The Jan and Dean Show starring Dean Torrence

[CosmicDancer]

Hi all.  I just recieved two free tickets to go see Dean's show tomorrow night in my town, Knoxville TN.  Has anybody seen this show recently?  How is it?  I mean, it is free so I am definately going.  I'm just wondering if I should gear myself up for something bad or if it is actually worth seeing. 

[mikee]

So how was this show?

[CosmicDancer]

Sorry it took so long for me to get back on this.  I have had limited internet access over the past few days!  The show was enjoyable but kinda strange in a way.  I went to the show expecting to hear a few of the Beach Boys surf tunes as that is kinda the theme to the show.  Little did I know that probably 80% of the show would be BB tunes!!!  Only three Jan and Dean tunes (Surf City, Dead Man's Curve, and The Little Old Lady From Pasadena) at a "Jan and Dean" show!?!?!?!  I will try to list all of the BB tunes they played if my memory can hold up:

Do It Again, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, Kokomo, Surfin' Safari, Surfin' USA, Little Duece Coupe, Shut Down, I Get Around, California Girls, Help Me Rhonda, Do You Wanna Dance (with the Brian-esque arrangement), Dance, Dance, Dance, Darlin', and Barbara Ann.

I think that is all of them.  I may have left one out but I think that is it!  I just found it a bit odd that they played so many BB tunes!  No compliants as they are all awesome songs but I thought I was going to see Dean play Jan and Dean tunes.  Oh well.

Now then, for the performance.  The people who were running sound were terrible.  All of the band members took lead vocal spots and the mic's would not be turned up correctly.  In all fairness, I'm sure these people were just local hires and not used to running their sound.  I hope that is the case.  Dean was looking a bit rough but he is getting pretty old so it is to be expected I guess.  His vocals were hardly in the mix at all except for his lead spots which were few and far between.  When he did have a lead spot, he sounded okay with the exception of Dead Man's Curve.  It was pretty bad!  Afterwards he even said, "Jan would have said that sucked and he probably would have been right!"  Ouch!!  The band members, minus the drummer, took most of the lead vocals.  The band was solid.  Not spectacular but they did a nice job.  The bass player, Phillip Bardowell, and keyboard/organist, Gary Griffin,  were both touring Beach Boys at some point we were told and the percussionist and singer of the high parts was none other than MATT JARDINE!!!

All in all, it was a fun show and the crowd of about 700-1000 seemed to have a great time.  I would certainly go again for free but I don't know that I would spend the $20 ticket price.  Sorry this was so long winded!

[CosmicDancer]

One more Beach Boys tune they played that I forgot:  409.  Just figured I would throw that in there!

[Rocker]

Seems like Dean is heading in the same direction as Mike, only that Dean has the class not to call his act "Jan & Dean"

[CosmicDancer]

Actually, the name of the act, or at least the name on the ticket is "The Jan and Dean Show starring Dean Torrence".  So he is pretty much pulling the same thing as Mike.

[Rocker]

Yeah, but it shows that it is just Dean and that way it can't be Jan & Dean. But you're right and that was what I meant with my post above.

[Aegir]

Does Dean sing the high part on Barbara Ann?

[Don't Back Down]

In addition to Aegir's comment, how is Deans falsetto nowadays if he has any left?

[CosmicDancer]

Rocker, I see what you were saying now.  Sorry for the confusion!

Dean did not sing the high part in Barbara Ann.  He really didn't sing much that you could actually hear very well.  I don't think his mic was ever really high in the mix and like I said, he only did about 3 or 4 lead vocals.  his band handled most of the vocal work.  Matt Jardine and Phillip Bardowell handled all of the falsetto and high up there parts.  If my memory serves me well, it was Phillip who sang the high part in Barbara Ann. 

Matt Jardine was great on his lead vocals.  The Beach Boys really need to get Al back in there so that they can have Matt and the original with the best voice in his older age back on stage!