Beach Boys "Fun Fun Fun" at Dodger Stadium

[Rob Dean]

Not to start this debate again, but I *really* don't too much care for Foskett's voice.

ahhh...see others beat me to it.

All you gentleman who don't care for Jeff Foskett should leave him alone..Brian likes him and maybe even needs him.Jeff at one time was just like us. A super-fan. He had the balls to go and knock on Brian's door. God bless him.I like his cd's too.

Is there not a story though where Jeff actually knocked on Brian's actual door?  I'm sure I read that somewhere, it was before he got the BB's gig in the 80's, mid 70's or something.


I think you will find that Mike knocked on Jeffs door , so actually I think you will find that Jeff owes rather a lot to Mike for his career

Possibly Craig , I'm now getting old ( over 30 odd ish ish ish  ) and its now knocking on to 2 am   But my first knowledge of Jeff was in Mikes band ( Endless Summer Band ) to plug the LBWL Album in 1981  

[18thofMay]

I could hear Brian all the way.

[ivy]

 I don't want to burst your bubble, but I expect the concerts to be every bit as airbrushed as these admittedly poorly mixed tv appearances. Don't forget, most people buying tickets for the reunion shows won't know much about the band's history either. They will wants to hear the classic blend -- yes, with falsetto. If anything, the live shows will sound less like the Beach Boys, because you will have an extra 10 voices on stage.

I agree with the fact that lots of non-hardcore randos will be attending the reunion but I disagree that that will lead to an extremely washed out sound. Of course Jeff will be there on the falsetto. I expect to hear him on almost every song. But I also expect to hear the other guys strong and clear.

I think the difference between the Grammy audience and broadcast mix is evidence on my side. I guess I'll stay cautiously optimistic, for now.

[Stegibo]

Oh you can hear Al go high on "banner yet WAVE"

[Tony S]

Thanks for posting; really appreciate it. Like others, that was clearly Jeff Fosket and his back up band, who may or
 not even have been singing. That's almost a sham; too bad. I really think they could have done it alone with the 5 of them if sung in the right key. Or even with Foskett, if he was under control.  Dissappointing for sure, though it sounded fine.............just much of the Beach Boys.

[Runaways]

Disappointing mix, but no band is going to sound great in the middle of a field with fireworks, jets flying overhead, doves, a bunch of people with guns standing next to you, and absolutely ridiculous delayed echo mixed for television. Anyone who thinks this gig is going to be in any way indicative of the upcoming tour is actually insane.

I could hear a little Brian, no Mike & Bruce, and it seemed to me Al might have been doing a lot of the legwork with Jeff as well - his plummy tones were in evidence.

I'm tryna be Mr. Positivity over here, but I really think we'll miss Carl on this tour.

Also, to be British about this..... does this sort of thing happen at every single baseball game? The massive flags, the anthem, the speech about guys getting shot for your country.... with football, its just get on the pitch and go, is all.

The anthem is done for every sports game.  Not every Game has all the hoopla though, this was more for opening day.  But yeah a lot of games honor our troops at the start.  And you know Americans like showing patriotism

[Rob Dean]

I do not think this Foskett showcase is a sign of things to come on the tour and the album. I think we can forget that for much of the general public, the last thing they remember the Beach Boys sounding like is Good Vibrations. I imagine many people would be shocked to hear what Brian sounds like today and what the collective Beach Boys sound like in 2012 without Carl and Dennis.

Most people who attend the concerts and probably all who buy the album will know what to expect and will be happy to hear any authentic Beach Boys work. However, the general public who is watching the Grammys to see Chris Brown or watching the baseball game to see..... baseball.... they are a different story. And along with those two high profile gigs comes uneducated press coverage which could seriously damage their PR going into the 50th anniversary.

The Grammy and Dodgers performances were not for the real fans. I do not blame them whatsoever for featuring Foskett in the mix as they did.

Just really, really eager for the concerts now, though.

 I don't want to burst your bubble, but I expect the concerts to be every bit as airbrushed as these admittedly poorly mixed tv appearances. Don't forget, most people buying tickets for the reunion shows won't know much about the band's history either. They will wants to hear the classic blend -- yes, with falsetto. If anything, the live shows will sound less like the Beach Boys, because you will have an extra 10 voices on stage.

 The one aspect of the reunion that I expect to sound at all classic will be the record. All of the guys have sounded good on their recent cds.

Good point , exactly why I think that Brian,Al and David ( along with Jeff ) should have joined the Mike and Bruce band - Honestly the M&B 2008 UK Tour was by far the best (without Carl) BB's sounding band I have seen or heard HONEST !

[Craig Boyd]

Not to start this debate again, but I *really* don't too much care for Foskett's voice.

ahhh...see others beat me to it.

All you gentleman who don't care for Jeff Foskett should leave him alone..Brian likes him and maybe even needs him.Jeff at one time was just like us. A super-fan. He had the balls to go and knock on Brian's door. God bless him.I like his cd's too.

Is there not a story though where Jeff actually knocked on Brian's actual door?  I'm sure I read that somewhere, it was before he got the BB's gig in the 80's, mid 70's or something.


I think you will find that Mike knocked on Jeffs door , so actually I think you will find that Jeff owes rather a lot to Mike for his career

Possibly Craig , I'm now getting old ( over 30 odd ish ish ish  ) and its now knocking on to 2 am   But my first knowledge of Jeff was in Mikes band ( Endless Summer Band ) to plug the LBWL Album in 1981  

Yeah wasn't Randell involved with that too? Mike sure knew how to scope out new musicians! I must find that story about Jeff going to Brian's house, it was quite funny if I remember right. 2am...dear me I can't believe i've sat here til this time refreshing the page for these videos!  

[Craig Boyd]

That 2008 tour was really something special! The setlist from that tour will never be bettered I don't think.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

All you gentleman who don't care for Jeff Foskett should leave him alone..Brian likes him and maybe even needs him.Jeff at one time was just like us. A super-fan. He had the balls to go and knock on Brian's door. God bless him.I like his cd's too.

I have no issue with him personally...I just am not a fan of his voice as he has gotten older. Just my opinion, which I am entitled to have as you are yours.

[Mikie]

You guys had better get use to the "CEO of Falsetto" singing the high parts this year because he's all you got! I can already see some of you reviewing concerts and seeing the band on YouTube and bitchin' about Foskett's voice over and over.  Nobody in this current line-up who will be touring for the 50th can get as close to Brian's old falsetto as Jeff can. Don't think Bruce can do it anymore as he did in the 60's and 70's, and I don't think Al wants to do it anymore like he did in the 70's, and obviously Carl Wilson isn't around to help with the high parts. And Randall Kirsch isn't with this touring band either, neither is Matt Jardine, and neither is Taylor Mills (damn!). So all you have is Jeff doing the high parts. That's it! Get use to it!

In addition, Jeff is pretty much Brian's best bud right now. His confidant, his aid, his "bodyguard", and go-to guy if you will. His right hand man to lean on these days as Brian's brothers and doctors and in-laws are gone.

Too bad this wasn't a night game so more people would have seen this in person. Of course in L.A. with all the traffic, the whole crowd wouldn't have arrived until the third inning anyway....



That said, damn it to Hell, I miss Carl Wilson already!  And of course Dennis too.  Those guys would have been glad to have been there today! I'm really, really gonna miss seeing them with the band touring this year.  But we picked up Dave Marks, and that is VERY cool indeedie!

[Rob Dean]

Not to start this debate again, but I *really* don't too much care for Foskett's voice.

ahhh...see others beat me to it.

All you gentleman who don't care for Jeff Foskett should leave him alone..Brian likes him and maybe even needs him.Jeff at one time was just like us. A super-fan. He had the balls to go and knock on Brian's door. God bless him.I like his cd's too.

Is there not a story though where Jeff actually knocked on Brian's actual door?  I'm sure I read that somewhere, it was before he got the BB's gig in the 80's, mid 70's or something.


I think you will find that Mike knocked on Jeffs door , so actually I think you will find that Jeff owes rather a lot to Mike for his career

Possibly Craig , I'm now getting old ( over 30 odd ish ish ish  ) and its now knocking on to 2 am   But my first knowledge of Jeff was in Mikes band ( Endless Summer Band ) to plug the LBWL Album in 1981  

Yeah wasn't Randell involved with that too? Mike sure knew how to scope out new musicians! I must find that story about Jeff going to Brian's house, it was quite funny if I remember right. 2am...dear me I can't believe i've sat here til this time refreshing the page for these videos!  

Yep Randell was there as well , I have some tapes ( remember those ?? ) somewhere of a couple of the shows.

Papa Do Run Run has been a feeder band for the BB's ( including of course a certain Chris Farmer )

[Craig Boyd]

Tapes?? Behave Rob i'm just a young pup 

[Stegibo]

It's not about Jeff singing the falsetto, it's about not hearing the Beach Boys sing.

[Mikie]

I think Rob Dean should get on stage and do his Dennis Wilson impersonation.  Have Cowsill move over and let Dean do a coupla 'Love You' songs and he'd win the band and the crowd over. I can see the standing O's already... 

[Rob Dean]

I think Rob Dean should get on stage and do his Dennis Wilson impersonation.  Have Cowsill move over and let Dean do a coupla 'Love You' songs and he'd win the band and the crowd over. I can see the standing O's already...  

Yeah right , but that would be a massive dream come true and die SMiLING    AND do you really think that Mr Marks will give me Forever ??  

and then come out for the pre-encore sing You Are So Beautiful and say 'Ladies and gentleman THE BEACH BOYS' and then fall over in a drunken (very highly possible) state  


Oh , and then compete with Mike for the birds

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

It's not about Jeff singing the falsetto, it's about not hearing the Beach Boys sing.

I can do without the falsetto if I get to hear the Beach Boys sing

Another annoying aspect is: when you have Jeff basically singing lead and the other guys on distant back-ups, so get cameras focused on Jeff like today.

[acedecade75]

 Jeff is a legend in his own mind, but The Beach Boys can do fine without him.  Again, Matt Jardine can sing circles around Jeff.  On his best day, Jeff could never come anywhere close to what Brian sounded like in his prime.  Jeff is a backing musician and a cover "artist".  Jeff is just darn lucky that Brian has gotten comfortable using him as a "crutch".  There are five real Beach Boys performing at this reunion, and Jeff is not one of them.  I know it may sound like I'm picking on Jeff, but seriously, he is just an arrogant backing musician, this tour is not dependant on him!

[stack-o-tracks]

It's not about Jeff singing the falsetto, it's about not hearing the Beach Boys sing.

I can do without the falsetto if I get to hear the Beach Boys sing

Another annoying aspect is: when you have Jeff basically singing lead and the other guys on distant back-ups, so get cameras focused on Jeff like today.

Agreed. I get that he needs to be there because it's reassuring to Brian and you can tell how nervous he is and how much he doesn't want to be there. It feels like having his voice featured so prominently is a disservice to the real Beach Boys. Makes them seem like their voices are inept. Which I really don't think they are.

[ivy]

WOW.



Why the hell would Brian's people post this picture on FB?

[southbay]

Just got back from the game.  A few things. First,the stadium mix was worse than the tv mix.  On SG,allI could hear was Foskett,with Brian on his part, but his mic was low.  On the anthem,it was all Foskett,Cowsill and Bennett,with a little Jardine.  But remember, sadiums are terrible for sound. Everything is delayed and bounces around all over the place. The paprazzi around the Boys pre-game was unreal.  More than I have ever seen at a Dodger game. Must have been close to 100 media memebers, photographers around them around home plate for about 30 minutes before SG.  Justyn and Annie Hinsche Wilson were there on the field with the group, lots of hugs and pictures.  The crowd gave thema standing ovation when they were introduced to sing SG.  Everybody around me was saying how good they sounded. No, TWGMTR was not playedon the PA, but the hits were played between every inning.  No BB mercahndise was seen in the stores.  I did not record the performance, wouldhave ben worsethan the tv mix anyway.  In all, this did not do anything to dim my excitment forthe upcoming shows.  It was quite a sight to see the guys together in person after all these years, don't the sound on today's stadium mix

[Emdeeh]

Thanks for the updates, guys!

[southbay]

One more thing, can't believe how slowly Brian is moving around. Doesn't walk as much as shuffle.  Sat in a chair on the field except right as they sang.  Hope this is related to the recent back problem and he will recover soon

[urbanite]

That's probably the first time I've seen Mike Love without the hat (for a few minutes).  He looks fine, but watching the interview he seems old.

[Justin]

WOW.



Why the hell would Brian's people post this picture on FB?

Am I missing something?