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680598 Posts in 27600 Topics by 4068 Members - Latest Member: Dae Lims March 28, 2024, 08:26:01 PM
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126  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Why did Bri do this? on: November 24, 2014, 03:08:38 PM
I gave my love a cherry
That had no stone
I gave my love a chicken
That had no bone
I gave my love...

[@##$%^&]
127  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike and Bruce Tour 2014 on: November 10, 2014, 02:34:43 PM
Certainly in December, their shows tend to have a strong seasonal bias. Odd, that.  Roll Eyes

The audience last year:



And everyone's seated!

Time to revisit the 'do you stand or do you sit during concerts' debate...
128  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 7/4/80 DC show in retrospect on: October 20, 2014, 11:14:19 PM
I agree with the above comment about Brian on Good Timin' in DC. He looks and sounds totally disinterested in his Sloop John B opening vocal (Knebworth is better), but his singing and facial expressions look like the Brian of better times on Good Timin'. I see Carl's gesture as a reminder to Brian to sing his counterpoint vocal again.

Brian looks pretty disinterested and disengaged at pretty much every 1980 show I've seen or heard. 1979 for that matter. Back in 77/78, he could still occasionally have a bit of a spark on stage, at least energy-wise.

His disposition was probably just as unmotivated in 1981-1982 as well, but he was forced to be more engaged since he had to take a bunch of Carl's leads.

The only time I remember Brian "sparking" and having one helluva good time on stage was in 1978. I think it was the Largo show. He musta snorted some looooong hog rails before that concert!!  Runnin' all over the place and getting into the singing - yelling into the mic. There may be others that I'm forgetting, but that one stands out in my mind.

Beach Boys at the CNE in Toronto, August of '81. During the encore (or close to it), Brian got up from the piano and made an exaggerated sneak toward the guitar amps on stage. He then pantomimed turning the volume dials up.

Mike then said 'Oh no! Brian has just turned all the guitars way way UP!'  

It was a playful, unexpected moment. I love those 'Brian' moments.

(also during the unplugged casino shows in Vancouver, circa '06 - during the lineup bow at the end of the show, Brian unceremoniously lifted his shirt high above his belly)
129  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: My column on the 10-year anniversary of \ on: September 30, 2014, 11:06:19 PM
I saw Brian at the Puyallup Fair outside of Seattle on Sept. 21st in 2000 (Pet Sounds tour).

After the show, I encountered two hyper high school kids who were hoping for an autograph from Brian. We were talking all things Brian/Beach Boys when I asked them, 'what'll you think he'll do for a follow up to the Pet Sounds tour?' They excitedly told me that in speaking with someone from the crew they were informed Brian plans to tour Smile.

I just grinned and thought, oh righhhhty then. That'll happen!

I have no idea whether this grand idea truly had its genesis as far back as 2000, but I know what they told me at the time. And just like the record store experience a few years later, I was thinking 'wow, these kids are in high school and they're totally into Smile!'
130  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: My column on the 10-year anniversary of \ on: September 29, 2014, 03:31:48 PM
So many snapshots in that incredible year of SMiLE. One that I will always remember is standing in line at midnight at Easy Street Records in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood (that particular shop is now sadly closed).

Twenty four twenty-somethings all waiting in line for the strike of midnight. All waiting for the official release of the Holy Grail. Kids that were born in the early 80's...but they knew the mythology,  they knew what was about to transpire. Epic moment in time.

I looked back at the crowd and I SMiLED...thinking, wow. What a long strange trip it's been!
131  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Love and Mercy At The Toronto Film Festival on: September 15, 2014, 01:20:43 PM
Don't know if this has been posted, but a glowing review in Sunday's Washington Post. After a litany of stand-outs, it's profiled at the end of the piece.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/at-film-festival-bill-murray-makes-a-splash-but-brian-wilson-biopic-steals-the-show/2014/09/10/f1e4a52e-3878-11e4-8601-97ba88884ffd_story.html

Melinda Ledbetter Wilson is another fighter in “Love & Mercy,” Bill Pohlad’s extraordinary, even visionary chronicle of the musician Brian Wilson. Pohlad, who has financed and produced films by Sean Penn and Terrence Malick, focuses on the years when Wilson was producing the Beach Boys’ seminal album “Pet Sounds,” jumping ahead to when he first met his second wife — played by Elizabeth Banks — in the 198os. That was also the era during which Wilson battled mental illness and came under the dubious care of psychiatrist Eugene Landy, played in the film by Paul Giamatti.

Paul Dano delivers an astonishing performance as the younger version of Wilson, with John Cusack playing him in later years, a gambit that pays off handsomely in a production that reflects Wilson’s blazing imagination with its own ingenious structure, visual approach, sound design and poetic sensibility. (The film was written by Oren Moverman, who also wrote the oblique Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There.”) Among the many smart, sophisticated, deeply moving films that have become TIFF reliables, “Love & Mercy” — which just sold to Lionsgate on Wednesday — was an unexpected, undisputed triumph.



132  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Love and Mercy At The Toronto Film Festival on: September 10, 2014, 10:43:34 PM
You know, we're 10 years post BWPS. Amazing really, but time flies (especially in media cycle years). The 2012 tour woke up a lot of people to the band's legacy, and BWPS woke up a whole new demographic on Brian's studio artistry (to take nothing away from the band themselves). Hopefully this movie will engage, reengage, and remind everyone of the inspirational saga of the BW career arc.

Ray, the behind-the-scenes info is illuminating and fascinating. Thank you for that. Just when you think you've heard the story, now you know...the rest of the story.

The real interesting chapter will the new, improved auto biography. Beyond the music, there's so much internal dynamics that we can only ponder and conjecture. Brian has never fully dropped the veil and really truly opened up - circa BWPS, and subsequently with the Smile box, I always found Brian's recollections wanting (whether by design or not). Compare that with Pete Townsend's deeply fascinating and rambling explanations (and contradictions) on the stillborn Lifehouse. I always loved those Rolling Stone stream of consciousness interviews of his. Yet with Brian, there's always a little held back. This of course adds to the mystique, the riddle. Anything and everything that reveals the inner Brian Wilson is fascinating to me.
133  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Love and Mercy At The Toronto Film Festival on: September 10, 2014, 10:29:03 PM
She seemed to come in with the mindset of making a few posts and leaving anyway. 

I think so too.

I just wanted to ask her if Brian ever, finally got his chicken.
134  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: My Very First Beach Boys Release on: August 21, 2014, 09:36:18 PM
First LP was this Pickwick release, purchased on sale at Sam the Record Man on Yonge St. in Toronto. In the midst of the mid 70's Beach Boy revival.

First 45 was handed out for free at a JC Penney's in the summer of '68! They were also selling Beatle albums up to Pepper at only $1.99 a piece. Picked up Revolver (at the age of 9) and never looked back...

135  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 1966 Smile on: August 21, 2014, 08:56:27 PM
If only Brian were a member of this board, he could answer this question directly. Unfortunately, his handlers will not allow it.  Grin

If only we could sit in a room with Brian, like the old days, these questions could be answered.  Smokin
136  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Adult/Child's demise on: August 18, 2014, 03:58:35 PM
Leave out the covers and concentrate upon the big band numbers and cool gems such as Lines, and you've got a great, quirky Brian solo album. The necessity of another Warner album probably meant that it was Beach Boys or nothing at all. And nothing at all turned into MIU.

Wonder if he was so disposed to try a solo LP back then - Mike was active with Celebration at the time after all.  
137  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: My Very First Beach Boys Release on: August 14, 2014, 11:43:38 PM
Ah cassettes! Mix tapes are the best, and still have their fans out there.

I'll take your cassette and raise ya - when Endless Summer came out, I was able to record ES to 8-track (also recorded the Beatles Blue Cover Greatest Hits double). Listened to both 8-tracks constantly while driving around. Truly made the mid seventies an endless summer.

The thing about 8-tracks is they transferred channels after the allotted time per tape (with four channels). If you'd listen to them over and over, the loud CLICK between channels would become a familiar part of the song. You'd get used to it. CLICK.
138  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike and Bruce Tour 2014 on: August 02, 2014, 10:37:31 PM
This person posted several quality videos of last night's show w/ David:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m25N1d_q830&list=UU2M6BVrNGCvlVRlS1WujjgQ

Also Bruce sings GOK here, listen for that keyboard note that he plays at the beginning.

That was actually the first time I heard Bruce sing GOK.  He sounded great!

I agree. I kind of wish Mike and Bruce didn't pursue the use of the Carl Wilson recording after C50. It was a really special thing to do during that time in 2012, especially for Brian to be onstage with it. But it does seem to cheapen the concept a bit in this M&B setting.

When I saw them in OC last year they did this and I could hear the old woman next to me lean to her husband and go "Carl Wilson was the father, right?"........point being, probably about 90% of Mike and Bruce's usual crowd simply do not care.

Same thing happened to me when I saw them at the Puyallup Fair (Western Washington) circa '06. Mike mentioned Carl before GOK, and an elderly gentleman to my right asked me the same thing. What can you do? I politely explained.

The band has always marketed the music over the personalities. Kinda good in a way, kinda unfortunate.
139  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Stamos accused… on: July 29, 2014, 11:50:37 PM
I'm biased. I admit it. I got a kick out of Nelson's rant. But both guys could've worded their position more diplomatically. Still...you gotta love the golf comment!



Unfortunately, when you're a public DUDE you can't just wing-it on social media. It's a whole lot easier under pseudonyms (witness the comment section on youtube).  

140  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Stamos accused… on: July 29, 2014, 11:37:21 PM
I don't know. Just going on body language, it seems like an organic technical glich and John's over exuberance got the best of him. Don't really feel some Warren Commission subterfuge going on. Since I've never been a fan of the Velveeta actor, I do admit to smiling when I read Nelson's post. Still, he could've skewered John without resorting to a 'frat-boy' level of insult.

I'm just wondering, why is this coming out now? It sure does pull back the curtain on the two camps, and echoing Hey Jude's comment some pages ago, Stamos really does prove a litmus test into what 'kind of fan' you are. And Cowsill's ranting feeds into it - recall how strident he became on Facebook when Mike received the Ella nomination? He basically said 'screw all the haters'. Why your particular hate John? Is it because you feel defensive towards Mike and your own personal crew? (understandable...but still)

He could have simply wished Mike well and left it like that, but no - he had to say 'screw the haters'. Where there's smoke there's fire. It's no wonder that Mike finally said 'enough of this - I want my band (er, brand) back.'


141  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Summer Dreams Movie on: July 29, 2014, 10:21:31 PM
Those of you with Roku, you can stream part one of the movie (roughly up to Pet Sounds) on the Crackle movie channel.

Funny you mention it, I watched it just a week ago. The Brian portrayal just made him look like a fidgeting, frightened basket case - even in the studio. Of course, the Mike character would speak up and straighten things out...  LOL

The Van Dyke Parks party scene is my favorite btw. Some real thespian chops going down there maaaaan!
142  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Warning: may change your view of Stamos ! on: July 22, 2014, 08:22:19 PM
This is not unlike when a professional athlete gives selflessly of themselves and enriches the life of a sick child or a disabled adult or whatnot. And it's a giving thing, a good thing.

This of course means nothing when the discussion turns to does he belong in the lineup? Why does he swing at curve balls down and in the dirt? He drives me crazy! Why don't they trade his ass?

You see, he did a good thing. Then he did a bad thing...in the 8th inning. Kinda like Stamos during Be True to Your School. I can do without his schtick, although it's nice that he helps the less fortunate. It's the fair and proper thing to do. 
143  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike Love 1980's Recordings on: July 09, 2014, 11:54:05 PM
'Can't Stop...' sounds like last call at the Holiday Inn.  LOL
144  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike, Bruce and Dave @ Jones Beach - July 5th on: July 09, 2014, 02:22:09 PM
I know I'm in the grand minority here, but I really don't mind Stamos playing with The Beach Boys. He's been doing it since, what? 1987? And people are still bitching?

The Beach Boys are a serious band, but they're also a fun band. Obviously hardcore Beach Boys fans would rather concentrate on the "serious" aspect, while Mike has continually chosen the "fun (fun fun)" side.

Concerts are supposed to be entertaining, right? Stamos is an entertainer. Casual Beach Boys fans (the great majority of people who attend Beach Boys shows) want to be entertained. And having Stamos dance around the stage is more entertaining than seeing Randall Kirsch standing completely still in his cowboy hat playing bass and singing falsetto. Stamos is the worst musician on stage, obviously, but Mike's an entertainer too, and he wants his audiences to be entertained.

It probably helps that I was a kid when Full House was on, and I loved watching it. But Stamos has legitimate ties to the Beach Boys, he's been playing with them for over 25 years and he makes the band more entertaining for casual fans. Whatever. It's kind of sad how anti Stamos some Beach Boys fans are.

NRBQ is pretty entertaining too. And Terry Adams acts like a total LOON behind the piano (a personal favorite of mine btw), but here's the difference...they're not playing air guitar. They're not aping for the camera. They're playing their ass off. They BELONG there. @#$% Stamos. Put me in that category of BB fan. That's how I feel.
145  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike, Bruce and Dave @ Jones Beach - July 5th on: July 09, 2014, 11:46:26 AM
Stamos is a blight on the band and its legacy. There is nothing positive he has ever done for the group, in any way, shape or form. The fact that he continues to appear with the group is a testament to Mike's massively misguided approach to the Beach Boys brand and its value. People were laughing at Stamos in the crowd. It's almost as though Mike wants, in some subconscious way, to sabotage any respect or acclaim the band might still receive.

Total agreement here. In fact, I bet Mike took the Stamos exclusion from C50 (post the NYC shows) as a personal affront, a challenge to his ego, to his concept of the "brand". As long as you have John Stamos dancing about and strutting it on stage at a Beach Boys concert, the Beach Boys become a j-o-k-e. A humiliation. A spent force.

Who knows how contentious the discussions were between Mike and the 'other guys' when they suggested that Uncle Jessie 'give it a rest'. It was probably then that Mike thought '@#$ this'.
146  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike, Bruce and Dave @ Jones Beach - July 5th on: July 05, 2014, 10:06:04 PM
I really enjoyed myself, I thought it was a great show! And I never thought Bruce was such a laugh riot, that guy is hilarious! It was awesome getting to meet Mike, Bruce, and Dave. Class acts, all of them. And the weather today was perfect.

This is true. It's all covered in the new book.

147  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Al joining Mike and Bruce for Jones Beach show on: July 04, 2014, 12:56:59 PM
The Music Video TV era was a difficult time for 'legacy' performers. Dylan, Macca etc. pretty much mailed it in and tried to fit into a changing climate. It wasn't until much later that most of 'em said @#$% it and tapped into their muse and did worthwhile work. It's called the freedom of not giving a @#$%.

Your 40's/50's can be a bitch. 60's...not so much.
148  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Al joining Mike and Bruce for Jones Beach show on: June 30, 2014, 10:16:14 PM
I can't believe Al's name hasn't been removed from that listing if it's still being used to sell tickets to the show, which is now less than a week away. This turned into a comedy of errors that keeps delivering the punchlines.  Smiley

Basic business practice, you can't advertise something or someone if it's been confirmed they're not going to be there.

Or, and I have no evidence of this, the promoter is confidant Al and or BRI/Brother Tours (or whichever booking vehicle is used nowadays) is contractually bound to 'supply' Al and haven't been officially notified that he won't be appearing. Although the promoter is supposed to mitigate their losses it is possible they could sue for breach of contract.

However viewed it's one hell of a mess with no winners except perhaps the lawyers. Not the brand, the individuals, the public or the promoter.

As an aside, under New Zealand consumer law, the promoter would not get away with refusing refunds as per above.

In December 1970 Dirk sued Stig and Nasty, Barry sued Dirk, Nasty sued Stig and Barry, and Stig sued himself accidentally. It was the end of a golden era, and the beginning of another one for lawyers everywhere.
149  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Al joining Mike and Bruce for Jones Beach show on: June 28, 2014, 04:07:28 PM
It doesn't have to be me. It can be anyone - as long as they be fair and impartial. Please don't wave your credentials in my face. It's not becoming of your 'gravitas', as it were.

150  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Al joining Mike and Bruce for Jones Beach show on: June 28, 2014, 03:58:17 PM
Ha! Love to talk to Al. Good old Ohio country boy Al.

But seriously, I think I know how all this will play out. You will ask the 'tough' questions, Mike will spin like he's always spun, and you will report it all as FACT.

You can be startlingly obtuse - I'll report what Mike said to me (if it comes off) factually and accurately and you can decide how to take it.

Quote
I'm afraid I'd only accept your opinions Andrew as being representative of the status quo, not the greater whole. Another voice would be needed to give a fair voice to Al and Brian.

Fine, no problems - you make the contacts and set up those interviews. If I can do it, I'm sure you can. Based on my experience (pre-internet, granted), shouldn't take you much longer than thirty years, give or take. I can wait.  Grin

No one's questioning your ability to set up an interview. After nerding out on all things BB for all these years (and we thank you for it), I would THINK that some people might return your calls. Say...Al maybe?

Perhaps not, if he feels you have an agenda. Just saying. 
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