Very cool! A mini wrecking crew!

Like the double tracks on Brian's vocals. Nicely done.

Today's my birthday, and apart from impresario Berry Gordy, I'm proud to say I share a birthday with Randy Newman and Sammy Davis Jr.

Equal parts smart ass and candyman, which is about right. 

DD,

I think you're missing the point.  It's one thing to have grousers as you put it, who are going to put in their opinions.  

But the issues being addressed are trolls who disrupt threads without adding anything whatsoever to the conversion.

I must admit that OSD makes me laugh. He's like the drunk uncle at the Thanksgiving table. He may not fit the narrative, but ah...pass the green beans please...

Oh boo-hoo, buckle my shoe...some of you are really getting your panties in a twist over this stuff.

It's like a political thread. I'm not a tea party guy, and when I see a poster who espouses that merda, I scan past to the next. No one is so incensed to completely avoid the topic - they just scan to the next comment. If certain ahem, insiders (to use an AGD term) are so thin skinned to take offense, then they need to get over themselves.

Again, if we're talking studio equipment, then we'll have a wide ranging technical exchange of knowledge and no one will be offended. But if we discuss Mike and all things M&B, there's guaranteed to be some grousers in the bunch. As well there should be. Any reaction towards those grousers is group think, pure and simple.

The tedious will become nuclear when the book comes out next summer. Think of it as piling on; I will admit here that it's probably impossible to have a sober, unblinking conversation about Mike without it descending into hostility. That's just the natural order of things. And by the way - it all starts with Mike, who's checkered behavior over the years has brought a lot of it upon himself.

I'm afraid you can't have a dispassionate discussion about anything related to Mike Love. No can do. Never happen. He's used up his sympathy currency as far as I'm concerned.

Getting back to the origination of this thread (ahem...Mike Love's Whore Band), what would be the reaction here if the writer of said hit piece posted verbatim upon this board? No doubt, those of you who rally to Mike's side would decry such vitriol and dare say - declare, 'why are you here? do you even LIKE the Beach Boys? What a troll!'

The point that I'm making is that anti-Mike (or grudging mistrust) exists out there. Hoping and wishing that it would go away is fanciful and ultimately pointless. It's a historical part of the mosaic of Beach Boys nation. There's no need for widespread ban-hammers. We have met the enemy...and it is US!

Not a bad track, not at all! Actually enjoyed listening to it. But then again, I also enjoy PT Cruiser. Guess I'm just a sentimental sap...

To echo Ron's remark, coupling Mike with a co-producer/writer who's legitimately 'his own man' would be an interesting experiment. Throw some friction into that studio. Of course, I'm 'fraid that ship has sailed... Mike prefers the road.

Mike's tunes sound fine and all, but they always seem to lack that little surprise, that little unexpected. They always seem so pleasantly by-the-numbers. Daybreak Over the Ocean - pleasant, but a little hum dee dum to me.

It's actually got a nice languid, drugged out vibe. A Smiley Smile for the new millennium.

On and on, he goes dum bee doo dah
On and on, he goes dum bee doo
On and on, he goes dum bee doo dah
On and on, he goes dum bee doo.

See you...in court, he told me
See you in court (dum bee doo)
I'll see him...in court, I know I'll
See him in court, for sure he'll
Drag me... to court, I know he'll
Drag me to court, (dum bee doo) [GO]

On and on, we go dum bee doo dah
On and on, we go dum bee doo...

Fantastic stuff! Never seen it before.

Bellagio mentions an Oct 2nd '68 session which was used for the 'I Can Hear Music' promo. Perhaps they just stepped outside for a quick romp through the park?

Thought I'd resuscitate this thread with a recent review. Had the supreme pleasure to catch their Odyssey and Oracle performance this past Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. If you consider yourself a fan of this classic LP, please do yourself a favor and SEE it.

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/10/15/The-Zombies-bring-classic-album-to-life-at-Carnegie-Homestead-pittsburgh/stories/201510150171

Review is spot on. Yes, the first set seemed heavy on the new album - admittedly a little bit on the blues/rock side of things, although I enjoyed the between song banter. With the old stories and recollections, it reminded me of the Ray Davies Storyteller series a decade ago.

Post intermission, they went right into Odyssey. Transcendent. It was moving. It really was. Hearing that old chestnut brought to life gave me the high that I recalled after the Smile shows. Please check 'em out if you can. Tour dates below (coming out west as well the UK).

http://www.thezombies.net/future/

When it came to the reunion in 1995, I'm sure Carl had modest expectations as to how Brian would deliver. But it soon became obvious, no matter how great the material was, that Brian was essentially being controlled again. Not by the drugs, but by his handlers. And this was something of which Carl wanted no part. He wanted to work with Brian, not with Brian's handlers. And Carl being the lucky person to put a half-hearted vocal down on Dancing The Night Away? I would have thrown up my arms and walked out too. It was a circus. This wasn't his brother he was working with. He was working with his brother's handlers. He preferred to do the right thing and walk away. And honestly, considering what Brian's subjected us to in the last fifteen years, Carl did us a favor. The show would go on, but if Brian wasn't going to be himself, then Carl wanted nothing to do with it.

First of all, that was a nice tribute to Carl and all he had to deal with through the years. However, I'd like you to bullet point just what you mean by handlers. God only KNOWS we've been down this road before (if fact right up and through NPP), but are you insinuating that Melinda was calling the shots in 1995 while Brian was passively along for the ride? And just what does 'Carl did us a favor' really mean? Really? You prefer Nashville Sounds?

Although your essay came from a good place, I found it a little condescending towards his big brother. 

RE: the lyrics and their acceptance, Stephen Desper would probably know. He tracked 'em.

One of the revelations of the SOT studio boots is all the dialogue between takes. Gave a great birds eye view in how the guys worked. When they were all wood shedding at Bellagio, I'm sure there was some tomfoolery goin' on. Whether that ever turned into rebellion towards Jack's approach, we can only conjecture. Bruce maybe. Hell, he split the scene man.

David, you're using a moniker as well - Mr. ESQ Editor. Instead of using the tired 'opinions are like...' argument, perhaps you can get off your high horse and consider some of what's been said.

We use monikers for fun. For fun, fun, fun. My real name is Ched Stanisic. I'm friends with Mikie, Susan Lang (of the old Cabinessence board) and many others in Beach Boys world. My opinions are my own however, and I own up to them. Now don't be so defensive when someone points out the inherent bias in your work. And excuse me for questioning your unquestioned standing in the literary world.

David's most probably on the payroll. Look at the cover page of his personal Facebook account.

Regarding the article, I would have expected some of those hamfisted observations from a civilian...a regular journo who was selected to scribe a cliff notes summary of a concert. But not an insider. Not a guy who made his bones & credibility from ESQ. A feller such as Beard should already know the forest from the trees and comment on his surroundings with tact and credibility.

Overall, it wasn't the hackjob I expected when I read some of the comments above, but it seemed like it was written by either a civilian or someone with an agenda. Sadly, it's probably the later (hence the smooch, smooch for all things Love on his Facebook page).

Welcome to the board Iain - and thank you for all your work on Monkee rarities! I'm a big fan of your monkeebootlegs Facebook page.

Regarding 'Unleash' - dunno why the hold-up. I recall it being available for download on assorted Beach Boy blogs out there (which meant it was circulating), but it obviously never saw the light of day on a major. Perhaps the business side of things didn't jell. It would probably make sense to release it concurrent with the book release.

*yawn* on any Mike Q&A. Its all about how BW did drugs and Mike is some TM superman....

  TM Superman. That's hilarious!

Superman and Green Lan-tern ain't got...nothin' on me...

Thank you Mike Love for free range chicken and salted caramel gelato.

The Sha Na Na analogy is spot on. I was also thinking about when I saw Paul Revere and the Raiders at an outdoor show some years back in Seattle; Paul Revere spent the vast majority of the show aping and clowning around on stage and encouraging the crowd to clap their hands, get up, whatever.

It's whatever you're into, ultimately. No one is disparaging Bruce's studio abilities. His current on-stage role seems to diminish those abilities in my opinion.  A shame really.

If you dig it, then bully for ya. To me and some others, it comes off as cheese.

The show on the 24th in Richmond, BC would be a good one to check out. Right off the highway, just outside of Vancouver.

TINY auditorium. Like, tv studio sized. Sometime around 9-10 years ago I caught Brian's unplugged show - the ones with Gary Griffin, Probyn (on bass) and Jeffrey. Up until this recent tour, I've never seen Brian so animated and loosey goosey on stage. No teleprompter as well!

Anyway, kind of a small setting for such a big band. If you'd like an up close concert experience it'd be worth your while!

I've got some old friends in Cleveland that are going to see 'em at Cain Park in Cleveland Hts., early August.

My buddy was telling me how he was somewhat wary, but I told him 'go....have a good time.' Beautiful venue in a park setting (saw Brian do Pet Sounds there many years back). Also saw Junior Brown rawk the house there back in the 90's.

To me, the touring mothership is akin to a Jimmy Buffett show. Which is fine if that's what you're in the mood for. Nibblin' on sponge cake. Watchin' the waves break...

Lessee...seen 'em in the dark days with Kowalski, seen 'em with John on the drums and Scott obviously. The tightness of the organization improved noticeably, but no one can (or should) compare their approach with the Brian Wilson Big Band Revue. Tomatoes, to-Mah-toes. It's what you dig, dig?

I dig the artistic approach. Which is why I drove 6 hours up, 6 hours back in the same day just to see this very special performance in Detroit. I would have to have free tix in a local zipcode to get into the M&B approach (but I might, if I was in a Buffett mood). Which is FINE. Let's just not confuse the issue by considering the ridiculous...Michael Love Presents Pet Sounds. Somewhere...beyond the pale.

Sherriff John, I addressed your question - it's all a part of the same mosiac. Just not the same. Al and Brian can happily go on cashing checks as per the agreement (as well they should).

I realize I'm just feeding the trolls right now, but 87.5 percent of this so-called "bar band" has been good enough for Brian Wilson, either solo or part of the C50 lineup.

Mike Love hatred is sad in general, but it becomes pathetic, misguided and contradictory when the Beach Boys touring band members are caught in the crossfire.

a) the musical arrangements of one against the other
b) the instruments involved (real vs. prefab synth patch)
c) ergo - the sheer numbers of personnel


You could call it hatred, and I could cop to that at times, but ultimately there is a world of difference between what I saw two weeks ago in Detroit and the half-baked tripe I regularly see (via youtube) of the mother ship. Let's get real here...there's a difference. But hey...two big Bud Lights later, and you may not know the difference.

Can't see two competing versons of 'Sounds. That might make sense in a 'chinese buffet kind of way', but it utterly confuses the market.

Either Brian solo, or surprise surprise, they get it together. This one time only (says Jardine).

Personally, I'm a little Pet Sounded out, but Brian would do it justice. Mike would not. Don't need to hear about it being performed in a bar band arrangement.

I'm a little concerned about some of the recent advertising.

I mean...that's just not right.

Great review and most excellent photos Marty!

I drove in from Pittsburgh for the show, because yes - I kind of feel like this is the grand hurrah touring-wise. Ditto on reports on Brian's demeanor; I haven't seen him as engaged throughout a show as I have last night in Detroit. Hearing magestic music in such a classic old school theater made it all the better. The Fox Detroit hails from a classic era of theater architecture, where going to the movies was a spiritual event. The design of this classic hall is like a wedding cake dipped in gold.

The band seemed loose, the atmosphere was fun and it was also good to see Lizik back on the bass!

A couple of notes:

Yeah, the setlist was identical to Toronto. Folks in the UK shouldn't feel as if they're missing out from too much of NPP. It was a subtle nod to the LP (would've liked to hear stuff such as 'Whatever Happened' but alas), along with a nice smattering of deep cuts such as Busy Doin' Nothin. The real wild-card for the UK is Blondie...as in, will he be there? Which brings me to...

Apart from the obligatory rawk-out for the encores, I've never heard the Brian Wilson band rock OUT mid set the way they did with Blondie on Wild Honey. There was a little less of the 'by the numbers studio recreation' in favor of pure jam. WH went on and on and kept building and building (with Blondie leading the way on guitar). God what a hot short set - leading into Sail on Sailor no less. CLASSIC.

For those who haven't heard Rodriguez - what a nice set. I'll have to search out that Doc that came out a few years back (Searching for Sugarman), but I'll sum up his style as the vocal timbre of Donovan with that mid-era Dylan riddler lyrics. Such a great overlooked artist that is finally getting his due stateside. And last night in his hometown, no less. Again, classic.

Some folks bemoan the parsing out of Brian leads to others. Nonsense. What we have now is the 'Brian Wilson Revue', and it works. It celebrates the past and it tangibly brings it to the present. There's a balancing act here obviously, but it works.

As an aside, some rocker dude sat down next to my seat stage right. In conversation, we got to talking about his music. He's been playing the part of Ronnie Wood in a Stones cover band, and he just got selected as a lead guitar in a new project. What project? He's backing Liv Tyler's mom. Holy sh*t...it wasn't until I got home that I realized that he'll be backing Bebe Buell in her new project. She's a classic rock and roll lady, romantically linked with Rundgrun, Steve Tyler (obviously), Elvis Costello, et all. Apparently, she was an inspiration for the lead character in Almost Famous.

And so it goes. All of Brian's shows are special moments in time. Go see 'em. You only live once. ENJOY.

-----------------

Oh yeah, I DID meet Add Some (Lee) in the restroom after the show. We had a short pleasant conversation, but we kept it short - because a gentleman should always limit his conversation while waiting in line at the restroom.