What might the concerts sound like ...

[Wirestone]

Bear with me. For folks who might not have followed BW and his band recently -- or Mike and Bruce and theirs -- here's an attempt to gather some live clips from the last couple of years. Nothing pre-2010 is used. So if you're curious about what the guys might sound like this summer -- listen up!

Disney Girls (A shoo-in for the set, surely. May 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKBSC_yObo

Be True to Your School (Can't imagine we'll avoid this. Also 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYLUiqgm7Fc

God Only Knows (Brian should be singing this, right? 2011 "unplugged" on Jools Holland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC66SoqBv6M

California Saga (Al and band. Saw Al do this with Brian's band, which was excellent. August 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCkK5RV31MY

California Girls - Sloop John B - Good Vibes medley (Mike, Bruce and Al at the Reagan library. Feb. 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xwvOT865c

Fun, Fun, Fun (Mike will be singing this instead of Brian, obviously, but I love BW's attitude here. June 2011)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KiptyKbTUY

I've gotta say -- they're sounding better than I thought they might. Brian's always a wild card, but he can do well enough when loosened up and enthusiastic.

[Justin]

Brian sounds really great on that clip of "God Only Knows"...he keeps it nice and soft, really controlled so he can grab those high notes. And Al and his group do a mighty fine job on "California Saga."  Let's hope that it's one of the songs that makes the cut in the set.  Bruce always delivers a solid version of "Disney Girls" so I'm ok with it.   "Be True To Your School"...well..anyway..

[Aegir]

If the Beach Boys do California Saga, Mike is probably gonna sing lead, he sang it on the studio recording.

[Wirestone]

If the Beach Boys do California Saga, Mike is probably gonna sing lead, he sang it on the studio recording.

Not sure about that. Mike hands Christian the lead on something like "Getcha Back" in his band. Given that Al does such a nice job on it, why not?

It will be interesting to see how things like that shake out. How many leads will Brian get? Al? Bruce? Will Dave get anything?

I was just pleased to note that, as croaky as Mike sounds when he speaks, he can still sound reasonable on the nasal leads. Bruce is great, as is Al. And Brian can do cool things too, in the right context.

[Beach Boy]

If the Beach Boys do California Saga, Mike is probably gonna sing lead, he sang it on the studio recording.

On the 1990 tour Al always took lead on that song.

[southbay]

If the Beach Boys do California Saga, Mike is probably gonna sing lead, he sang it on the studio recording.

On the 1990 tour Al always took lead on that song.

True.  It has become "Al's song".  If it is done on the tour, Jardine sings it

[Wirestone]

An interesting question suggested by Brian's board -- will Jeff keep his leads on the stuff he sings during Brian's shows? He generally does WIBN (which could go to Al, I suppose) and DWB (for which there is no obvious replacement). Both will need to be performed, surely.

[Lowbacca]

Al will do WIBN, Bruce could do "Don't Worry Baby"? Or maybe not... maybe this will be Jeff's spotlight. Jeff's kind of an honorary BB anyway, having toured and recorded with them before. Maybe they'll leave it to him.

[Justin]

An interesting question suggested by Brian's board -- will Jeff keep his leads on the stuff he sings during Brian's shows? He generally does WIBN (which could go to Al, I suppose) and DWB (for which there is no obvious replacement). Both will need to be performed, surely.

I thought about that too.  This particular tour will come under scrutiny since everyone coming to the shows are expecting the main vocalists to take lead on all the songs.  It's not a far-fetched expectation.  But having the hired help take a lot of the songs won't fly over too well.  If Jeff were to keep any of his leads, it would have to be at the most 2 songs...anything more, and people might start complaining.  After all, we paid some big prices here and we didn't pay to come and watch Jeff sing, right?  If they lowered the key on WIBN for Foster The People to sing it--why not keep it that way for the tour and Brian could take a stab at singing it?  If they don't make these types of accomodations they're going to be stuck with glaring issues with the set with the current members.  In order to get the best out of everyone, some modifications need to be made.

[Craig Boyd]

I think Foster the People and Brian (when he used to sing it live) both did it in the same key. I think Brian handled it really well on the Pet Sounds dvd and considering he's not going to be tiring his voice out singing every song on this tour I think it's reasonable to expect Brian to sing it, Jeff could even do a bit of subtle doubling just to thicken the sound a bit. Remember the way the Everley Brothers did DWB? It wasn't as high and had the two part harmony, it might be nice if they did it like that on this tour, Brian and Al/Bruce could handle that I think.

[southbay]

When Foskett was touring witht he Beach Boys in the late 80's into 1990 he handles the lead on DWB, which then went to (unfortunately) Adrian Baker and was ultimately redeemed by Matt Jardine. I wouldn't be surpirsed if Foskett giot DWB again, although Brian does a decent job on the Roxy cd. As for WIBN, Al stopped signing this live in 1987, giving the lead to Carl.  Of the curent BB's, I suppose my vote would go to Al for WIBN, but I haven't head him do it live since 87.  Did All do WIBN in Family and Friends, or did Matt?  I don't recall.

[Lowbacca]

Did All do WIBN in Family and Friends, or did Matt?  I don't recall.

That was Pa Jardine, methinks.

[JohnMill]

I doubt he'll perform this because it's truly a solo track but in thinking of Carl/Dennis tributes, I'd love to see The Beach Boys get together on "Southern California" from TLOS.  I think that would be a nice tribute to Dennis & Carl.

[tpesky]

On the Al and Brian Pet Sounds tours, Brian and Al traded verses on WIBN in a lower key and I thought they both did a good job on it. I would love to hear that again as opposed to Jeff..( nothing against Jeff, I like on DWB among others but he doesn't really fit WIBN) . On Sloop I can see Brian first verse then Al doubling him on first chorus like the old days, Mike on the bridge, and Al on the last verse.

[SonoraDick]

Al's band (with guest Dean Torrence) playing WIBN in 2010. after a portion of "Sloop".  Matt on lead. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtE58rHuV-k

[ohthosegirls]

I love that Al wants to bring out Farmer's Daughter & Lonely Sea for the tour. Hopefully we'll hear some real goodies. I'd like Al to do Lady Lynda.

[Aegir]

as long as he plays Lady Lynda and not Lady Liberty..

[ohthosegirls]

as long as he plays Lady Lynda and not Lady Liberty..

True that.

[hypehat]

He shouldn't play Lady Lynda at  all, that song is junk.

[ohthosegirls]

I thought someone here might have that opinion. I think Lady Lynda is an underrated tune and if each member gets a chance to showcase their songs, Al should probably do California Saga sure. I've been into Lady Lynda lately though, and at one point didn't really care for it as well.

[hypehat]

Not trying to be a dick to you or nothing, but yeah - if Al gets one song by himself, by gum it shouldn't be that. California would suit him best, but he'll get more than one lead in the show to be sure

[ohthosegirls]

I hope so. Only getting into the band in the late 90's, I've never been able to see Al live yet as opposed to the others, so I'm excited about that.

[Wirestone]

I hope so. Only getting into the band in the late 90's, I've never been able to see Al live yet as opposed to the others, so I'm excited about that.

I was lucky enough to see BBF&F, and it was a terrific show. That '70s BBs backing lineup (which Al, to his eternal credit, takes along when he can) is one of the best -- none of the other bands grooved in quite the same way.

[Craig Boyd]

On the Al and Brian Pet Sounds tours, Brian and Al traded verses on WIBN in a lower key and I thought they both did a good job on it. I would love to hear that again as opposed to Jeff..( nothing against Jeff, I like on DWB among others but he doesn't really fit WIBN) . On Sloop I can see Brian first verse then Al doubling him on first chorus like the old days, Mike on the bridge, and Al on the last verse.

Is there a video of that anywhere? I missed the 40th anniversary tour and not many people seem to have recorded it sadly.

[Craig Boyd]

Did All do WIBN in Family and Friends, or did Matt?  I don't recall.

That was Pa Jardine, methinks.

Nah i'm sure Matt always takes the lead on WIBN. I know when they used to do God Only Knows they sang it in unison, Al actually sounds really good on it!