Show 23: Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA 6/1/12 (SETLIST/PICS/REVIEWS)

[freedomaspirer]

Surf's Up would be awesome!, if neccesary, i suppose they could rotate it with IJWMFTT

[Dove Nested Towers]

O.K., I will attempt a review (at least some essentials).

They could jettison It's O.K., the 2nd song from the new album, R&R To the Rescue or Barbara Ann, not to mention the obligatory "Kokomo" which would disappoint many fans by its exclusion I guess.

Wow. R&R to the Rescue is such a cool addition to the set! A cool, underrated song from the '70s

O.K., Mr. Smarty Pants, I meant R&R Music of course, writing in a rush late at night.

[HeyJude]

I'll probably post more later on the show. But quickly, I'll say this. I can be pretty analytical about this kind of stuff and I'm the last person to make a snap judgment of how amazing a show could be. But..... This *may* have been the best show I've ever seen....... Beach Boys-related or otherwise.....

I've seen enough of these guys to know when it's an "on" night for the band and the audience. The band was "on", all the members were "on", and the audience was great and not annoying as some "casual" masses of fans can be. Great setlist. A "new" addition to the setlist. Everybody in good mood and good voice. Good sound. Great weather. My seats were way better than I assumed they would be. Bought some swag at the merch stand. Will probably buy more on the website.

The only way it could have been better is another hour-long set.........

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

With all the original singers taking their original vocal parts (except Brian giving his falsettos to Jeff), why does Brian always sing Mike's lines on Add Some Music, when Mike is standing right there?

[Stegibo]

Mike's not singing his line in Marcella either.

[ivy]

WOWOWWOWOWOWOW.

I'm going to post more later when I can get my thoughts/photos/videos together but wow! That was easily one of the best nights of my life. An incredible show. I nearly keeled over when I heard the first notes of "Kiss Me Baby" (I'd been avoiding peeking at previous set lists and had NO idea it was coming.)

Looking back at the other recent reviews of the shows on this site, I have to guess that Brian was quite as "on" this show as recent others. There weren't any incidents or anything, but he seemed to be wanting to get it over with.

Not complaining though, at all. I am beyond elated.

Photos to come!

[DonnyL]

Yeh I noticed BW seemingly randomly getting really into certain songs. I noticed he was singing along to songs here and there, and playing the keyboard quite a bit more than I expected. He was rocking around and making weird hand gestures during 'Disney Girls', and I think he was playing along to 'All This is That' as well. Wish I could remember more details.

[ivy]

Yeh I noticed BW seemingly randomly getting really into certain songs. I noticed he was singing along to songs here and there, and playing the keyboard quite a bit more than I expected. He was rocking around and making weird hand gestures during 'Disney Girls', and I think he was playing along to 'All This is That' as well. Wish I could remember more details.

Oh I didn't even notice that. I had a pretty bad view of him. I was in the front row but I was in front of Al, so for the most part, all I saw was the top half of his head and the rest was covered by piano. So I'm only basing this on what I heard and when I watched him during Add Some Music.

Brian was a cut up during the soundcheck, though.

Scott T: "Brian, what song do you want to sing?"
Brian: "Do It Again"
Everyone: "......."
Mike: "Yeah I want to do that one too."

Brian: "Perfect, teleprompter, perfect."

And then when he just got up, walked across the stage, and started gesturing for the entire audience to leave. HAHA.

[pancakerecords]

With all the original singers taking their original vocal parts (except Brian giving his falsettos to Jeff), why does Brian always sing Mike's lines on Add Some Music, when Mike is standing right there?

For the same reason Dennis sang "Help Me, Rhonda" in the early seventies with Al standing on stage with him.

[Les Chan]

The BOYS were at Google yesterday afternoon for the Q and A.

[Mikie]

Yeh I noticed BW seemingly randomly getting really into certain songs. I noticed he was singing along to songs here and there, and playing the keyboard quite a bit more than I expected. He was rocking around and making weird hand gestures during 'Disney Girls', and I think he was playing along to 'All This is That' as well. Wish I could remember more details.

Oh I didn't even notice that. I had a pretty bad view of him. I was in the front row but I was in front of Al, so for the most part, all I saw was the top half of his head and the rest was covered by piano. So I'm only basing this on what I heard and when I watched him during Add Some Music.

Brian was a cut up during the soundcheck, though.

Scott T: "Brian, what song do you want to sing?"
Brian: "Do It Again"
Everyone: "......."
Mike: "Yeah I want to do that one too."

Brian: "Perfect, teleprompter, perfect."

And then when he just got up, walked across the stage, and started gesturing for the entire audience to leave. HAHA.

Brian was a cut up during the soundcheck, though. And then when he just got up, walked across the stage, and started gesturing for the entire audience to leave. HAHA.

Brian left the soundcheck early because he wanted to get something to eat. The best "bantering" went on between Mike and Jeff.

[Mikie]

Wish I'd been there in my Old Blue and Gold CAL Bear sweatshirt and probably an SF Giants cap (sorry Les, the old green satin tour jacket "shrunk" a bit since '82.)  California Saga - all right, about time.

During "Be True To Your School" a big "Cal" banner was shown on the screen behind the band. BIG applause went up.

[Mikie]

Oh I didn't even notice that. I had a pretty bad view of him. I was in the front row but I was in front of Al, so for the most part, all I saw was the top half of his head and the rest was covered by piano. So I'm only basing this on what I heard and when I watched him during Add Some Music.

Ivy, that wasn't you in the front row standing up and screaming stuff at Mike Love before they started "All This Is That", was it?

[Rocker]

The BOYS were at Google yesterday afternoon for the Q and A.

It seems I posted a picture of that in this thread. I really don't know what theat means, though. Is it something like a video interview?

[Steve Mayo]

did Mike sing it or Al?

Brian opened it, then Mike & Al sort of started in unison, and Al was looking at Mike kind of funny like, "Aren't you singing this?" ... and then he sort of seemed to realize Mike didn't quite know the words beyond the first verse, so he took over.

Al said: "We figured Berkeley is the perfect place to place this ... that was from 1973, the Holland album".

Weird thing is the backdrop screen had 'jazz cigarette' smoke going through the whole song (and only this song) !

here is why that probably happened. on may 19th scott emailed me saying al was wanting to do calif saga. kept asking scott about doing it. scott asked me for copies of the song. i sent him the versions i had. yesterday they did it at soundcheck. at dinner brian asked scott across the dinner room if they were going to do that song that night. brian told scott that al didn't think they were ready to do it and what did scott think. scott told brian that he thought it went pretty well at soundcheck. brian asked scott to talk to al about the song. so scott talked al into doing saga last night. scott said brian wanted to do that song last night and was happy that they did it. so that explains that about al and mike and the lyrics.

[Mikie]

California Saga went off without a hitch. Mike said they hadn't done it in many years, but you wouldn't know it - you'd think it was a regular staple in their set. Outstanding vocal by Al - you could hear every word clearly. Can't remember if Brian did the intro like he did on the record. The whole band was into it and it brought a loud applause. Good timing, Al!

[Mikie]

Some good pictures here from the San Jose Mercury News:

http://photos.mercurynews.com/2012/06/02/beach-boys-at-the-greek/#name here

[Steve Mayo]

wished they had done saga at pittsburgh. always liked it and the times i heard it on the radio back in 1973.

angela and i today decided to celebrate our 15th anniversary a couple of months early. today we got tickets for the july tahoe show. so maybe they will do it there also. hope so...

[Steve Mayo]

thanks for the link mikie...

[Ziggy Stardust]

So finally The Beach Boys decides to play California Saga and no one films it ? oh boy..

[ivy]

Ivy, that wasn't you in the front row standing up and screaming stuff at Mike Love before they started "All This Is That", was it?

......


NO!

hahaha

but that woman sure was transcending somewhere 

[Les Chan]

Mikie,  I didn't see you at the soundcheck.. Did you also get to take a pic with the BOYS?

[Dove Nested Towers]

"Saga" was absolutely terrific, performed brilliantly, feel fortunate to have seen it. Really sorry they didn't do "Friends" which will undoubtedly enter the lineup soon.

[Ziggy Stardust]

"Saga" was absolutely terrific, performed brilliantly, feel fortunate to have seen it. Really sorry they didn't do "Friends" which will undoubtedly enter the lineup soon.

PROVE IT. NEED VIDEO OR DIDN'T HAPPENED.

[STE]

Didn't they rehearse Friends for the California Saga guys?  Or was it for the BB?