It will be interesting to see if there are any set list changes . I always believed Totten had a lot to do with Mikes set lists becoming more creative .

I’m enjoying The Beach Boys singles show with Mike and Bruce . I have to tune Mike out because he’s always  saying every song was his idea in some way , but it’s nice to hear all the songs .

Went to the show in CT tonight ! The vocals and harmony were spot on! That blend still sounds so fresh like the late 90s. Too bad there aren’t more shows . The arrangements are really good . Al nailed the whole lead on Add Some Music ! Carnie did a beautiful GOK dedicated to Billy Carl and Dennis.  Got the obligatory lovable Al lyric Flub or two .  Only thing I would change is a few more songs . Was really hoping for Heroes or YSGTM , two classic Al live leads .

I read where it said that Carnie's husband Rob, part of Brian's band now too, will be leading the band, and  believe it said it would be a 5 piece band. My guess is they will do 3 or 4 Wilson Phillips songs.

That makes sense . I would think Al could pull in Bobby , Billy ,and Eddie possibly too .

they would need to release more live recordings of songs and mix in some interviews , celebrity DJ kind of things, the BB themselves playing songs . Other BB knockoffs  It could be done easily .

Two moments that are way too short and to me are incredible little pieces .. Carl on Friends and Lovers with Gloria Loring and Glen Campbell doing a little bit of In Cars .

Bruce never had enough power to do a falsetto lead kind of song. He has the range and certainly did within a harmony stack . But I don’t think his voice was ever powerful enough to do a great Barbara Ann. He struggled with IGA in the years he sang it . Al may have not had quite the range but had the power to do them. While not as technically good as others later , one thing I always loved about an Al falsetto is he uses the same phrasings as Brian so there is authenticity . This is the reason I prefer him on WIBN over anyone else cause he used nearly identical phrasing as Brian

I think in his own way Mike was concerned about Carl’s health , human relations with others has never been Mike’s strong suit so it might seem weird the way he went about it. However I think he used the situation with Carl to manipulate Al out once and for all  and sort of kill two birds with one stone.  and it would have been interesting to see if they called his bluff because I don’t think he would ever actually quit .  Al was always Brian’s friend above all and tended to go as Brian did , the less Brian was involved the less clout Al has had. I think Brian was and is Al’s biggest champion in the group . Amazingly they (even Carl seemingly)  viewed him as expendable as early as 1990.

I never got the hatred toward In My Car . It not as bad as most of SIP and Carl and Al sound great .

There’s also Wilojarston publishing which was formed some time in the late 60s and  which is different that BRI although I’m
not sure how and I always get confused but I believe Bruce retained his stake in that .

Hahha I recall Surfer Moon  getting a ton of air play in 18 too. Do It Again and In My Room are the ones that I manage to keep tuning into . I also head Ride the Wild Surf with out the lead vocal , only the backing track which was super weird. I have heard almost the entire KTSA album now ( Except for Oh Darlin) . I wish they would mix in more from In Concert and Knebworth(I’ve only heard Sloop from it ). It was great hearing Do You Wanna Dance from Al’s live album today !

WIBN and Sloop John B haven’t  sounded great with Mike’s band for awhile . Sloop John B always sounds like the whole band trying to sing the lead at once and never quite in unison . WIBN is a tough lead . They still miss Al and Carl there the most .  It was a rough night for Mike and Bruce themselves mix or not . One of the worst I’ve ever heard Mike on California Girls . They need to pick the tempo of that back up . That being said  Both of their voices are so thin I think it’s hard to get a mix for TV right . Their worst performances have been at these big shows . When you see them
In a smaller venue and the mix can be more controlled they both usually sound better .

Of all the great live recordings they could be play somehow ‘81 in DC is in rotation . I don’t remember that even getting a release .

Just heard GOK live from ‘81 with Brian on lead!!

It may have charted . After all Wipe Out made top 20
a coupled years later but I agree Getcha Back was the obvious lead single choice . The weakest part of it is the lead vocal . I think it would have gone higher with a better lead .

Another very short term Carl guitar selection was the black Les Paul he's seen playing at the Wembley 1980 show:

I think that Les Paul got played more by Al and Eddie than Carl, even though it was technically owned by Carl.

Carl and Al both playing different guitars there then normal . Rare for 1980. Al owned a black Les Paul as well . He played it frequently and a few years ago it was missing /stolen . He was very upset about it and I don’t know if he ever got it back .

He’s gotten more mileage out of that song than Loop De Loop and PT Cruiser !

For whatever reason Carl had given up on them by the early 90s. He resisted doing the 93 tour because he didn’t think they would sound good .Al pushed that one . Al and Brian were on board with a Pet Sounds anniversary tour in 96 that he also nixed because they couldn’t  handle it vocally . He had a ton of songs from the 70s that he never performed ever again for some reason only he would know . Heck Al pushed him to do SOS in 95. He was satisfied singing GOK , GV, and Darlin and calling it a night every tour .

The beachago tour is such a great moment I’d want and I think 1980 was the last great tour . I would say they should have taken a break in 77. Things were very hot and they could have used a break . They would have gotten together again for the money when the oldies bands became big in the early 80s.

It’s Ok I feel like did as well as I would expect it. KTSS could have been a hit in 1980 with a single version that resembles the live version they did that summer . It smoked.

I think these clips prove that the recent Drive In show was a fluke...

Sloop/WIBN: https://youtu.be/OyVRuQQ9OxI

Bruce KILLS the lead. Sounds strong, considering his age.

California Sun: https://youtu.be/7PqP9hUGpNk

Mike sounds like Mike f*ckin Love!!! Not the warbly mess from the drive in show. A little shaky? Yeah, but still sounds fabulous.


Interesting, and to me very pleasing, to see Randell filling in for Scott. He’s an excellent singer, guitarist, bassist whose played with BBs, J&D, BW band, Dean/Alan/David “allstar” band— definitely earned his stripes. Of the best (non BW falsettos/BW Imitation)  my list goes in order goes  Al (62-early 80’s), Ike, Kirsch, Baker (on a good day), and lastly Foskett. That’s not to say I don’t love Jeff’s voice, but his mid range is where he shines in my opinion, and the falsetto could be very pitchy at times, my two cents.... a long tangent to say, that I’m happy to see Kirsch back in the picture, even if only temporary. All these sidemen are obviously so dedicated to the music, given that when they leave the BBs/Solo/J&D bands, they start/join tribute  bands.


Anyway, in my opinion the horrible vocals of the Drive In show were probably a combination of Mike being under the weather (G-d willing, not Covid) and shitty monitoring. And The Beach Boys, as a touring band, still seem to be a fabulous Unit.

Bruce sounds really rough in that Sloop John B lead . It sounds like 3 different people trying to fight over the lead . I’ve always felt that Mikes band is at their weakest on Sloop and WIBN that traditionally had strong leads from Al and Carl.
California sun is fine . It’s a good arrangement for Mike to sing .

A recording of Mikes recent drive in show from 10/23  has surfaced On youtube Don’t worry Mark McGrath is back and this too shall pass makes the set list along with McGrath’s fly

https://youtu.be/kjtDk0oeiPA

I always saw Spirit of America and Sunshine Dream being a better analogy to the red and blue Beatle albums . Endless Summer stands on its own .

You would have thought someone with Bruce’s financial security would have found a better place to put his memorabilia than his garage ?

Mike K had a lot of history with the band but his drumming really declined. I always thought Bobby F was a better drummer anyway but they stuck with Mike along time.