somewhere, we'll do that when we're over there."

Al Jardine is my favorite living Beach Boy. That said, I really doubt that Mike added this to the setlist with any malintent. He and Scott  (and probably others) enjoy doing the deep tracks and take any opportunity they can to do so. I believe Mike genuinely likes the song (I do too!) And that he just wanted to give the UK fans a treat. Nothing more, nothing less. Actually, it may even be seen as a tribute to Al, as it's announced as by being written by Al, right before introducing the Dennis tribute.

As for the performance, I think it's great! Ike channels latter day Al pretty well on some of those lines, and the background vocals emulate the studio version (rather than the Knebworth version) well.

By the way, there is a much better quality video of the second night's performance of Lady Lynda floating around Facebook.

Very good points IMO. I also agree with Billy's remark: "I will say this...I wish Brian was doing a Wild Honey tour."

Or Al could do some Mike songs. But I hope doesn't!

Mike seems to like to throw some surprises at the UK audiences, at least over the last two or three years.

Not correct.  Mike did mention that "California Saga" was written by Al Jardine when they played it last March in Monterey (I was there) and he mentioned the same about "Lady Lynda" last night in London (2nd show).

Very well put, Eric. Agree completely.

I don't think there was necessarily any ill intent… But it would come off as a much more sincere gesture if it had been preceded by a statement, perhaps in an interview at some point over the last *nearly 20 years*, where Mike could've expressed that he wishes the BBs could be playing together with Al, or anything to that effect.  Something to show that Mike actually thinks that Al's presence matters a single iota. It's not like he's shy about giving many, many examples of how much his own presence matters for the band, after all. Unless, of course, the only thing that matters is that Al generated a couple of hits for the band which lined Mike's pockets some more.   I don't want to think quite that negatively about it all, but sometimes it's hard not to.

It's kind of weird to do a tribute to someone after practically ignoring their existence or contributions for decades, then go back to ignoring them right after the fact, in terms of Al not being part of the live show.   Yeah, maybe Al is over being bummed out about being effectively sacked from The BBs -  being as he gets to tour with Brian's band -  I recognize that could be the case too.  It doesn't really make the whole thing any less weird though.

In a nutshell, I'm just saying that Mike has a really funny way of showing affection for people, when by all accounts it seems like he has been effectively banning Al from the band Al co-founded for years.  I wish I could shake that negative feeling, but I don't really know how to.  Am I off-base by feeling this way?  I'd love to know how any fan can just look past the stuff entirely without it even slightly rubbing them the wrong way.

No problem, CD. There's always one member in a group that ends up being a turd. The difficult part of that is that Al is such an incredibly better singer and instrumentalist than the so called "lead singer" in the band. This alone was enough to threaten the warped, insecure myKe luHv into shitcanning Al. Funny thing is  now the baldster is surrounded by those who sing better than him as his voice is on the critical list.

Agree, Al is better singer than Mike. In Live In Las Vegas, Al's "Little Deuce Coupe", "Hawaii", "Shut Down" could rival Mike's original leads. :3d

I'm surprised they haven't swapped any songs around. Usually no matter where they are, at least one tune gets switched from night to night.

I'm not knocking it though, it's a lot to keep together with near fifty songs...and on top of that, they've done it now three nights in a row.

I do really hope they have added more Wild Honey deep cuts by the time of the NYC show in August. The 'Wild Honey Tour' concept was at least part of what convinced me to pony up for a ticket as soon as they went on sale. And NYC tix ain't cheap!   :P

I had a dream!  Mr. Love was brought up in front of the church to sing a solo.  The big intro and than his solo.  All I remember was the lady next to me said, What the hell was that!  Good thing he has other members in the group. Than I woke up laughing.....  I've always thought singing was like praying twice, Ole' Love challenges the word.
 

So the Dublin show was awesome tonight.

"Aren't you glad" was really well done, "Wild Honey" was epic, all in all, great show.

Mike looks and sounds great.

Nice!! Same set I presume?

Pretty much.

"Lady lynda" was a strange inclusion.

I'm sure I'd agree...it's weird on paper...and so late in the show too!

Mike has undoubtedly added "Lady Lynda" because it was a hit in the UK. I don't think there's any question of that.

But it's at least mildly interesting that Mike has toured the UK many times since the late 90s and this is the first time he has ever done "Lady Lynda." And as previously mentioned, he did "California Saga" a few months ago for the first time ever without Al on stage.

I don't think anything drastic has happened regarding Mike's relationship with Al one way or the other; I'm guessing it just takes a while for Mike to warm to an idea and probably some suggestion/prompting from other guys in the band (e.g. Totten). Just a couple years ago was the first time Mike's band had done "Surf's Up."

I don't think Mike does a Brian song or now an Al song as a big "F You!" to either or both of those guys. It's just a kind of situational irony and groan-worthy move in light of the history of the band and its politics, especially post-C50.

"Lady Lynda" as a tribute to Al? He's still alive! He's still in great voice, and Mike dumped the guy *twice* in the last 19 years. As with Brian, I think it's also the case with Al that it's easier for Mike to *talk* about these guys and compliment them on *his* terms than it is for Mike to actually *be* with Brian or Al, share the stage with them (and the spotlight, and the money, etc).

Mike doing "Surf's Up" a couple of years ago was even more of a case of being imbued with irony. All of the same stuff as "Lady Lynda" applied, plus Mike has had an infamously tenuous relationship with "Smile" material, and despite Scott Totten saying Mike didn't nix "Surf's Up" from the C50 setlist at the moment Totten had the band run it through in Europe, there are folks who suggest Mike did state at some point during the tour that he didn't want to do "Surf's Up."

And again, in both of these two cases Mike handed the lead vocal over to guys that had been poached (however passively or actively) from Brian's band.

If you think Foskett, well-known to everyone including fellow musical luminaries of Brian as Brian's right hand man, jumping ship from Brian's band to Mike's band 18 months after a relatively acrimonious post-reunion split, and then singing a "Smile" song for Mike's band that Mike has never performed with his own band, all the while having that infamous relationship with "Smile" material, if you think all of that *doesn't* mean anything beyond just Mike's band playing another tune, then you're living in a blissful unawareness that I genuinely (at times) envy.

I'm searching for a closer comparison. I dunno, maybe it would be a little bit like the modern-day, Dennis DeYoung-free "Styx" doing the "Kilroy Was Here" DeYoung stuff in concert without him years after bitching and moaning about having to do the material back in the 80s? Or, I dunno, Lennon doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" in concert in 1972 un-ironically?

I´m sure that they play Still Cruisin on Spain. Now is time to perform Break Away for so many years

Reading reports from Manchester. To all M&B concert goers, stay safe. Shame on those who think targeting children serves any purpose.

Well said, PF. I'll echo that.

Here's Aren't You Glad (and lots more) from May 19th:

https://youtu.be/hhccFpgr6E4?t=2816

Thanks, Rocker. The London set list differs considerably from what I heard last night:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2017/nieuwe-luxor-theater-rotterdam-netherlands-3e77da3.html

No "Lady Lynda", "Let Him Run Wild", "All I Wanna Do", "Wendy", "Please Let Me Wonder", "Kiss Me, Baby",  "Dance, Dance, Dance",  "You Still Believe in Me", "Here Today", "Caroline, No" and "I'm Waiting for the Day".

Instead they did "You're So Good To Me", "Ballad Of Ole' Betsy", "Heroes And Villains" and "Forever" (sung by John S). 

I was most impressed, with most things but particularly "THWFOS".

Stamos acquitted himself really well. Mike looked and sounded fit enough to give it at least another ten years. Randy Leago played some fabulous sax lines and Totten sang (and played) his heart out. To say nothing of John C, who sang lead on "Cotton Fields" and "Wild Honey". All in all, a dandy combo, as FZ would have said.

Glad I went. :=)   

Hey y'all. :-D Gonna give Mike and the Boys a chance with the Berlin concert Thursday night (as I've never seen this incarnation of the band live). :brow
Anyone else gonna be there?

(http://dusseldorf.carpediem.cd/data/afisha/o/e4/0e/e40ebcf599.jpg)

Go to it and enjoy. I saw them the first time in my life. When i watched them in Rotterdam june 5th it just was a dream come true.

They sounded great!

 I saw Brian 3 times but they are not as nearly as good as today BB touring band. If they come again next year i go again.

I'd say there is about a 10% chance I might go. Can't really justify the cost at the moment.

Setting aside the irony of calling other people "haters" while saying "f*ck you" to them, congratulations that your show experience was so exhilarating and enjoyable that your first impulse was to go out and say "f*ck you" to a group of people.

Very few if any folks on this board are indicating hatred for Mike, and I'm pretty darn sure even Mike's biggest detractors don't post here saying "F*ck MIke fans!"

Most detractors of Mike have pointed out that his band/show is tight and professional. I can't fault the musical/vocal ability of his band.

As discussed ad nauseum in the past, there is a context issue to his shows that some fans find difficult to overcome (e.g. multiple living, willing, healthy Beach Boys not being in Mike's show), a context issue that the aftermath of C50 exacerbated. Having backing band guys singing leads that willing, living actual BB's could have been there singing is problematic for some, despite the quality performances those backing members offer.

But again, nobody since the late 90s/early 2000s has offered any scathing criticism for the musical quality of Mike's shows (and even then, even in the earliest post-Carl/Al days of 1998/1999, I don't think Mike's band sounded awful, they just sounded a little tired and rote and at worst usually just unremarkable rather than poor), and I don't think anybody here much begrudges any fan going to Mike's shows.

:lol

Of course I see your point, HJ. But I think part of it is a language thing. Not so long ago an elderly Dutch radio presenter on the "classical" channel said "Fuckin' 'ell!" because he really liked what he was hearing. And just about everyone says sh*t over here. So English swear words are meant less abrasively than they sound to non-Dutch ears. But I agree, a slightly less enthusiastic choice of words would have been more appropriate. ;D     

It's offensive and rude word. Let's not make excuses for it. ::) HeyJude, you're right - I'd bet 90% of BBs fans who don't side with everything Mike says/ does/ sings/ writes give valid reasons for it. RE: Brian's band not good as touring band - sounds fair but it's single fan's opinion. As we see in youtube, the attendance is rife with full seats. Tickets sell thus plenty enjoy Brian & his band.

Having been lucky enough to have seen both bands within the last six weeks (saw Mike's band in London three weeks ago, and Brian's band at the end of April in New Jersey as well as multiple dates last year), I really have to very, very strongly disagree that Brian's band is not nearly as good today as Mike's touring band.  

Brian's band is a well-oiled machine of spectacular musicians.  There's not really much more to say.  It is made of extremely talented musicians, many that play multiple instruments and play them well, that back Brian as the star.  The arrangements are interesting and the band is tight.  In terms of singing, obviously Brian's voice is not in the best shape, but that's sure as hell made up for by Al, whose voice is incredible.  There's just no faulting this band.  

Mike's band is also full of talented musicians.  I will give Mike (and his band) credit for working hard - they played a more-than-three-hour show, which is hard work - but his voice is really not what it used to be.  Nor is Bruce's - you could clearly see this in Disney Girls - while it was a really beautiful rendition, you could hear Bruce straining to hit some of the higher notes.  None of this is surprising considering they're in their seventies.  (Al has somehow escaped this part of getting older.)  I also think Jeffrey Foskett adds a TON to this band - I know a lot of people here dislike him but I have to say that he did an amazing job on Darlin and Caroline No.  Just simple, great singing. Anyway, the band sounds very good, though the acoustics in RAH made it hard to hear at points.  But there was nothing, musically, that would make me say they are a better band than Brian's.  

Clearly, when you're Brian or Mike you can pretty much have your pick of backing musicians.  All the guys in both bands are really, really good at what they do.  But I would argue that the arrangements of the songs in Brian's bands are a little more interesting, they use a wider variety of instruments (at least on this tour that's the case).  To say that they are not nearly as good as Mike's band is a crazy statement, in my view.  

HeyJude...."living and WILLING beach boys" seems to be a bit of an exaggeration. In the year 2017, I think David Marks is the only one willing to step onstage with Mike, and those appearances seem to have diminished too...

I was there as well. Indeed a great concert, and an unforgettable evening, as for me it lasted quite a bit longer than just the concert...

Got me a souvenir :-)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/352p6k6.jpg)

Going to BW in Amsterdam or Utrecht next month as well, Dutchie?



Enjoy the show, Lowbacca. They do a great show !


Btw, here's the setlist from the New Luxor Theater, Rotterdam on June 5th:

First set:
1. Surfin' Safari
2. Catch A Wave
3. Little Honda
4. Do It Again
5. Surfin' U.S.A.
6. Surfer Girl
7. Getcha Back (with new/additional lyrics)
8. Good To My Baby
9. You're So Good To Me
(Kiss Me Baby - was on the setlist, but was accidentally skipped)
10. Aren't You Glad
11. Darlin'
12. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
13. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
14. Cottonfields
15. The Ballad Of Ole Betsy
16. Don't Worry Baby
17. Little Deuce Coupe
18. 409
19. Shut Down
20. I Get Around

Second set:
21. California Dreamin'
22. California Girls
23. Then I Kissed Her
24. Sloop John B.
25. Wouldn't It Be Nice
26. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
27. Disney Girls (1957)
28. I Can Hear Music
29. Warmth Of The Sun
30. Forever (John Stamos leadvoc)
31. God Only Knows (w/ Carl's leadvocal from Knebworth 1980)
32. Pisces Brothers
33. Summer In Paradise
34. Heroes And Villains
35. Do You Wanna Dance? (w/ Dennis's original leadvocal)
36. Rock 'N' Roll Music
37. Help Me Rhonda
38. Kokomo
39. Good Vibrations

Encore:
40. Wild Honey
41. Barbara Ann
42. Fun Fun Fun

Thats a nice one SmileHolland ! No i dont go to Brian Wilson. I think about the Smile concert when Brian was in great shape in 2005 in Amsterdam. I wanna keep those memories. I wish you a good concert SmileHoland.  :-D

For the other readers. I apologise that my F word come out wrong. I visit a lot of other forums and youtube and get tired of all the hate Mike Love gets there. Normaly i dont use that word. Maybe i shouldnt posted it that soon after the concert of the Beach Boys. I still think about that concert. I hope they come again next year.

Fot those who attend a Brian Wilson live concert..enjoy it  :)

Lets all enjoy the music from all of them. Thats what counts.

Just curious. During the concert I heard someone talking about that song, right behind me. Any chance you were seated on the 1st balcony left as well?

Nope. I was in the stalls at the right (row 19). Only time I opened my mouth was to croak along to odd songs.

Glad you enjoyed it too. A question about Stamos on guitar: the man clearly oozes enthusiasm but I noticed him strumming all the way through the breaks in several songs! Wasn't he plugged in?! No matter----his drumming amply made up for it... 

I WAS SITTING ROW 14. GREAT VIEW AND SOUND .

I was impressed how John Stamos drummed the intro to dont worry baby. So powerfull.

From my seat I couldn't see.

Aren't You Glad sounds SO GOOD!  :o

Right! I was knocked out by the quality in general. What a trip!

And to think that ten years ago I used to sneer at them as the Tourist Band. What a silly bunt.

John Stamos' singing and guitar playing were completely muted in the PA mix, with the exception of hos lead vocals on 'Forever'.

In my experience, judging from Stamos's work at BB shows from the mid 80s up until very recently, he's still a pretty poor drummer and mediocre guitarist. His singing is fine. Not "Beach Boys", but just fine. If he came on and played bongos and/or sang a song or something, it would have never been that big of a deal. But it's the amateur musicianship and hamming that, in some quarters, are found annoying and problematic.

Obviously, nobody in *Mike's* band seems to have a problem with it.

Much like the BBs probably had no business even in dabbling in "acting" on "Full House", the same is true of Stamos on stage. Just everybody stick to your main profession! Even Stamos admitted in that interview a few years ago that he'd be annoyed if he went to a show and Scott Baio jumped on stage.

*tumbleweed where Filleplage would have posted a rant at heyjude*

It may be more the case that they have to pretend not to have a problem with it.  I'm sure that to high-calibre musicians it must be extremely annoying. 

Especially Cowsii being kicked off drums....

If Cowsill's back and forth with Nelson Bragg a couple years ago is any indication, I don't think Cowsill is the guy to go to if you're looking to hear complaints about Stamos. That isn't to say defending Stamos against a specific allegation that you believe is false is the same thing as "never saying anything negative" about the guy. But I sense the "mood" on stage during C50 when Stamos was on stage was much different than when he joins Mike's tour. In the same vein, you see other on-stage shenanigans that are just more "shtick" that some people dig and some don't.

Are you talking about Nelson Bragg or John Stamos? That statement could be applied to both...

I was talking more about other people in Mike's band; stuff like having people in the audience come on stage and then strapping a guitar to them and then wrapping arms around them and playing the guitar. I don't think Bragg typically does stuff like that and I've never heard fans complain about Bragg's on stage activities.

I also don't think anyone in Brian's band engages in Stamos-style shenanigans, and part of three issue with Stamos is that it's a non-professional musician running around in stage just doing whatever he wants.

I agree, with few exceptions, that Barbara Ann is the most cringy part of any Beach Boys show. I'm sure it is a huge thrill for the handful of people that get to go up, but the thousands in the audience are subjected to poor singing and awkward interactions between the band and the fans.

I know Blondie Chaplin's stage theatrics have often been criticized, but I found his showmanship to be a highlight and completely appropriate as one of the featured guests. Other members of the band get the spotlight in a fully appropriate manner throughout the show (i.e. Al and Matt Jardine, Probyn, Paul, Darian, Nicky) for vocal and solo prowess.

However, I always cringe when Nelson takes his tambourine/cowbell "solo" on "Fun, Fun, Fun" and runs around on the stage like an idiot. It adds nothing to the performance of the song other than a "look at me" moment for, the aptly-named, Mr. Bragg.

All very reasoned points. When it comes specifically to Stamos versus most anyone else, I would say it's a question of legitimacy in being on stage. Bragg is a professional musician, as is Chaplin. So if they do goofy stuff or eccentric stuff, it's within the context of having a legitimate place on stage. That's the difference with Stamos. He's an amateur. In the literal sense. He isn't a musician as his primary profession, and his skills on display are lacking. And while the "shtick" as it were on the part of Bragg is confined to maybe a song or two if that usually, Stamos has often pranced around on stage for song after song, goofed off on the drums and dragged the band down musically. Maybe the other guys in the band hear it and know it, but are polite and like Stamos. Maybe some of the guys dig that Stamos is a "chick magnet" and don't care if biffs his performance on the drums. I dunno.

As for the rest of Mike's band, they are professional and are good musicians and singers. I do think there's something different (and sometimes kind of skeevy) about sandwiching a woman between you and the guitar while playing it, as opposed to Nelson Bragg running around on stage with a tambourine. He shows at other points in the show (e.g. "Pet Sounds") that he's a pro percussionist.

Blondie is a whole other ball of wax. Most importantly, he's only on stage usually for his three songs. I would also argue his eccentricities aren't the same thing as Stamos's showboating. Also, again, Chaplin is a pro musician and singer, not to mention he was an actual Beach Boy. I've seen him do his thing at numerous Brian shows now, and at worst it's kind of funny and goofy and the absolute worst, most damning thing I could ever say about it is that I wonder if he might be bored doing the same three songs night after night, and two of the same songs now for probably 150-200 shows over the course of 2-3 years.

I will say, I don't really mind these guys being a ham on stage as long as the bandleader (BW in this case) is okay with it. However, I did think Scott Bennett piano surfing back in the day was kinda cheesy.


I can't exactly remember but was there some beef between Cowsill and Bragg?

Regarding Bragg and Cowsill, this thread details some of it:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,17981.0.html

In all fairness, I don't think all the comments/posts from all parties are still able to be seen, so I don't know how complete of a story that thread tells. I think Bragg's initial comments about Stamos are there, but Cowsill's comments about Bragg aren't and are only referenced (starting about at page 3). Bragg said something about Stamos, then Cowsill said something about Bragg (I think), and then everybody kind of apologized and fans like myself came to the conclusion that the weird conspiracy theory stuff about Stamos only served to obscure the *legitimate criticism* against Stamos for his on-stage shtick that night.

As to the point about hams on stage, it's usually not a huge deal. An occasional goofy moment isn't a major thing. With Stamos, it's a bigger deal because of his lack of musical ability coupled with the copious amount of time he spends and things he does on stage.

We all have things now and then that are kind of annoying. I wasn't a fan of Scott Bennett cajoling people to stand at shows in some cases, because it meant arbitrarily at a certain point in the show *everybody* had to stand for the entire remaining portion of the show. To me, it was like Bennett convincing the kid behind me to start kicking my seat or something; something that annoys me that someone had to go to a specific length to induce.

Most of the shtick in Mike's band is just an outgrowth, a slightly more tame version of the three ring circus stuff he's loved for the touring band for decades, going back to Mr. T drumming on stage and doing his tired "Be True to Your School" routine, etc.

Jude, with stamos it's a "rock and roll fantasy camp" with a paying audience expecting the BBs instead.

I have seen Stamos with the band twice. The first was in 2010, my first Beach Boys concert...it was announced two days before the show and Baltimore was literally buzzing about it. I was 15 and in high school at the time and I remember many friends that knew nothing about the Beach Boys suddenly being excited that I was going to see Uncle Jessie.  :lol  I liked his involvement at the time. The only thing I didn't care for was all the overdone sh*t on Be True To Your School. I was ecstatic when he sang "Good Timing" instead of "Forever", not that I don't like the latter...I just never thought I'd hear the former and to this day, I haven't heard it since.

The second time was in Lancaster in 2014 and he was the reason I went...well, he was the way I talked my girlfriend into going.  :lol  She really wanted to see him in person so I got last minute tickets that were actually quite decent. He was much more "hammy" at this performance and he did sing "Forever" and the old country bumpkins up there just ate it up. That being said, he was noticeably looser at this show than in 2010. I didn't hear his guitar once and he was downright sloppy at times on drum kit, nearly throwing "Shut Down" completely off.

*Edit: Quick anecdote I just remember...when they brought the girls out for "Barbara Ann", they were all over John but he really sort of stood them up. There was a gentlemen probably in his 30's or 40's with down syndrome that was just going ballistic with joy during this song and it really stood out because the crowd looked like a damn graveyard. There were steps on the corner of the stage and John went down and motioned for him to join them on stage. He asng and danced with the guy the whole song and totally made his night. It was a really beautiful display. Doesn't excuse the former sloppiness, but it stuck with me. He even had Mike and Bruce sign the guy's Beach Boys shirt on stage.

Since then, my girlfriend has actually said she prefers the shows without Stamos...despite there being less eye candy on stage, she found the whole thing to be much more distracting than pleasing and ultimately, I think I do too. It was a fun novelty the first time, but I would be okay with him not appearing this summer.

That was a kind gesture to the developmentally disabled fan, and it is cool that he sang the magnificent Good Timin' at the first concert you went to. I know it's been said many times before and I have no desire to gratuitously beat a dead horse, but I'll just add my 2 cents and say that IMO it's an utter abomination and travesty that he should ever appear onstage with any incarnation of the "Beach Boys", just as it's an unspeakable atrocity that Donald Trump should have ever gotten anywhere near the Presidency. Flame away....

If he's only onstage for a couple songs, I wouldnt really mind. Especially if it means Forever would be in the setlist.

Overall, I think Stamos have done more good than bad for the Beach Boys.

How so?  ???

In UK, Stamos did whole gigs. Hammed it up a few very annoying times but modtly I found myself wondering why John Cowsill was being underused . And Stamos presence meant the loss of some deeper cuts to accommodate some schlock around Be true to your school.

He's helped introduce a whole generation to the band.   Does that give him the right to be an honorary member?  Thats debateable.

But, theres a lot of people my age who were first exposed to The Beach Boys through Full House.  And I wouldnt doubt that many 30 somethings buying tickets to Brians and Mikes shows got their first taste of the BB through Stamos.

RS, you're going to the OC show, right? 

OSD watching full house circa 1992.... >:D

 :lol :lol Easily one of the worst shows ever. Makes me more than appreciate how I found the BB's via the radio. Just so damn sad watching the boys end up on a piece of trash like that and then to parade him out on stage was nothing but pathetic.  :thud :thud :thud

Ironic that it was Stamos idolizing Dennis that first led him to The Beach Boys, and this was a total Dennis Wilson move.  Can't tell you the number of times I carried a wheelchair up the side of the stage while Dennis carried a special needs person up in his arms, to watch the show from the wings.

I'll agree that Full House really hasn't aged well. But, my five year old niece really likes it. And watching it with her, its not quite as terrible as I remembered.

Im still waiting for them to bring out Bob Saget for GV.  The guy covered all of the harmonies by himself.

Right on- thanks for sharing!

Front row- dead center! Evening show...not the blue plate special at 4:30  :lol

Enjoy.  I wound up getting Deep Purple / Alice Cooper tix for that day at the 7th Layer of Hell........um....I mean Jiffy Lube Live. 

Tempted to check out Mike in Hagerstown in November. Or maybe Ill wait til next year and see if they do a Friends tour.

NICE!!! I won't be doing Hagerstown...and I wouldn't hold my breath on "Friends"!  :lol

I'm just spouting this off the top of my head without researching, but I think that might be the only album that Mike and Bruce haven't touched a single song from onstage with their band and without any other Beach Boys. Are there any others?

Hmmm, I didn't ever think about that but it does make sense. Mike was gone for most of the recording of the album and Bruce has voiced his displeasure with the album in the past.

I dont think theyve done any Love You songs. 

Ah yes, that would make a great deal of sense too.  :lol

I don't think Mike or Bruce have touched anything from "Keepin' the Summer Alive" since going out on their own. I guess technically they've done an *outtake* from KTSA, "Goin' to the Beach."

There are some other albums where they've only done a single song. I think "Come Go With Me" is the only MIU track (and one could even argue they only do it because it was a relative hit single, and it was a hit single only when pulled from the "Ten Years of Harmony" album in 1981). "Getcha Back" is the only '85 track. "Good Timin'" is the only "LA" track. "All This is That" is the only "So Tough" track. "Sail on Sailor" is the only "Holland" track (along with one performance of Cal Saga).

Another! Right you are! They could really do some of those KTSA tracks justice these days too.

I WAS ON FUENGIROLA CONCERT.

OLE BETSY On SETLIST

I SAW JOHN COWSILL ON A BAR

Missing Aren´t you Glad

Mike Love Greeted me at the end of concert

I FILMED THE ENTIRE CONCERT

BEST EXPERIENCE ON MY LIFE ;D ;D ;D ;D

Very cool.  Care to post any videos?

SOON I UPLOAD DARLIN :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRRXOHcyMi8

I went with my wife to the Düsseldorf show and it was a tight concert. My opinion the show was better than the two I saw for the C50 celebrations. Plus at the Düsseldorf show, I finally, after nearly 30 years of waiting and missed opportunities, got my Sunflower completed (sans Dennis) by Mike and Bruce. Mike was the showman and an absolute gentleman for taking the time to do that AND getting Bruce to sign it too - he didn't have to but did.

I love reading all these great happenings! Bring on OC! I'm goin' to the beach in the AM for the week, but no Beach Boys on this trip...gotta wait till August for that!

I would love to see this...

Here you go. Watch until the end. Also, the off key singers are in the audience, the set was perfect. A pity no one filmed the Wild Honey track during the encore. That kicked some serious arse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiVmuSGIf6E

John does a great version of Wild Honey singing it "Blondie"style.

Thanks  :-D

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since the Mike's Boys' Berlin show.. :o Busy schedule so I didn't have time to pop in and give my two cents.

It was my first time with this configuration of the BBs, and I was pretty much at the front, right next to the stage. Damn expensive, too.

Overall I enjoyed most of it, and I got my money's worth. I think. These guys are workhorses and war horses. And, once in a while, kitsch clowns.

The star is still the music. Even though Stamos tried his best to make it about him and Mike every chance he got. Well, I knew he would. (No mention of Brian whatsoever, either. I thought that was weird. Is that 'normal'? Both Carl and Dennis got shout-outs.)

It's Germany so "Kokomo", "California Dreamin'" and "Barbara Ann" got the biggest responses. I enjoyed all the Wild Honey tracks, everything with promiment Scott Totten vocals as well as the a capella "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" (Bruce sounded fantastic).

It was a nice night, with the best music in the universe played by capable musicians in a tight band. Having said that, I guess that's for me with Mike's Boys. Been there, done that. At least at these horrendous ticket prices.

____

Off to see Brian next, in a couple of weeks. :bw :love

Yes, Bruce did well when I saw him, particularly on "Disney Girls" (and "THWFOS"). John C did a socking version of "Wild Honey". I don't know exactly what they did to "H&V" but it worked very well! Everyone worked hard, not least the hornplayer...

Full marks from me (no pun intended).    

"Their Hearts Were Full Of...  Protein"?

Yes, of course----Protein! :lol

Printemps :)

(http://cdn.strategyonline.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/logo-touche.jpg?aa2c31)

Rite!

Ha! Seeing that in a couple of months' time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4m1RyJ_Tc8

MY CONCERT WAS AWESOME!!!

Aren´t You Glad wasn´t performed, but the other two yeah. PISCES BROTHER is a bootleg song that sounded pretty. Getcha Back new version sounded very well. Their Hearts were full of protein ;D
also sounded pretty. Awesome SCOTT TOTTEN on Ballad of Ole Betsy. Awesome BRIAN EICHENBERGER on Then I Kissed her and I Can Hear Music. Awesome RANDY LEAGO on California Dreaming. Awesome JEFF FOSKETT on Good Vibes and others. Awesome BRUCE JOHNSTON on You're so Good To Me. Awesome JOHN COWSILL on Wild honey and Cotton Fields. Awesome TIM BONHOME on Tannerin. AWESOME (Weird for haters) MIKE LOVE on his Casual songs + HELP ME RHONDA.


Here it´s Wild Honey by John  Cowsill:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8M7GhhNqQU

Well, at least there's an actual Beach Boy or two in that list of performers.  :-\

Huh...Has Mike done a remake on that as well?  :o

He Changed one line in second versed and changed the Coda (I'll Be There) to a new Verse

So, this is totally off topic, but I just saw a date announced in Hiawassee, GA for Dec 1st. What point in the year has Mike been breaking out the mini Christmas set? I'd be more interested to see that than the meat and potatoes set thqt Hiawassee would usually get.

thatjacob, do you know what venue M&B are playing in Haiwassee -- is it the GA. Mountain Fair venue?

I keep hoping they come to my neck of the woods one December. 

It is, but isn't during the fair.

The last time M&B played up there, it was at the Anderson Music Hall.

I'm trying to get accurate venue info for the BBFC tour dates listings.

It's at Anderson Music Hall again. That's the only venue in Hiawassee over 300 capacity. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it's not fully confirmed yet, since it's only included on one picture of upcoming dates on their facebook. No ticket prices/info yet.

Still no ticket info on the venue's website, but exploregeorgia.org is listing the show as being $57, fees included. I told myself that I was done seeing any BB's related bands, but that's reasonably priced.

I saw Mike and Bruce at the OC PAC last night....total meat & potatoes show, but not a bad one at all. I was expecting more as it was a lovely venue...but it was also their tenth show in seven days, and their second that day...so I get it. The only "surprises" were "You're So Good To Me" and "Cotton Fields"...I wasn't necessarily counting on either of them...Cowsill was excellent on the latter. Mike and Bruce seemed to be a little weak in voice both when speaking and singing, but again, I think that was part of the overloaded week they had...and it isn't even over yet for them! The band was on fire as always. This was my first show with Randy Leago on woodwinds and he brings a lot to the lineup. The crowd was the standard bunch of old farts frozen in their chairs, except for the two times they were prompted by Randy to rise... except for the token party of middle-aged half-lit women of course. By the way, we had front row seats and it was like a private concert...I'll explain some observations...

First of all, Scott Totten and John Cowsill keep this whole thing alive. The rest of the band are excellent members and do their part...Mike and Bruce rely on a lot more cues from Scott than I had noticed before...even on things like "Little Deuce Coupe"...which I wouldn't expect considering it hasn't left the setlist since the mid-70's. But on the other hand, this band has a LOT of fun together. It was great to watch them do what they do and have fun teasing each other the whole way through, most of which happened during "Do it Again". They're piping in McGrath's vocals and Mike had a horrible time remembering when he should and shouldn't sing. It was beyond comical. It was also atrocious to hear his vocals.....

But I'm not here to rag on Mike, really. Say what you will about his personal life choices but on stage, the man is a master showman and entertainer. We had lots of interaction, as did everyone within at least the first five rows of the stage. He was also kind enough to sign my copy of his book that I brought to the show after they took their final bow AND he had the soundman give me a setlist off the stage too, which I was lucky enough to receive at a previous show as well. Of all the shows I've been to and all the interactions I've had with Mike, he has been nothing but kind and always puts the fans first.

That being said...after years of defense, I finally experienced Dr. Bruce Johnston and Mr. Hyde. Bruce was his happy old self onstage and even struck up a conversation with me about Mike's book after Mike signed it! I couldn't really hear him well because the room was loud, but he was laughing and smiling and saying how great it was! Now, my other goal of the evening, was to add John Cowsill's signature to his siblings photo I received at the Happy Together tour this summer. I waited by the front of the stage but he was disassembling his own drum kit way on the back of the stage and I was not going to interrupt him so I went out front and waited a bit, then went to the stage door thinking he may be finished and coming out soon. One of their crew members was there and I asked him if he had left, he said he'd go grab him for me. I waited all of about five minutes and many of the other band members passed by. I thanked them for a great show and they were all very cordial...then came Bruce. I said "Hey Bruce-" and was interrupted by a stern, cold stare and "NOT GONNA HAPPEN" barked at me. I suppose he saw the Cowsill photo and pen, and assumed I was going to ask for an autograph. I kindly said No thank you, I'm waiting for Mr. Cowsill, to which he graveled a snarky "well all RIGHT then Mr. MANNN" and hopped on the bus.......SO bizarre. The man who was just chumming with me from stage over the book maybe twenty minutes prior, was shooing me away like a peasant...and then mocking me. Regardless, Cowsill was great to meet...I asked him if he gets to sing with the family band anymore and he said of course not because of the grueling schedule, but just as he was saying that Mike came out and Cowsill shouts "BECAUSE OF HIM!"...Mike was thoroughly confused.  :lol I thanked Mike again for signing my book and said goodnight, he wished me good night as well and hopped on the bus. I also asked Cowsill why no "Wild Honey" tonight on the Wild Honey tour...apparently Mike doesn't think it's suitable for these sorts of venues...oh well.

My very, very long story short......it was a GREAT concert with possibly the best seat in the house, two great autographs, and a lovely trip to the beach on top of it all. That being said...I think I might be calling it quits for Mike and Bruce. I've heard almost all the songs, definitely heard all the stories, got tons of great photos, t-shirts, autographs and of above all, memories... and well...Bruce really pissed me off. I've always treated him with respect whenever he was kind to me in the past, and suddenly I was a second class citizen.  I still highly recommend the show to those that haven't seen it. You need to go in expecting the best Beach Boys tribute band in the world, featuring former front man Mike Love, and side man Bruce Johnston. The band really makes the show when you focus on them.

Scott has breathed an incredible amount of life into that organization. He absolutely cares about the music. Mike goes along with him because he respects him but I think he would be just as happy pounding out 25 hits  and early 60s songs and calling it a night after 90 minutes like the early 90s.

Sorry about the experience with Bruce :( No defense for bad behavior but the band was in a rush so that they could go to Glenn Campbell's funeral so perhaps that added to the stress (just a guess) and I agree about Scott, he has done a amazing job! I agree with the setlist thing too. I've seen Mike and Bruce 18 times now (Brian and Al about 10). Brian and Al it's different every time even though after 6 Pet Sounds shows I think I'm sick of that set too. But Mike and Bruce really need to change it up don't call it the Wild Honey tour and then cut Aren't You Glad before you hit the U.S. and Wild Honey at every show that's a greatist hits spectacular. Obviously the setlist argument can be made for both touring factions but Mike and Bruce especially. I don't need to hear Why Do Fools Fall In Love at every concert for the last 10 years and my God if I hear Pisces Brothers one more time, even Cool Head Warm Heart would be better. Now I get it I've seen them a million times and have no right to complain really and I recommend both groups to anyone who hasn't seen them but please change it up. Even a change in Car songs Cherry Cherry Coupe? Car Crazy Cutie? Custom Machine? Would anyone really be that upset if Scott sang one of those instead of Betsy? (Which he does a hell of a job on I might say) Just some suggestions but either way Scott deserves one million percent of the credit!!! Alright I'm done 🙃

Thanks...that's the way it goes. If he really didn't want to sign anything (and I wasn't even asking to sign anything!) he should have just taken ten more steps and gotten on the bus peacefully, instead of going out of his way to create this confrontational BS. If I had been faced with silence, I would have just figured he was exhausted, off-stage, and not up to talking...totally cool.

Anyway, technically I had never heard Mike and Bruce do "Cotton Fields" with Cowsill on lead, but I heard it on C50 and nearly every time I've seen Al as well, but Cowsill gave it a great lead too, just an unusual selection. Other than that, I had heard all of these songs many, many times. The energy is still there but what enhances the repetitious tunes, is a shake up in the deeper cuts of which there simply were none...short show, long tour, I get it...I guess I should have seen it coming.

But you do raise a good point in that, a lot of the...we'll call them "second tier" songs could be shifted with no audience backlash. The opening surf songs can be in constant flux minus 'safari' and 'usa'...same with the car songs except "I Get Around". Of course, the standard three PS tunes have to stay, plus California Girls, and once they reach the point of about "Help Me Rhonda" it's pretty much set in stone from there out...but the point is, there is a LOT of room for fluctuation inbetween there that casual fans wouldn't care one way or the other about, and hardcore fans like us would appreciate.

Maybe my rant is over now.  :lol

I figured the sets would be fairly short (if 32 songs is short) with them doing two shows that night in OC.   Next time they play there, I'd really like to go (seeing The Beach Boys at the beach).  According to setlist.fm, the set at Wolf Trap this past Sunday was pretty similar. 

I saw M&B for the 4th time last week. It was the night after the Beacon show in which they did "All I Wanna Do", "I'm Waiting For The Day" etc. I was hoping i'd get that setlist, but hey, I'm a dreamer. It was still pretty good though. A little under 40 songs with at least a few non-hits like Good To My Baby, Kiss Me Baby etc.

Some thoughts:

Positive!

-Scott T and John C are rockstars.
-I've never heard Jeff sound better
-The sound was the fullest I've heard from the M&B band
-Mike sounded like Mike. To be fair, when Brian sounds good, he doesn't sound like Brian anymore. (That's not a knock. I would literally die for Brian Wilson.)
-As a straight twenty something male, Bruce singing Disney Girls makes me melt every time.

Other thoughts!

-Please retire Pisces Brothers. Please. For the love of God, please.
-Please retire Summer In Paradise. Please
-California Dreamin'. Every time I hear them play it, I'm always thinking, "guys, this will NEVER be your song", and I even thought that during C50.
-Getcha Back - use the original lyrics.
-Could do without Why Do Fools and Then I Kissed Her.
-Mike using McGrath's Do It Again vocals. Why is he so proud of this?
-If you call it the Wild Honey tour, you need to do more than the two singles from Wild Honey.

Here's a dream (but within reason, I think) setlist for the M&B band that would please both the average and hardcore fan.

The Beach Boys
Wild Honey Tour 2017
 
Set 1

Surfin’ Safari
Catch A Wave
Little Honda
It’s OK
Hawaii
Do It Again

Wendy (Bruce on bridges)
Surfer Girl

When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
Kiss Me Baby
Please Let Me Wonder (Bruce)

Darlin' (Jeff)
Aren’t You Glad
Here Comes The Night (Brian E?)
Country Air
Wild Honey (John C)

In My Room
Dance, Dance Dance

Be True To Your School

The Warmth of The Sun (Scott T)
Don’t Worry Baby (Jeff)

Little Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
I Get Around

Set 2

California Girls
You’re So Good To Me (Bruce)
Let Him Run Wild (Scott T)

Sloop John B
I’m Waiting For The Day
Here Today
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Jeff)
God Only Knows (Carl)

Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
All I Wanna Do
I Can Hear Music (Brian E)

Disney Girls (Bruce)
Heroes & Villains (John C)

Do You Wanna Dance (Dennis)
Help Me Rhonda
Kokomo
Good Vibrations

Encore:

Surfin’ USA
Barbara Ann
Fun Fun Fun

I do wish that All I Wanna Do would remain in the setlists permanently.  It's frustrating to see it pop up from time to time at some shows only to disappear, then reappear seemingly at random (sometimes as RubberSoul mentioned disappearing from the setlist they were supposed to play on a certain winter night in Baltimore). 

They didn't do it in Rotterdam. That really would have been the icing on the cake...

Heck I'd take that and that's without adding anything they haven't played recently outside the Wild Honey tracks.
Honestly I'd see them 10 more times if I knew without a doubt they'd play All I Wanna Do every time, that's how much I love that song.

Same here.  I'm also kind of hoping for a nearby Christmastime show. 

Do Mike & The Boys still do All This Is That? I have a memory of seeing them in 2015 and hearing that but I could just be remembering the 2012 reunion shows.

It was a semi regular the last couple years but this year it's maybe been played only once or twice.

Man, now that is a killer setlist. BUT, it needs to be in the right venue. Also, I'd swap "Country Air" for "Let The Wind Blow" just so we could get another lead from Mike. Not knocking the band, but I'm very pro-original member leads as much as possible. They are, after all, the reason any of us started going in the first place.

What would truly be nice, is if whoever does their booking would book the blocks of tour dates at the same types of venues so if for example, the month of September they had twenty shows booked and they were all theatres, then you knew you could get a "deep cuts" set. And on the otherhand, if say they do thirty-five shows the month of July at state fairs, minor-league stadiums, resort cities, theme parks etc. ...it would be perfectly clear that those will all be the same meat and potatoes set.

When they bounce back and forth between the style of venue, you always wonder if a song might "spill over" from the night before...like the experience you had with the gig after The Beacon Theatre. You can look at the setlists that follow that show and slowly watch the album tracks fade out of the set.  :lol

They did All This Is That at the recent NYC Beacon gig. I was happy to hear it. Sounded great!

They seem to play it when they play theater shows. 

I've noticed when they play summer / outdoor shows, they tend to do a 32-35 song set, focusing on the greatest hits.  But, in theaters, they'll expand the set to 40-45 songs and throw in some more deep cuts. 

In My Concert they do Pisces Brothers, Summer in Paradise, Ballad of Ole Betsy,  and Good To My Baby, THOSES ARE UNDERRATED

I'm with you on three of those four.  I can't say I'm a fan of Pisces Brothers (though Scott Totten plays a nice solo). 

Scott Totten...makin' sh*t shine since 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE2sC6avkD8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38n-QUdRjII