Looks like Ike left the group his Facebook page says left job with The Beach Boys. Guess Randell and Christian is a permanent change for now. Christian sang God and Vibes so guess that’s a permanent change, I do like Christian’s voice there.

The whole shifting of band members around this time period has always entrigued me. If it wasn’t for Carl’s tragic passing you wonder what might have been. I could certainly see Carl retiring or even sticking with Mike. Couldn’t imagine him with Brian touring Pet Sounds or even later Smile. Especially since he evidently vetoed The Beach Boys Pet Sounds tour of the 90’s(?) and him and Brian were on the outs if I’m not mistaken.

I read the advertisements and didn't see "NSO" mentioned anywhere, unless I missed it. I'd contact the ticket office before buying, if the presence or non-presence of the NSO is the issue, and confirm whether or not they will be there.

It's not an enormous issue. I know it's still an over the top high quality engagement. But, it does clearly say "Symphony Orchestra" in Brian's press release. I think I'll call the box office as you suggested.

Please let us know if you find out, I’m wondering if the orchestra will just be a set group playing with Brian on these dates and that’s what they mean, not sure. Several of the Florida gigs site an orchestra that’s with Brian.

Thanks for all the responses to my legitimate questions concerning the tour guys, it was so helpful to hear the same old sh*t re-stated over and over again!... 

The Kennedy Center website says “featuring The Symphony Orchestra and Special Guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin“

I'm not trying to be an ass, can you show me where it says that? I cannot find it anywhere on their website. On the event description it cites "and his band" at the top and "joined by former bandmates Alan Jardine and Blondie Chaplin" at the bottom.

Not a problem, I’d want to know too, I’m fact i do since it’s probably the only way I’ll buy tickets.

http://www.kennedy-center.org

Go to the bottom it’s under News and Noteworthy on their main site

Thanks for all the responses to my legitimate questions concerning the tour guys, it was so helpful to hear the same old sh*t re-stated over and over again!... 

The Kennedy Center website says “featuring The Symphony Orchestra and Special Guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin“

I honestly don’t mind seeing pet sounds again if it’s with an orchestra, but this should be a short 10-16 date tour with Symphonies and then he should take off until an early December Christmas tour. That’s my two cents.

Several new dates including Kennedy Center in DC, looks like all of these will be Pet Sounds Orchestra dates, so at least a little different look.

I would kill to see a show like this from Al. The set list possibilities are endless, just glad to see him out there. Just hope he doesn’t go greatest hits and the stories behind them.

According to a new interview from Mark Lindsay he and Brian wrote some songs together in 2013, excerpt:

MARK: Well, it’s not quite out yet but, it will be. It’s songs I started two or three years ago. I started… Brian Wilson was looking for songs for a solo album so, I started writing some songs that I thought were kind of like evocative of the period and that I could kind of hear the Beach Boys doing in that kind of style and… I presented them to him and he liked a lot of them but, then, I don’t know what happened… Maybe his producer didn’t care for the tunes. One thing led to another and nothing happened. The songs were just laying there, so I went, “Well, what the heck?” So, I went ahead and finished them myself and… uh… So, it’s like… it’s just kind of a slice of that time, that much… a kind of a… I don’t want to say softer edges… Well, yeah… A slightly different style of music than people probably expect from me. But, I think the songs are great and I had a lot of fun doing it and it’s going to be out soon. It’s called… It was started long before this 50 SUMMERS OF LOVE TOUR was proposed but, that’s the title of the project. It’s called SUMMER OF LOVE. I wrote a couple of songs with that title so, it kind of fits in but, it’ll be available quickly.

http://zacharymule.com/wp/?s=micky+dolenz

Mike & Bruce:
1. All I Wanna Do
2. Deirdre
3. Car Crazy Cutie (Idk why, but I think Mike's band could play this song really well)

Brian:
1. All I Wanna Do
2. Surf City (Brian's first #1 hit)
3. Had To Phone Ya

Great choices I agree on Car Crazy Cutie, they play those early songs really well. Cherry Cherry Coupe would be another good one.

So I noticed some good setlist chatter going on over on the Brian tour thread. I personally love talking setlists and would love to know 3 songs you guys would  add to both Brian and Mike’s setlists! They don’t have to be never performed songs even though I went that way with a few of my choices. They just can’t be in the regular set rotation.

Mike & Bruce
1. Tears in the Morning - love Disney Girls but it’s time for Bruce to change it up
2. Keepin the Summer Alive - Cowsill would knock this out of the park and I’d welcome it more than Summertime Blues which I noticed has popped back up in the encore. Also even the casual fan would appreciate the sentiment of the song even if they don’t probably know it.
3. California Saga: Big Sur - arguably Mike’s best song (right with All I Wanna Do which should be a set staple for them!) this song would work perfect in the dreaded Pisces Brothers slot 

Brian, Al & Blondie
1. Breakaway - it’s been done by them, Al and Brian trade lead it’s perfect and a relative deep cut despite being a single.
2. Lookin at Tomorrow (Welfare Song) - they’ve rehearsed it, Al’s played it, seems like a perfect fit to me.
3. You’re Still a Mystery - great song, I think this one might be more of a personal fantasy, Brian, Al and I think Matt are all on the MIC version so I think it would work well.

Bonus: just so Blondie isn’t left out Leaving this Town or Hold on Dear Brother would be great but The Trader is my choice, as we’ve seen with Feel Flows he can pull Carl leads off, plus he played on the record.

The setlist debate could go on practically forever no matter the artist. I wish more artists would do what the stones do which is let the fans vote on one song to be played out of 4-5 choices. Something like that would be with Brian mainly because only the hardcore fans like us would vote! 

It honestly depends on the venue, if the exit to the bus is easy to stand by you have a good shot. Also before the show I’ve seen Blondie walking around and he’ll sign for you. If you’re up close you can probably get Al walking off the stage.

Both of those sets would be complete winners in my book.

Here’s my adaptation on that


1. California Girls
2. Do It Again
3. Little Deuce Coupe
4. I Get Around
5. Shut Down
6. Run James Run (or something else brand-new)
7. Please Let Me Wonder
8. Surfer Girl
9. Heroes and Villains (Al on lead)
10. Lookin' at Tomorrow or Honkin’ Down The Highway (something new from Al)
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. She Knows Me Too Well or Time to Get Alone
13. Aren't You Glad or Let The Wind Blow
14. Melt Away or Walk The Line
15. Your Imagination or Goin Home
16. Leaving This Town
17. Hold On Dear Brother
18. Sail on Sailor

Intermission

19. Meant For You
20. Friends
21. Wake the World
22. Add Some Music to Your Day
23. Breakaway (Brian and Al)
24. Then I Kissed Her (or Cotton Fields or Cal Saga)
25. God Only Knows
26. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Al on lead)
27. Sloop John B. (Al on lead, Brian on harmony)
28. Surf's Up (Brian & Matt on lead)
29. The Night Was So Young
30. Darlin' or This Whole World (Darian)
31. Marcella
32. Good Vibrations

33. Do You Wanna Dance?
34. Help Me Rhonda
35. Barbara Ann
36. Surfin' USA
37. Fun Fun Fun
38. Love and Mercy

If they do a new tour in 2018 they should honestly make it a point to not do any of the songs M&B do unless they’re one of the big must play hits. I want to hear Breakaway or Time to Get Alone stuff that he’s played but would sound that much better will Al aboard.

It seems that the 3 Wild Honey songs returned last night. If they stay not sure how I can't go to a show on this leg....

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/orpheum-theatre-boston-ma-4be20346.html

I'm really hoping the Wild Honey medley returns because honestly that's probably the only thing that will make me go out of the way to see them again.

I think the best are the stars who get a kick when not recognised. My mother was trying to decipher a pay and display machine in a parking building when a nice young man talked her through it. She returns with the ticket to her waiting sister who said 'you realise that was Bruce Willis'. He just wandered off chuckling to himself and shaking his head apparently.

That's such a great story! 

Looks like part 2 of the youtube link posted above is available too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOnP8EiNZm8

I guess the enjoyment of this show is an acquired taste. I've watched dozens of these concert videos over the past 5 years or so, and I also think it is missing something without Bruce being there. What that is, I won't even guess. But it's something that's missing when it's not there. Most obvious Bruce isn't there to look at his watch and egg on the crowd during Mike's "wheennnnn" routine.

And this is my opinion only, as always, but it was on display on part one (in Mike's own words and the crowd reactions of parts 1 and 2) what the draw is with John Stamos. It's on full display in the crowd reactions as well as Mike's banter. If that's what makes Mike laugh all the way to the bank, so be it.

And "Forever" to me was better served in terms of Dennis and the legacy when it was the Dennis video tribute portion of Mike's shows. It's hard to see such a brilliant song co-opted into becoming the Full House song with little if any mention that Dennis wrote and recorded it with his band.

The few times I've seen it Stamos mentions Dennis when he sings it, this time dedicating it to his girlfriend and then saying he hopes he gets lucky or whatever... that's complete garbage and disrespectful honestly and normally I don't mind Stamos but that was too much. For what it's worth David Marks did a great forever with M&B a few years back and dedicated to Dennis every time. Honestly Stamos is better off singing Good Timin' like he's done. Bruce is definitely missed in a weird way I also can't explain.

Disney Girls is always a highlight for me, I just wish he'd rotate with Tears in the Morning and Deirdre

Looks like Bruce is missing a few shows coming up.

From Mike's Facebook

Hey Boys & Girls,
I am feeling a little under the weather, but I'll be back on the stage before you know it.
See you soon,
Bruce Johnston

Now that could be a very interesting collaboration to hear.

I wonder what are the skeletons he referred to in relation to Carl?

I interpreted it as "skeletons" with the band, not Carl in particular.

He answered some more questions today but can't forward on my device. Nice comment about Dennis, and funny comment about Brian. Said he'd continue to answer questions.

Has Blondie EVER spoken about Mike Love, or any of the Love brothers for that matter, either positively or negatively, whatsoever, in modern interviews? Seemingly there is only one guy in the band who isn't mentioned by Blondie at all, so I'm guessing that this omission may not be a coincidence when it comes to the skeletons that are spoken of.

For that matter, has Mike ever spoken of Blondie in any interview whatsoever?

This is from Blondie's Facebook page a few weeks back

Excerpt from interview of Mike Love before he hit the stage in Asbury Park, NJ:

Question/Comment:"Also, Blondie Chaplin, who sings one of my favorite underappreciated Beach Boy gems, 'Sail On Sailor'.

Mike Love: "Absolutely! And Ricky Fataar, who’s played drums, guitar and sang for years afterwards with Bonnie Raitt, was in our group too. He and Blondie were in the band at the same time, during (The Beach Boys 1973 album) Holland. That was pretty awesome."

Not much but it's something I guess

No problem, wish we'd hear more from Blondie, he seems like a super cool and interesting guy.

EVEN MORE fan questions...

6) Blondie, will you continue touring with Brian?

BC: "Have no idea what's in the works, I'm keen if he is to take a walk about & look around again."

7) Do you think you can do Funky Pretty when you play radio city music hall this month? It would really make me so happy!

BC: " Don't know if that's in the cards for New York , it's up to Brian and the vibe at the time."

And when you were with The Beach Boys did you guys start working on an album to follow up Holland with at all?

BC: " No, things seemed LEAN after that, my time."

9) Tell us a Dennis Wilson story that we haven't heard before.

BC: "WHAT??? you want Dennis to scold me in my dreams, Ha...Those uh, tend to be private,ha, I will at some point."

10) Any recent tour stories or fave memories?

BC: "Driving through the English countryside looking at the green, talking about the cows and sheep with Brian, relaxing on the move."

Thank you, BC.