""My teleprompter MESSED UP! It's showing the WRONG SONG!")

So that's what Brian yelled out....I couldn't make it out. Classic Brian 

I dare say Landy would be up there. He had significant impact on Brian and the band at several different time periods.

Had my meet n greet and soundcheck last night in Bangor. I've been reading everyone's reviews so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Sound check was a fantastic experience. We filed in and the BB's were already on stage. Brian was sitting motionless at the piano and only his eyes were moving. Very surreal. It rained during the sound check which was kind of a bummer but it was all good. It was very enjoyable. At the end, Scott told the BB's they should go to the meet n greet but that he needed Dave to stay and work on Pet Sounds. Once I heard that, that was my cue to get in the back of the line since I knew the first several pics were going to be done without Dave.
The MnG tent was set up back stage in front of a tour bus. As we left the stage area we filed around the tent to line up along the bus. As I was last, I was walking by the tent and Mike was there seated early by himself. I stopped for a moment said hello and told him that I had seen them the night before last in Montreal and that this was my 4th show on the tour. He responded "really?, nice". Then I was told to catch up to the line by the VIP hostess. Wasn't as if I was holding anything up, the other BB's weren't even there. I can tell you that VIP's charge is to make sure the fans have as little interaction as possible with the BB's. They were pushing people through at  about an 8 to 10 second clip. The only exception was when Mary Ann Jardine went up to fix Al's hair. A funny moment. When it came to my turn, I was not gonna settle for 8 seconds with my heroes. The Beach Boys owe me nothing, but VIP Nation sure as hell owe me more than 8 seconds of a silent photo op when I shelled out big $ for a "MEET & GREET". Well, instead of walking behind the 5 of them I walked right up to Bruce, said hello and shook his hand, then I quickly went to Al, did the same thing, and then to Brian. My goal was to shake each of their hands and say hello. by the time I got to Brian the hostess and the other security guys were pitching a fit saying no, no, you need to get behind them! Well too late I had already shaken three of their hands. All three were gracious, but I could tell they were a little surprised. They all had a look on their face like " I think he might be breaking the rules" but they were cool.
I then got behind Brian and as she was snapping the pic, Mike turns around to me and says, "so you were at the Montreal show huh?". I simply said, yes, I sure was. I thought it was nice of Mike to make a point of saying something to me and then I reached out my hand and he shook it. Well that set off the VIP people again; "you need to leave now!". Said hello to Dave on my way out. Even with my "extra" time, it went by so fast, but it was a thrilling moment for me and I can't wait to see how the pic comes out.

Sadly, my last show on the tour, but a great way to go out. I will post my VIP experience in that thread. I was front row and ended up sitting next to a fellow Smiley Smiler (Will C). It's great to enjoy a show with a fellow hard core nerd. I don't have a set list but Wirestone pretty much covered the differences in songs. Not sure if anyone mentioned but they did do Ballard of Ole Betsy. Pet Sounds caught everyone by surprise opening the second set. I'm kicking myself for not getting video of it but by the time I figured out what was going on I was just caught up in the music. Dave all alone out in front of the band...very cool.
Brian was so so but I thought Sail on Sailor and IJWMFTT were excellent and so did the crowd.

During Rock N Roll Music some jackass walked up to the stage and put a gigantic white moth on the stage (the thing was the size of a parakeet) and this threw Mike off so much he repeated the same verse twice.

All in all, a fantastic night and I even got Bruce and Mike to sign my Sunflower album at the end of the show. As a fitting end to my 4 show odyssey, I was at the end of my 2 1/2 hour ride home and  as I was about a mile from my exit, who should I come upon but the Beach Boys tour bus rolling south. I beeped and waved as I pulled off my exit and the bus flashed it's lights at me.

PS: As exiting as it was to see Pet Sounds make it's premiere, the real news was that they were giving away free packages of TWGMTR sunscreen wipes at the merchandise table.

Amazing show as usual. Not sure of the crowd size but I would have guessed around 10,000. Just a couple of points;

1) They have really added to the video screen since the Chicago show I saw. Great pics of the 7 of them during their high school years during BTTYS. Also some fantastic footage of them recording Good Vibrations shown during that song. They have also put up the official video of TWGMTR during htat song.

2) Dave's version of Getcha Back is fantastic. He really puts his own stamp on that song and it sounds great. He should get more vocals.

3) Very cool during the encore, Al and Bruce came out in Montreal Canadiens hockey jerseys. They had their own last names on the back, each with the # 50. I'm assuming these were a gift and that all 5 probably got one.

4) When the crowd sang happy birthday to Brian, he seemed bashful at first, rubbing his face etc, but towards the end he started snapping his fingers along with the song. Very touching moment.

Yes, front row. My fourth and final show of the tour

Today, Danny looks like Garth from Waynes World 

I'll be listening to about 42 great Beach Boys songs.....In Montreal 

After watching Al's speech, I'm convinced he's just as crazy as the rest of them.

Of Maine Seniors magazine...........Small, generic article promoting their Bangor show. 

http://maineseniorsmagazine.com/

"That only leaves Ringo who until a few years ago still allowed fans to send him in items to be signed via his fan club but he has since curtailed that as well citing demands on his time. " 
  
 
Yes, but it took him 30 years to reply back to Marge Simpson

Have to say, Ambah Love is a fox!

   

"Sit down. Would you like some cookies?"

Fantastic video's. On a side note, think Al needs to stay away from the tanning booth.

"The people who run it get the Beach Boys, and they said, this is the only place for you guys. So they made us an incredible offer based on those songs for a three-record deal."

I'm curious as to plans regarding this statement.

Tremendous interview....Thanks for sharing

I would have the writing credits and publishing rights to Good Vibrations changed to my name. When I got back to present day I would be rich.

Eric, you should contact VIP Nation. I haven't had my VIP yet (next month) but my understanding is that you have to show your ID and it has to match the name on the VIP reservation. They make it clear it is nontransferable, so my guess is they may be expecting 4 Eric Aniverario's to show up. When I made my reservation I reserved it under my nickname (Chuck) instead of Charles which is what is on my license. I was so paranoid afterwards that there would be a problem on day of the show that I called them and they changed the name in their system to Charles to make sure it matched. They were pretty accomadating, but I would definitely give them a call.

Just got back to the hotel. Another amazing show. As I posted in the intermission, Brian was REALLY on tonight. Not only was he really animated (hands, arms, and shoulders were flying all over the place), but he was chatty too. When they opened up the 2nd set, the lights were still down but you could hear Brian "What are we going to do now Add Some Music? who wrote that song?"

Then right after ASM, he introduces the next song "And now our boy Al to sing a song!" and they go right into California Dreamin'. And after a fantastic version of Good Vibrations, he announces the next song..."And now Mike is gonna sing our anthem. It's not as good as Good Vibrations...but" and they launch into California Girls. Just an awsome night all around for Brian.

Brian is really engaged tonight. Extremely animated...he really rocked Marcella 

Was anyone able to get autographs from the guys?

I was talking to a couple VIP'ers while in line to go into Mohegan on Saturday night. One girl said they went last. She was with a man in a wheelchair. She said beacause it took so long to get him into and out of position for the pic, and they were last, she had an opportunity to get her SMiLE book signed. However, based on other's descriptions, this situation sounds like a rare instance.

I believe that's Jerry Schilling walking in behind Carl. I don't think he was around in the 90's.

Timmy, thanks for the info. That's too bad about your expierience. I've got mine next month and from what I've read I realize there won't be any kind of conversations but I'm hoping for at least a quick friendly handshake from each. That doesn't seem to be asking too much. I'm curious, were you one of the first ones to go through, or at the end? Not that that should have mattered.

Can anyone tell me what the free poster looks like that comes with the package? Is it the same one they are selling at the merchandise stands? Thanks

Went last night as well. My first BB show since Carl died. I've seen them many times and this was my favorite show of them all. Let me tell you, this is not a band on auto pilot. They are putting a lot into these gigs, and it shows.  I also bought my tickets 10 mins after they went on sale and ended up in the back corner in the last row! What's up with that. No big deal though. Took my 14 year old son who is a casual BB fan, and he was very impresed (and I don't have to tell you the crap he listens to).
This is a crakerjack backing band they have. I could feel Cowsill's energy from the back row.
Cousin Brian seemed like he wanted to shuffle off to the casino to go sit down and play Keno. He didn't seem to want to be there,in my opinion, but that's just Brian and I thought he did a fine job with all his parts and it was great to have him in this show. Mike was great. He's really proud of this milestone and I think it comes out in his performance.  As everyone has been saying, Al is superb. During Cottonfields, when he sang the line "a nice old man with, he had a hat on", he pointed at Mike, and MIke just laughed. Great to see those two together again. The touring Beach Boys need Al Jardine. As others have said, Bruce seemed really weak on Wendy. So much so, I thought that the Secret Service may have paid a visit to him before the show. But he really rebounded on Disney Girls and hit it completely out of the park. That may have been the best number of the night in my opinion. Dave is the only one I had never seen before with the BB's and simply put, he rocks. He also ups the coolness factor by about 10.
The Dennis and Carl songs were fantastic, and very very sad. You do feel their presence though. A great addition to the set, and reminds you that this is no ordinary BB concert.

Add Some Musinc was a terrific way to open the 2nd set, all 5 of them around the piano. During the song, Mike opened his mouth to sing his "at a movie" line and Brian sang it. I think that surprised Mike 
I don't know what the future holds for these 5 as a unit, but if they don't continue together, they are doing right by themselves, and their fans on this tour. I really hope they do a great job with the DVD so the true fans who cannot see this show in person get to expierience it some how.
Fortunatlely for me, I have two more shows to go. Can't wait.

While not as good as Mike's RRHOF speech, still a worthwhile Beach Boys WTF moment.....Sure seems like Bruce had been enjoying some Pacifico's. Rock on Bruce