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.

Definitely not one of my favorite songs ( I’m in the camp that thinks it’s too slow and plodding ) but this is one the best threads I’ve read on here in awhile ! Gave me some new appreciation of that song . Now who sang what on the C50 version 😂😂

Over the years I’ve read about several vintage things stored at Al’s barn including the boat set from the mid 70s, a set of Dennis’s drums , and the white Yamaha piano.

If they played Cottonfields any slower they’d be going in reverse .
The 1990 Carl less concert is interesting . They did a version of Cal Saga there and Bruce on GOK.

I’m guessing that’s why it ended up in the set list a few years ago ...because Brian likes it.

Al Jardine having memory recall issues ?! I’m shocked    Seriously though great news. I’d think Al would remember the Carnegie Hall concert.

Bruce does a great job at those high oooos , always has . But his lead voice is not that strong . You can catch him on a good night sometimes but I’ve heard him croak his way through some leads too over the past several years . 

Blown away by Russell Thompkins Jr's take on Don't Worry Baby at tonight's show (clip shown on Brian's FB page)

It really was unbelievable. What was amazing was that he sang it like it was just so easy for him! Like it was nothing, like singing the alphabet or something, instead of singing an incredibly high falsetto. What I enjoyed almost as much was watching Matt Jardine while Russell Tompkins was singing; he was just sort of shaking his head like he couldn't believe it. And when the song was over and Al introduced Darian for the next song, Darian sort of muttered "you want me to follow that?"  Very funny.

After the show I was standing on the street after most people had wandered off and Tompkins walked past me with some other guy. I had the chance to say that he was fabulous. He just said thank you very much and then disappeared into the Streets of Philadelphia.

Brian told Al to introduce Darian the other night. It’s so funny cause he tells Al to do it and says Darians name . I don’t think Brian could do a show without Al at this point.  If you told me Al would would take Jeff’s place and become Brian’s right hand man in their 70s in 2000 I would have laughed at you

Does anyone think it's odd that while they've had a bunch of special guests on this tour, an actual Beach Boy was at the show in NY but didn't join the band onstage for at least one song?

On another note, any smileysmilers going to the show in Philadelphia tonight?

Maybe they didn’t have an extra adjustable mic 😂😂😂

Saw them tonight in CT.  Brian was better than Xmas shows. His voice was the smoothest I’ve heard in years.  He shocked everyone when he came in on the bridge of WIBN in almost falsetto range as spontaneous applause started right then .  I think it was the best Sloop I’ve ever heard and I’ve heard a lot . Brian commented on it after how great it sounded . I was also shocked at how much he sang on Surfs Up and sounded great . He had his moments where he missed a cue on Til I die and Al bailed him out on the stand or fall verse of H and V.  Darian nailed ICHM and Blondie blew me away on LPR. Blondie also dedicated Feel Flows to Audree.  Al was great throughout and he and Brian had a laugh when Brian told him off the cuff to intro Diamond Head . Al was great as always although he blew a line of LAT but I think he surprised himself when he hit a high note during it .It exceeded my expectations as Brian had some incredible vocal moments . If this was the last time I’ll take it for sure!

Saw them tonight in Simsbury CT. Mike sounded really great . It was a very short show because if fireworks and then shortened even more due to storms . Only annoying thing is in a shortened show anyway where even a song like Darlin and When I Grow Up doesn’t make the cut they still played Pisces Brothers and Here Comes The Sun which brought everything to a screeching halt .

Last nights show at del Lago casino in waterloo ny was meh. Love Brian, love the band. But it’s time to load up the woody and surf off into the sunset.

Can you elaborate why it was so meh?

You want funny?

Al unable to remember the key to HMR last week. 

https://youtu.be/jOOHNtFmb6g


“Just sing Al....This is your big song”

Al has that absent minded professor personality for sure . Then you’ll hear him notice some obscure part missing in a BW soundcheck. In his defense they did lower the key on that for a number of years in the 70s and early 80s.😂

Boy forgot about that interview . There’s Carl basically saying it’s Mikes group as far back as 89. The Mike /Al problems started right here too , I’m sure that was a big reason . Good interview pushing Carl on the Setlist too. Al was the one who pushed hard for that 93 tour . This puts it in perspective . The shows really became Mike centric not long after . 88 had some great Setlists early.

The production and tempos of some singles in the 70s. I think they might have done better on the charts had they used the live arrangements on stuff like Marcella Mess of Help and SOS.
 
Also agree the Getcha Back lead is very sloppy. That may be one of the worse Mike leads on any hit

Mikes cover made me go back to listen to KTSA the single. That production is awful . I think if they did an arrangement like the live one they have a hit single . It rocks live and it’s so wimpy on the album . Bruce has said that’s how Carl wanted it , Bruce wanted more like the live one . Really too bad.

Mike’s group never seems to come across well with these live shot appearances or TV ones they have done like DC on the 4th recently . They have a thin sound that doesn’t translate well but in person in a smaller venue it sounds much better .

Sadly that sounds nothing like the BB at all with Mike and Bruce inaudible and no Jeff, It sounds like a four freshman cover band. Technically good but not BB like in the slighest.

Agreed that he might not have had his usual filter. While he was usually positive about stuff he also was the “quality control” guy and of course he knew deep down that celebration was crap. He probably just had an honest moment and actually said it by accident

Ps love these posts keep them coming!

Carl was the QC guy indeed. But he certainly wasn't filling that role in 1977/78; it's telling that we have pro-shot shows on video over a year apart (Largo, MD from January 1977 and Australia 1978), and Carl is toasted at both shows ("78 more so of course).

As even attested to in Jon Stebbins's "Real Beach Boy" Dennis bio, Al Jardine was about the only person holding that 1978 Australia/New Zealand tour together. Carl was out of it, Brian was head-in-the-clouds at best, Dennis seemed relatively together ironically but was embroiled in all of the politics, and Mike was doing his usual schlock stuff, like trying to teach multiple lines of lyrics to an audience that had never heard the song in question ("Country Pie').

I'd also argue that while Carl, as musical director, kept the Beach Boys generally very professional sounding through his tenure in 1997, the band got pretty stale and rote.

Just imagine a band *with* Carl and the rest of the guys, but with Mertens and Totten as musical directors really motivating everybody to up their game.

The slowed down arrangements and toy keyboard heavy sound they were doing at the end of Carl's tenure were abysmal. I will never figure out why he did that.

Just saw on Facebook that Brian added a date on 9/27 at the Palace in Waterbury.  I wasn't planning to go to see this tour but now it's 10 minutes from my house .  I just don't think I can pass that up.

Is that the last time Bruce has been seen holding a bass?

Mike’s group does such a lackluster job on Sloop John B compared to other songs . There are way too many people trying to sing the lead and they don’t blend at all. Pick someone for the lead !

Hope he’s ok. He does not look healthy at all .

That sounds right . Why would you want to put things out like live shows that might get people interested or rarities. 58 years and they still don’t know how to market themselves.