Beach Boys Dec 31, 2011 concert review- Thunder Valley Casino. Lincoln, CA

[oldsurferdude]

From the setlist, I could do without 1,3,4,9,11,12,17,20,22,27,31,33,34,and 36. Just sayin'.

[Les Chan]

There haven't been a whole of of changes to the setlist in a few years but hoping that changes during the reunion shows starting in late April!   

[Phoenix]

As promised, the Beach Boys setlist from the Dec 31, 2011 concert at Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln, CA:

6) Surf City
17) Little Old Lady From Pasadena
33) Summertime Blues

Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.

All the songs on all those albums (including the covers they recorded themsleves) and yet they're still padding the set list with songs outside their own catalog.  Oh well.  At least they dropped "Sherry" and "Duke Of Earl", etc.

[Andrew G. Doe]

As promised, the Beach Boys setlist from the Dec 31, 2011 concert at Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln, CA:

6) Surf City
17) Little Old Lady From Pasadena
33) Summertime Blues

Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.

All the songs on all those albums (including the covers they recorded themsleves) and yet they're still padding the set list with songs outside their own catalog.  Oh well.  At least they dropped "Sherry" and "Duke Of Earl", etc.

Think you'll find the last two are part of the BB canon. Alternatively, give Brian a hard time for padding his set with the likes of "Sloop John B" and the Gershwin material.

[Rocker]

Thank you for the setlist Les !

[southbay]

edited

[Phoenix]

As promised, the Beach Boys setlist from the Dec 31, 2011 concert at Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln, CA:

6) Surf City
17) Little Old Lady From Pasadena
33) Summertime Blues

Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.

All the songs on all those albums (including the covers they recorded themselves) and yet they're still padding the set list with songs outside their own catalog.  Oh well.  At least they dropped "Sherry" and "Duke Of Earl", etc.

Think you'll find the last two are part of the BB canon. Alternatively, give Brian a hard time for padding his set with the likes of "Sloop John B" and the Gershwin material.

I have no problem with them playing songs they've already recorded (which I suppose would count the live version of "TLOLFP").  I just don't understand the band's "adoption" of the J&D stuff (tho like I said, I guess I should ease up on the one) and it's not like they dedicate it to their pals, or to the memory of Jan.  I think it just perpetuates the myth to the layman that all that "generic" summer stuff ("Little GTO", "Hey Little Cobra", etc.) is the Beach Boys.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MisattributedSong
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_Beach_Boys_track_is_Little_GTO_on

Not only does it confuse the public on the actual style of the band, it diminishes the accomplishments of some other great artists, and/or to some people, takes them away all together.

As I said, they've certainly performed much worse sets.  One of my biggest wishes for the reunion tho is sticking to stuff from the band's own catalog: No "Back In The U.S.S.R.", etc!

[Mikie]

PM your way, Southbay!

[drbeachboy]

As promised, the Beach Boys setlist from the Dec 31, 2011 concert at Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln, CA:

6) Surf City
17) Little Old Lady From Pasadena
33) Summertime Blues

Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.

All the songs on all those albums (including the covers they recorded themselves) and yet they're still padding the set list with songs outside their own catalog.  Oh well.  At least they dropped "Sherry" and "Duke Of Earl", etc.

Think you'll find the last two are part of the BB canon. Alternatively, give Brian a hard time for padding his set with the likes of "Sloop John B" and the Gershwin material.

I have no problem with them playing songs they've already recorded (which I suppose would count the live version of "TLOLFP").  I just don't understand the band's "adoption" of the J&D stuff (tho like I said, I guess I should ease up on the one) and it's not like they dedicate it to their pals, or to the memory of Jan.  I think it just perpetuates the myth to the layman that all that "generic" summer stuff ("Little GTO", "Hey Little Cobra", etc.) is the Beach Boys.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MisattributedSong
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_Beach_Boys_track_is_Little_GTO_on

Not only does it confuse the public on the actual style of the band, it diminishes the accomplishments of some other great artists, and/or to some people, takes them away all together.

As I said, they've certainly performed much worse sets.  One of my biggest wishes for the reunion tho is sticking to stuff from the band's own catalog: No "Back In The U.S.S.R.", etc!

Bruce sang on Hey, Little Cobra as part of the Rip Chords. Brian co-wrote Surf City, which really pissed Murry off to no end that he gave it away to Jan & Dean. Mike had a hand in the lyric writing of Back In The USSR. So, for most these songs, there is a reason why they are included in setlists.

[southbay]

PM your way, Southbay!

back at ya...

[Phoenix]

I guess it's a fine line (tho I'm sure it just sounds like I have some bizarre double standard  ).  I just think they should give a heads up to the audience on the non-BB stuff and keep it to stuff they actually worked on (writing or recording), and even then, keep it to a minimum. 

As for "Back In The U.S.S.R.", I'm a huge Beatles fan but don't want to see them do it.  Mike's involvement is rather nebulous and as many people on this board feel, the Beach Boys don't need the Beatles association to help them along.  (I doubt Paul ever considered adding "Vega-Tables" to any of his setlists )

[drbeachboy]

I guess it's a fine line (tho I'm sure it just sounds like I have some bizarre double standard  ).  I just think they should give a heads up to the audience on the non-BB stuff and keep it to stuff they actually worked on (writing or recording), and even then, keep it to a minimum. 

As for "Back In The U.S.S.R.", I'm a huge Beatles fan but don't want to see them do it.  Mike's involvement is rather nebulous and as many people on this board feel, the Beach Boys don't need the Beatles association to help them along.  (I doubt Paul ever considered adding "Vega-Tables" to any of his setlists )

I love Hey Little Cobra & Surf City, so them doing it in concert may be the only chance I ever get to hear it live, though I did get to hear the latter day Rip Chords sing it back in 2004 at an Al Jardine show. I doubt they will have room to fit such songs in with the Reunion shows. The Beach Boys have been doing Back In The USSR off and on for close to 30 years now. So, I'm sure most concert goers are fairly used to it. Back in the early 70's they use to add Jumpin' Jack Flash to their encores. They did a pretty damn good version of that one too.

[Rocker]

Back in the early 70's they use to add Jumpin' Jack Flash to their encores. They did a pretty damn good version of that one too.

Mike & Bruce did it also in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFcpguCB8o

[Aegir]

I don't know why Brian's band doesn't do Surf City. He had more involvement in writing/arranging that song than something like Sail On Sailor, for instance.

[Shady]

It's so ridiculous they do "Back In The U.S.S.R" when they have, oh I don't know, 200 songs better than that

[Justin]

It's so ridiculous they do "Back In The U.S.S.R" when they have, oh I don't know, 200 songs better than that

Yeah that's always a bummer when a band who has a vast catalog, plays a full greatest hits show sans any obscure gems and they choose to fill the slots with covers. 

That said, I actually quite enjoyed seeing them perform "Back In the USSR" and "Summertime Blues" when I saw them a few years ago---mainly because I'd never seen them do it before.  But I'd hope they'd skip all the covers for the new tour.  It would be the biggest "F-you" to their catalog...and their fans if they littered the set with more covers.

[drbeachboy]

It's so ridiculous they do "Back In The U.S.S.R" when they have, oh I don't know, 200 songs better than that

Yeah that's always a bummer when a band who has a vast catalog, plays a full greatest hits show sans any obscure gems and they choose to fill the slots with covers.  

That said, I actually quite enjoyed seeing them perform "Back In the USSR" and "Summertime Blues" when I saw them a few years ago---mainly because I'd never seen them do it before.  But I'd hope they'd skip all the covers for the new tour.  It would be the biggest "F-you" to their catalog...and their fans if they littered the set with more covers.

I guess that includes Barbara Ann, even though they probably had as big a hit with it as The Regents did with the original version. Not saying I wouldn't mind if they did drop it from the setlist. I'm sure Andrew wouldn't mind either. Between Mike & Brian, they have played it at every single show that I ever attended, I think.

[Justin]

Ah yes "Barabara Ann"...well naturally, I meant covers of songs that they haven't had a hand in producing aka "Back in The USSR" and "Summertimes Blues."   The songs for the setlist should be coming from Beach Boys albums...not other groups/artists' albums.

[filledeplage]

Ah yes "Barabara Ann"...well naturally, I meant covers of songs that they haven't had a hand in producing aka "Back in The USSR" and "Summertimes Blues."   The songs for the setlist should be coming from Beach Boys albums...not other groups/artists' albums.

Ya, Justin, sometimes they cover stuff.  I think it shows respect for other artists' work and that those songs belong to a certain "genre" as it were.  In the white suit days, say 1967-8 or so, they used to do "Rock and Roll Woman" by the Buffalo Springfield, with whom they used  to tour, (and whose work I love!)  It shows the collective and explosive music genius of that time.  I don't think we have seen that kind of talent since then.  JMHO

There is also some old black and white footage from a Paris concert in about 5 sections.  Within those, there is a great medley section, which might be on the menu, to at least give a sample of favorites.  I would not want to have a hatchet for the setlist.  It will be a daunting task.  And some, such as Surf City tell the important and courageous story of Jan and Dean.  

[Aegir]

Ah yes "Barabara Ann"...well naturally, I meant covers of songs that they haven't had a hand in producing aka "Back in The USSR" and "Summertimes Blues."   The songs for the setlist should be coming from Beach Boys albums...not other groups/artists' albums.

Summertime Blues is on a Beach Boys album! Surfin' Safari.

[Justin]

You are exactly right, Aegir.  My mistake. 

Anything else I miss?  Did "Back In The USSR" appear on a version of Pet Sounds, I'm unaware of?     And I totally get the inclusion of this song is in the set is specifically for the reason that Mike helped Paul write the "Moscow girls..." bridge...

[Ron]

I can´t help feeling that this is a pure nostalgia act playing in front of a bunch of Joe Does who knows about 6-7 tunes.. the vocals sounds very flat occasionally..  Who does´the high harmony parts?

Jimmie, you ought to go see one of their shows then and lose the ignorance.  I went several years ago, the whole audience was Joe Does who knew about all the songs. 

[Mr. Wilson]

I went to Mike+Bruce show Alhambra Ca.2008..I loved it when they played Betsy+ So Young+ Summertime Blues..And there was people there that recognized the BB recorded those.So it depends what side of the fence your on..Now Barbara Ann can go take a walk off a short pier along with my EX.!

[SMiLE Brian]

I went to Mike+Bruce show Alhambra Ca.2008..I loved it when they played Betsy+ So Young+ Summertime Blues..And there was people there that recognized the BB recorded those.So it depends what side of the fence your on..Now Barbara Ann can go take a walk off a short pier along with my EX.!

Mike and Bruce put on a good show these days. I saw them in August and was impressed.

[Mr. Wilson]

Yea every since Scott took over direction + rehearsals + John Cowsill took over drums.. I guess Scott is on retainer cause he is responsible for band.Just like i read here that Jeff Foskett is only one in BW band on retainer..Anything to add ..? AGD