Al Jardine

[the professor]

, we don't want to interrogate Matthew about these matters. I'm sure his dad is currently going through some complicated planning process about the album and any future Tours, and we should just let that play itself out. But I would love to see a new Beach Boys show and California Saga as the warm up band as in Irvine.

[Lowbacca]

, we don't want to interrogate Matthew about these matters. I'm sure his dad is currently going through some complicated planning process about the album and any future Tours, and we should just let that play itself out. But I would love to see a new Beach Boys show and California Saga as the warm up band as in Irvine.

Nobody's getting interrogated here, professor.  Just thought that Matt might be able to share tidings regarding California Saga, as it is something that was supposed to be separate from the existing BBs-related lineups. Al wouldn't be busy with California Saga. And even if he was - it wouldn't necessarily mean that Matt couldn't talk about it. 

Anyway, I'm glad Matt payed us a visit. I was just being curious.

[the professor]

, we don't want to interrogate Matthew about these matters. I'm sure his dad is currently going through some complicated planning process about the album and any future Tours, and we should just let that play itself out. But I would love to see a new Beach Boys show and California Saga as the warm up band as in Irvine.

Nobody's getting interrogated here, professor.  Just thought that Matt might be able to share tidings regarding California Saga, as it is something that was supposed to be separate from the existing BBs-related lineups. Al wouldn't be busy with California Saga. And even if he was - it wouldn't necessarily mean that Matt couldn't talk about it. 

Anyway, I'm glad Matt payed us a visit. I was just being curious.

Brother LoB,
I was doing the interrogating! I was just trying to hide it. You blew my cover. 

best

The Prof.

[Matt J]

Hello all,
In regards to Cal Saga, I was in the studio last week with Carnie, Justyn & Adam working on Vegetables (Wendy & Carl B recorded their parts days before). It sounds really good. Cal Saga initially was an effort to pay homage to our parents for the 50th tour & I never really saw it having much of a future afterwards. What happened is that, while rehearsing & recording last summer , we got to catch up with each other &  had such a great time together that we didn't want it to end. So, we're still talking (while juggling our respective lives & families) about which songs move us & when we can get together to re-record them. We'll have 5 songs done by next month & a couple more by April.
My Dad is a strong supporter of this concept & he's always available for advice, ideas, etc. It's gotta be a trip for him to see all of us together singing the same songs that he & his partners worked on decades earlier.
As for being onstage with my Dad, it's still a whirlwind of feelings & emotions. He sings his vocals with raw ability & decades of onstage experience, while playing rhythm guitar mind you, & never seems to wear out. He really shined on the 50th reunion Tour & all of us were really proud of him.
Some random memories:  I remember, as a small child, sitting by the monitor board (just offstage) waiting for the encore so I could go out onstage for a few songs. I remember that the crew & back-up band were like extended family to me &, when I'd come out on tour during a school break, I'd get bearhugs from Dennis & the crew (always commenting on how big I was getting & how I should come on the road more often) & always a warm hug & smiles from Carl. Mike was always friendly but also removed & Brian simply wasn't on the road at that time.
 I toured with the Beach Boys from '88 to '98 & learned from these guys, every night, onstage. I started as an assistant road mngr & was soon pulled onstage to fill in for missing percussion or vocals. It was a trial-by-fire experience that was terrifying & incredible at the same time. I learned my craft onstage in front of thousands of people every night. I'd get coached in the van or on the plane, sometimes onstage before or during a show. Someone would lean over to me saying "my voice is going. Sing this part in the next song". Rattled the crap outta me. I eventually auditioned for the guys, on a day's notice, after they let Adrian Baker go. My first gig as a member of the band was two weeks later in Helsinki, Finland in front of 700,000 people at an outdoor festival. I was a wreck! I learned after the show that the concert was broadcast live to another 5 million people in Northern Europe. That was what my experiences were like while performing in the beginning. Another incredible chapter in my Beach Boys memories.
 Now, if I were to find myself backstage at a Beach Boys concert I probably wouldn't know too many people. The connection, along with a lot of the personel, are gone. All things must pass, I guess. But I have incredible, rich memories from my childhood (& later as a performer) of the guys, bits & pieces of certain concerts, backstages, trips to different parts of the world. So, when I'm onstage with my Dad I'm always hyperfocused , like a lazer, on doing the best job I can because I know I'm representing him & The Beach Boys music & filling very big shoes while performing, sometimes, in front of fans that know the music & have seen a lot of shows. How does it feel to sing the lead on God Only Knows in front of an audience? Always a mixed bag of emotions because I always think of Carl & how beautifully he sang it.  Big Shoes. I'd rather have him back singing the lead & me playing sleigh beels & wood blocks & singing bg vocals. But, I just try to dig in & own it, while I'm singing it, & do the absolute best job I can. The same goes for all the Brian vocals. Very big shoes to fill. When I go onstage, I really really go to work.
Hope all of this rambling helps answer some questions & gives you a little peak behind the scenes.

Matt J

[LetHimRun]

I didn't have a question or anything, Matt, just want to say thanks for all you've done to help out your Dad and the BBs in general. I saw my first ever BB concert on the 50th anniv tour and it was amazing. Your Dad was fantastic! I loved reading your thoughts.

[Alan Smith]

Hope all of this rambling helps answer some questions & gives you a little peak behind the scenes.

Matt, you are far, far from rambling; thanks so much for taking the time to write all of that down, its a morish pleasure to read.

Also, thanks to you and congratulations to Al and you on the Postcards CD release- a fantastic album in it's own right as well as an additional major highlight to a huge C50 year for humble little beach boys fans like me, and myabe even hardcore fanboys like Mikie    

Thanks again - Al Smith

[Lowbacca]

Hello all,
In regards to Cal Saga, I was in the studio last week with Carnie, Justyn & Adam working on Vegetables (Wendy & Carl B recorded their parts days before). It sounds really good. Cal Saga initially was an effort to pay homage to our parents for the 50th tour & I never really saw it having much of a future afterwards. What happened is that, while rehearsing & recording last summer , we got to catch up with each other &  had such a great time together that we didn't want it to end. So, we're still talking (while juggling our respective lives & families) about which songs move us & when we can get together to re-record them. We'll have 5 songs done by next month & a couple more by April.
My Dad is a strong supporter of this concept & he's always available for advice, ideas, etc. It's gotta be a trip for him to see all of us together singing the same songs that he & his partners worked on decades earlier.
As for being onstage with my Dad, it's still a whirlwind of feelings & emotions. He sings his vocals with raw ability & decades of onstage experience, while playing rhythm guitar mind you, & never seems to wear out. He really shined on the 50th reunion Tour & all of us were really proud of him.
Some random memories:  I remember, as a small child, sitting by the monitor board (just offstage) waiting for the encore so I could go out onstage for a few songs. I remember that the crew & back-up band were like extended family to me &, when I'd come out on tour during a school break, I'd get bearhugs from Dennis & the crew (always commenting on how big I was getting & how I should come on the road more often) & always a warm hug & smiles from Carl. Mike was always friendly but also removed & Brian simply wasn't on the road at that time.
 I toured with the Beach Boys from '88 to '98 & learned from these guys, every night, onstage. I started as an assistant road mngr & was soon pulled onstage to fill in for missing percussion or vocals. It was a trial-by-fire experience that was terrifying & incredible at the same time. I learned my craft onstage in front of thousands of people every night. I'd get coached in the van or on the plane, sometimes onstage before or during a show. Someone would lean over to me saying "my voice is going. Sing this part in the next song". Rattled the crap outta me. I eventually auditioned for the guys, on a day's notice, after they let Adrian Baker go. My first gig as a member of the band was two weeks later in Helsinki, Finland in front of 700,000 people at an outdoor festival. I was a wreck! I learned after the show that the concert was broadcast live to another 5 million people in Northern Europe. That was what my experiences were like while performing in the beginning. Another incredible chapter in my Beach Boys memories.
 Now, if I were to find myself backstage at a Beach Boys concert I probably wouldn't know too many people. The connection, along with a lot of the personel, are gone. All things must pass, I guess. But I have incredible, rich memories from my childhood (& later as a performer) of the guys, bits & pieces of certain concerts, backstages, trips to different parts of the world. So, when I'm onstage with my Dad I'm always hyperfocused , like a lazer, on doing the best job I can because I know I'm representing him & The Beach Boys music & filling very big shoes while performing, sometimes, in front of fans that know the music & have seen a lot of shows. How does it feel to sing the lead on God Only Knows in front of an audience? Always a mixed bag of emotions because I always think of Carl & how beautifully he sang it.  Big Shoes. I'd rather have him back singing the lead & me playing sleigh beels & wood blocks & singing bg vocals. But, I just try to dig in & own it, while I'm singing it, & do the absolute best job I can. The same goes for all the Brian vocals. Very big shoes to fill. When I go onstage, I really really go to work.
Hope all of this rambling helps answer some questions & gives you a little peak behind the scenes.

Matt J

Amazing!
Thank you so much, especially for the CalSaga news and backstage/touring impressions.

I hope to hear/see amazing things from CalSaga this year... recording "Vegetables" is a promising start!

Please revisit whenever you like, Matt! 

[Wrightfan]

Thanks for all the info Matt. Really appreciate it.

The first concert I ever went to was at the Beacon Theater for Brian's Pet Sounds tour. The place when nuts when your dad came out and sang then I kissed her. It was a real special experience.

P.S. Tell him thanks for tossing me his pic during the Bethlehem, PA 50th anniversary concert 

[The 4th Wilson Bro.]

Thank you, thank you, thank you (as Dennis used to say).  Matt, I truly hope that you and the other members of Cal Saga keep performing (and recording) together.  The Beach Boys, like many of their fans (myself included) are getting older, and sometime in the not-too-distant future will have to start thinking about retirement.  If you and the other BBs "kids" feel led to do so, there's no one else that could do as much to keep that wonderful music and Beach Boys legacy alive and thriving after the original members hang it up.

[Mikie]

Matt, thanks for taking the time to answer questions. That was real good insight into your experiences on stage with The Beach Boys! I'm not surprised you were so nervous in front of all those people, but you obviously got through it and sounded great!

Would also like to hear about your recollections of the rehearsals at Red Barn studio in 1993 for the "Unplugged" Beach Boys shows, in addition to your experiences in the studio (and shows) during the making of the Stars & Stripes album in 1995/96.  When you get a chance!

Thanks again for your detailed post!

[the professor]

The professor says thanks too. We are all grateful to be welcomed as part of the BB family by Matt's kind gift to us.  All we can go is say we will keep listening, keep buying the records, and keep supporting you, your Cal Saga brothers and sisters, and your Dad and his crazy South-Bay buddies--and we dang sure hope the are making another album, as we know they have so much art and so much love left in them.

[southbay]

can we start an honored guest thread for Matt?

[Jonathan Blum]

In regards to Cal Saga, I was in the studio last week with Carnie, Justyn & Adam working on Vegetables (Wendy & Carl B recorded their parts days before). It sounds really good. Cal Saga initially was an effort to pay homage to our parents for the 50th tour & I never really saw it having much of a future afterwards. What happened is that, while rehearsing & recording last summer , we got to catch up with each other &  had such a great time together that we didn't want it to end. So, we're still talking (while juggling our respective lives & families) about which songs move us & when we can get together to re-record them. We'll have 5 songs done by next month & a couple more by April.

Oh, I'm delighted to hear you're doing some recordings!  Down here in Sydney, I figure the chance of getting to see you all live is pretty much nil, but I've loved the clips I've heard, and the thought of a proper release is brilliant.

And that clip of Mike introducing each of you to the audience and getting all choked up?  That's still one of the most moving summaries I've ever seen of this huge, insane, sprawling musical family.  Thanks for helping to make it all possible.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[KittyKat]

Hm, it doesn't sound like the Loves are involved in the latest Cal Saga recording. But Ambha is still a youngster in school and Christian is no doubt touring with his dad, so I'm sure they have other things to do at the moment. 

Nice of Matt to drop by, the entire Jardine family seem like such nice people.

[Matt J]

 Ambha Love is involved in some of the recordings, as is Christian. Christian is touring with his Dad & is deeply involved in his own music & Ambha is still in School. What we generally do is lay down the music & available vocals & add whoever is not present at a later date (if they're available & want to do it). I also want to address a part of my previous post where I said that I didn't think Cal Saga didn't have a future beyond the 50th. My reasoning & thought process behind that comment  was that Carnie & Wendy go out regularly with Wilson Phillips & I work sometimes with 5 different bands during the summer months. So I figured that, aside from doing some appearances for the 50th, we wouldn't have the vehicle (a giant world tour) or the available personell (& a bucketload of money to move 10 people around) to continue. We'll see where it goes.

Matt J

[KittyKat]

Reading what Matt was so gracious to just post, I'm wondering why BRI seemed to be making an effort to introduce Cal Saga as the "next generation" Beach Boys, at least in some publicity materials that were posted on the Internet during the 50th anniversary tour. It almost seemed as if it were part of a grand design to bring up this set of Beach Boys' children as legacy license holders in the future. It also makes me wonder if the Beach Boys reunion still has a door open down the road, and Cal Saga may have a role in that as an opening act if that door is opened again at some point. Of course, I could be wrong, or maybe the people involved don't even know what the future holds.

[Lowbacca]

@Matt: okay, thanks.   Let's hope CalSaga continues. Looking forward to recorded material!

[...] or maybe the people involved don't even know what the future holds.

It's The Beach Boys... 

[Wild-Honey]

Thanks Matt,  what a fantastic band to have been born into!  And lucky you inherited talent from your dad to enable you to perform beside him and the other BB's.  Thanks again for sharing

[hypehat]

Looking forward to CalSaga, Matt! Saw videos of your performances from last year, Friends in particular was stunning work. Your old man must be proud