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

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

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

Go see them if you get the chance. I'm just ticked they won't be playing the Stanislaus County Fair this year like they did in '08 and '10.  Also saw M&B and their great band at 'The Fruit Yard' in Waterford for American Graffiti fest 2005 (in a carved out orchard!) and at the San Juaquin County Fair in Stockton a couple times in the late 90's and early 2000's. Those were great times at the County Fair!  Go West young man, don't be a snob see the group if you can...

This is great news.  Hopefully Mike and Bruce will play our county fair next summer just like in 2008 & 2010...those were really fun nights.

Do I wish that the full band would continue touring?  Yes, of course.  The 50th tour was quite a special thing, and the show I saw was fantastic (6/1 in Bezerkley, CA).

But, I'll take Bruce and Mike any day rather than no Beach Boys concerts at all.

Woke up this morning with 'Beaches in Mind' playing in my head. So I shuffled down the hall to my office and put it on at once

"...man it's been too much time"

Lol. It's so cheezy/goofy that it's awesome if you ask me. 

Was going to go to Best Buy to get the CD... But I'm hearing that Walmart has the same CD except that it has DIA on it???   That would be cool...

What a great show that was!  Highlights to me were 'Please Let Me Wonder', 'IJWMFTM', 'Don't Back Down', the tributes (Forever and GOK) and...sorry...'Rock and Roll Music' which seemed to fit real good and was a fun rocker when it showed up in the second set.

Liked both of the new tunes, and am looking forward to going out tomorrow to get the record.

What a cool time to be a long time fan!!!

One song I would have wished for:  Surf's Up

P.S. Saw Brian on the second SMiLE tour here in '05. This show was every bit as fun. It's so great to see the whole gang together again (last time I saw the whole lineup was in '86).

Does anyone think the whole band would ever tour again or is this it?

CD at Best Buy w/cash.

They're playin' Don't Back Down?  Sweet!!  Hope they play that on 6/1 in Bezerkly.

AGD - Thanks a bunch for the info on the new dates. Do you know if there are any plans for more Northern California shows besides Berkeley?

And...do you have any idea as to what's going on with the Harvey's Lake Tahoe 7/15 show? Do you know if the date will change?

Thanks!

Thanks for the info Ivy. Guess I'll keep checking back w/Ticketmaster.

My big wish would be for them to play at Ironstone Winery in Murphys - An awesome place to catch a show.

Hey Arch Stanton:  How many people understand your name reference?  There are two types of people in this world my friend...

So it sounds like the Harvey's Lake Tahoe show was cancelled?  Dang

I'm trying to get tickets to the 7/15 show at Harvey's Lake Tahoe...but now Ticketmaster doesn't have it listed...does anyone know anything about this show? 

The Harvey's site doesn't have it listed either, hope it hasn't been cancelled...

VDP answered one of my emails back in 2004; I'd send him a note.

Loved that Heroes and Villains video...

"Oh come off it. Anyone with a brain knows the touring Boys of recent are great. I never saw their European tour where they played Til I Die but I know the shows would have been good because this band, Mike included, care about putting on a great show. And I'm no Mike apologist and I don't think Andrew is either."

--> Totally agree with that. I've been fortunate to catch Mike and Bruce several times over the past few years (including this Summer), and the band sounds FANTASTIC. They clearly care quite a bit about the music and it shows.

I recommend seeing them whenever you get the chance!

Mike, Bruce & Company came through once again yesterday evening, as I was treated to yet another fantastic performance by the current band...

Here's the setlist:

Surfin' / Catch A Wave / Hawaii / Little Honda / Do It Again / Surf City / Surfin' Safari / Surfer Girl / Still Cruisin'
Don't Worry Baby / Little Deuce Coupe / 409 / Shut Down / I Get Around / So Young / Getcha Back / Darlin'
Why Do Fools Fall In Love? / When I Grow Up To Be A Man / Be True To Your School / God Only Knows
Good Vibrations / Then I Kissed Her / California Girls / Sloop John B / Wouldn't It Be Nice / Help Me Rhonda
Rock & Roll Music / Do You Wanna Dance / Barbara Ann / Surfing USA / Kokomo / Summertime Blues / Fun Fun Fun

The sound was great. The drum set was surrounded by a glass shield, not sure if that made a difference but the drums were very well defined in the mix and the playing was spot on.

As I've said many times before, if this group is nearby make sure you go out and see them. By the end of the show the whole crowd (2000?) was on its feat dancing and singing along.

So Bravo Mike & Bruce!  Please keep touring for as long as you can... 

I agree with Steve.

I've seen the Mike and Bruce Beach Boys about 10-12 times the last ten years (next time on July 20), and I'm happy to report that they are sounding great. And yes I saw the real Beach Boys in the 80's (also very good times!) 

I guess the main point is that the music and summer vibes are still happening, and if you have the chance to go---GO! 

That video rocks!  It's corny, yes...but it's better than anything I've seen lately from this 'modern' era....

P.S. Going to see Dean Torrence & The Surf City All Stars + Papa Doo Run Run in concert tomorrow night as part of our local Modesto, California 'American Graffiti Festival'.  Lots of classic Hot Rods in town tonight for the parade. Custom (pre-73) Car Show tommorow and Sunday.

And oh yeah, Mike & Bruce will be appearing at our local Stanislaus County Fair on July 20---An Endless Summer Indeed!!!

While I await whatever reunion does or does not take place, I will be most content to see the Boys at my County Fair on July 20th!

I'm expecting another excellent show from Mike, Bruce and the current band.  I've no idea why people run them down so much; seeing them on their yearly tours belting out those great BB tunes is far better than silence and memories alone.

That being said, I'd certainly welcome any kind of reunion tour, and would pony up the cash to be in attendance. Let's hope it's done and done WELL!!!   

Hey!  Glad I checked back after 3 or so months...Neat conversation this turned into. 

And I'll echo Steve's comment that, if you have the chance, go see a show!  Alex, trust me here...Attend a show if you can and just have a good time; go into it open and you'll leave happy that you went.

I first saw the BB in July '86, so I missed the old days as well.  Didn't see them again until the Mike & Bruce version started hitting the County Fair circuit around '99 or so. Since then, I eagerly scope out the three Fairs within reach and invariably they show up on the bill at one or another.  Corn dogs, cotton candy, beer, popcorn and soda pop along with (as miamidan said) guessing whether the opening cords are 'California Girls' or 'Do It Again'...Man I love those Summer Nights!

Time is not on their side of course. Not sure how long they (and Brian) have left, but I jump at any chance to hear all those great tunes once more. And as far as the rare selections go, I always hear a tune that I hadn't heard live at a previous show...This time it was 'Ballad of Ole Betsy'.

And as I mentioned on my initial post (and Steve attested to), the current band ROCKS, with a rythym section that is stronger than any I've heard at previous shows.

miamidan:  I'm about two-thirds of the way through 'The Lost Beach Boy', and am really enjoying the read. Like you said, quite a different take on the early days; I'm rationing the pages so I don't finish reading too quick!  ESQ had a nice article on Hawthorne, Dave Marks and the old days a couple years back; worth tracking down (like all ESQ issues) if you can.

Take care all---     

Just got back from the show...Lots of fun...Good performances all around.

That Cowsill fellow on drums was tearing it up. Also heard some guitar edge that I'd never heard at any previous show.

Most obscure song:  Ballad of Ole' Betsy  (Surprise!)

Nice versions of:

When I Grow Up
Be True To Your School
Still Cruisin' (don't laugh---it sounded great were they dropped it)
God Only Knows
Summertime Blues (they were the WHO for about 25 seconds no joke)
Do It Again

Say what you will about the touring BBoys, but they put on a great show and packed the small arena here in American Graffiti country...

Admission to the fair:  $8.00 (with Taco Bell discount coupon)
Beach Boys on the Free Stage:  Priceless

Take care all---

ESQ is a lot of fun and worth the price of admission. If you dig the Beach Boys enough to post here you will enjoy it...

CW
(ESQ subscriber since 2004)

That was a nice read. And I'm certainly looking forward to 6/16 so I can pick up a copy of POB...  When does Brian's TLOS come out?

Don't worry Free Design fan---ESQ is a great publication. If you like the Beach Boys, you'll love ESQ.

I've been a subscriber since 2003.

Hmmmm....    Brian Wilson is 65+ and making new music. Should I be just be glad to hear it and move on?

OK...I will...

Soon enough he'll be too old to make anything new except doodles in his drawers.

The tune sounds kinda fun...I'll be happy to hear it as part of the new LOS 'round' and hopefully on an album that I'm sure I'll purchase whether my best judgement says so or not.

And I hope Mike Love's Beach Boys Endless Summer of Fun band plays somewhere around here soon! 

Oh! Of course...I should have read your post more clearly. I'll be around on the 18th.

Take care!