Radio.com Poll -Who would you rather see? Mike/Bruce or Brian Al & David:Results

[RubberSoul13]

I've only seen Mike and Bruce once, and I saw the reunion tour once. The Reunion was far better, no doubt. It was far more entertaining, far more musical, and far more creative. BUT, Mike and Bruce still put on a stellar show. And who cares what the ticket says? In my opinion, they aren't The Beach Boys. It's Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Scott Totten, John Cowsill...and some other guys. The sound wasn't as full, but the band is half the size of Brian's, so that's to be expected. But based off what I saw of Brian at the reunion show, I'd imagine the Mike and Bruce show is far more entertaining in a visual sense, than auditory.

That being said, I'm glad I made the decision to see them this summer 

I don't know if I'd see them again after this summer, but who knows. After the reunion fizzles I said I wouldn't see any of them again because it couldn't top that. And while that is true, I'd be missing out on great times to come.

[Kurosawa]

The main thing is Mike and Bruce are a band, while the Brian/Al/Dave trio are not a bad as of yet. Now if they formed a band and it was actually going to be a regular lineup, then of course Brian's band would be better...Brian is the only one with anything new going on musically of note, and Al is the best singer of the surviving Beach Boys.

You know what you are getting with M&B: a solid show but nothing else. But with the rest of them, we don't know what's going on.

I'd just as soon see Brian, Al, Dave and Jeff form a new band than see the C50 group continue since Mike was not too into it. If Mike was into it, it would be completely different.

The bottom line is Mike doesn't want to deal with the others and he has no obligation to. Nobody should want him involved if he isn't fully committed and excited about playing with the other guys.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

The main thing is Mike and Bruce are a band, while the Brian/Al/Dave trio are not a bad as of yet. Now if they formed a band and it was actually going to be a regular lineup, then of course Brian's band would be better...Brian is the only one with anything new going on musically of note, and Al is the best singer of the surviving Beach Boys.

You know what you are getting with M&B: a solid show but nothing else. But with the rest of them, we don't know what's going on.

I'd just as soon see Brian, Al, Dave and Jeff form a new band than see the C50 group continue since Mike was not too into it. If Mike was into it, it would be completely different.

The bottom line is Mike doesn't want to deal with the others and he has no obligation to. Nobody should want him involved if he isn't fully committed and excited about playing with the other guys.

Agree it remains to be seen what kind of band the Brain, Dave and Al show will be. Will it turn into an album. Will Al wer out his welcome?  Will David and Al sing more leads?

I do predict more deep cuts and better venues than Sea World and run down casinos.

[Jonathan Blum]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

I dunno -- I'm trying to think of an album Brian was involved in that he hasn't played something from in the last ten years.  (A period in which he's also played the whole of "Smile", "That Lucky Old Sun", and various tracks from GIOMH and Gershwin.)  Only ones I  think he's missed out on were KTSA and BB85...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[AndrewHickey]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

I dunno -- I'm trying to think of an album Brian was involved in that he hasn't played something from in the last ten years.  (A period in which he's also played the whole of "Smile", "That Lucky Old Sun", and various tracks from GIOMH and Gershwin.)  Only ones I  think he's missed out on were KTSA and BB85...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

He hasn't done anything from Love You in the last ten years, either -- The Night Was So Young was dropped from his sets in 2002. And Friends only *just* sneaks in there, as well, being dropped in mid-2003. Also, Surf's Up only gets in through the title track being on Smile (and he hasn't played that in eight years or so). I was going to add Sunflower to the list, because This Whole World was also dropped after 2002, but I just checked and Forever made a brief return to the set in 2005. Obviously Still Cruisin' as well, but that hardly counts as Brian's only on (I think) three tracks on that.

Basically, I think the breakdown since 2004 has been this: Brian and Mike have essentially the same basic repertoire, twenty or so songs they always play. There are a few differences (MIke's basic repertoire includes Kokomo and a few of the car songs that Brian doesn't do, Brian's includes Love & Mercy), but the core of their sets is basically the same, and on a 'normal' tour that's what they'll play.

But they both also do 'special' tours. On Brian's 'special' tours, he'll perform an entire album, and that album will usually be one that will make the fans of the band's artier music happy. On Mike's 'special' tours -- generally out-of-season theatre shows -- he'll add in stuff from Eric's list (which is far from exclusive -- the 2008 tour included almost all of Eric's list but also Good Timin', You Still Believe In Me, Good To My Baby, The Warmth Of The Sun, Betsy, and more).

So far as setlist quality goes, then, it depends on whether you prefer hearing an entire album or want to hear a variety of songs from different years (personally, I thought the Smile and That Lucky Old Sun sets were way ahead of Mike's sets, but the Gershwin shows weren't).

[SurfRiderHawaii]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

Oh my. Really? Brian has done Smile and Pet Sounds Live. TLOS. Lots of deep cuts. I wouldn't call Disney Girls a deep cut for the Mike?Bruce show. Bruce always does that. It's his signature song.

[The Shift]

… Surf's Up only gets in through the title track being on Smile (and he hasn't played that in eight years or so)

When did he drop Til I Die?

… Brian and Mike have essentially the same basic repertoire, twenty or so songs they always play. There are a few differences (MIke's basic repertoire includes Kokomo and a few of the car songs that Brian doesn't do, Brian's includes Love & Mercy), but the core of their sets is basically the same, and on a 'normal' tour that's what they'll play

… which I think is what helped make the C50 shows such a great successful blend. All elements of both bands were very well rehearsed in cracking arrangements of the same songs. Al'd been turning out the same material too. Dave was probably the one least familiar with any of the material played on those shows.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Mike & Bruce do unarguably concentrate on the hits. Know something ? 'Album' tours aside, so does Brian and even then, you're guaranteed a dozen or more no-sh*t, gold-plated, cast-iron hits*. It's a bit of a puzzle that the perception that Brian plays exclusively, or overwhelmingly, non-hits and deep catalog tracks has arisen.

[* first Smile show - 16 hits]

[absinthe_boy]

I think it's worth noting that Mike & Bruce included a few more "deep cuts" in the set after Brian toured Pet Sounds.

Brian's shows tend to end with a run of hits, with the more obscure material preceeding them. At least that is my impression from concerts attended and set lists I have read.

[AndrewHickey]

… Surf's Up only gets in through the title track being on Smile (and he hasn't played that in eight years or so)

When did he drop Til I Die?

2002, I'm pretty sure. I haven't seen (m)any setlists from 2003 (and can't access Eric's site from this machine to double-check), but by 2004 he was doing a mostly-hits first half and a Smile second half. The last time Brian did the tons of rarities type sets people seem to think he does on a regular basis was eleven years ago now.

(I still think that the sets from the Summer 2002 UK tour were the best setlists ever performed by anyone, and find it sad that most of the best stuff from those shows has been dropped, presumably forever).

[filledeplage]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

Oh my. Really? Brian has done Smile and Pet Sounds Live. TLOS. Lots of deep cuts. I wouldn't call Disney Girls a deep cut for the Mike?Bruce show. Bruce always does that. It's his signature song.

Brian was a "solo" artist with a "backing band." That is is the difference.  Brian broke out on his own, which for him was courageous.  But, he was still a Beach Boy.  And, no less than Ringo or Paul, that identity was earned.  Even though he had the freedom to sing what he wanted, he did do a lot of BB material.  It is amazing that all three bands, have used a core set of hits.  Disney Girls is a "deep cut," arguably.  It was on one of those older "sound only" YouTubes. And it is not always performed; maybe 20-25% of the time, and that takes into consideration, time allotment, the venue, and the audience, I think.

Brian took a different approach to Pet Sounds, SMiLE and TLOS (all of which I saw) and mixed the show with hits at the opening, the "theme" in the middle, and hits at the end.  It was a good strategy.  It is not perception, it is reality.  They all do play the core hits.  And, why wouldn't they?  

Almost all the "headliners" play the casinos. Some of the best theaters in the entertainment business are there; best acoustics, seating, parking, restaurants, etc.  And what is wrong with playing Disneyworld or SeaWorld?  Disney has everything to think of, there, as well and gives an enhanced value for your admission ticket.  And young people are not excluded, as they are in some age-driven venues such as casinos. Why shouldn't the Beach Boys be a family event?

This is just thinly-veiled snobbism.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

Oh my. Really? Brian has done Smile and Pet Sounds Live. TLOS. Lots of deep cuts. I wouldn't call Disney Girls a deep cut for the Mike?Bruce show. Bruce always does that. It's his signature song.

Brian was a "solo" artist with a "backing band." That is is the difference.  Brian broke out on his own, which for him was courageous.  But, he was still a Beach Boy.  And, no less than Ringo or Paul, that identity was earned.  Even though he had the freedom to sing what he wanted, he did do a lot of BB material.  It is amazing that all three bands, have used a core set of hits.  Disney Girls is a "deep cut," arguably.  It was on one of those older "sound only" YouTubes. And it is not always performed; maybe 20-25% of the time, and that takes into consideration, time allotment, the venue, and the audience, I think.

Brian took a different approach to Pet Sounds, SMiLE and TLOS (all of which I saw) and mixed the show with hits at the opening, the "theme" in the middle, and hits at the end.  It was a good strategy.  It is not perception, it is reality.  They all do play the core hits.  And, why wouldn't they? 

Almost all the "headliners" play the casinos. Some of the best theaters in the entertainment business are there; best acoustics, seating, parking, restaurants, etc.  And what is wrong with playing Disneyworld or SeaWorld?  Disney has everything to think of, there, as well and gives an enhanced value for your admission ticket.  And young people are not excluded, as they are in some age-driven venues such as casinos. Why shouldn't the Beach Boys be a family event?

This is just thinly-veiled snobbism.

There are casinos and therr are casinos. I've been in several the Mike/Bruce show play and they are dumps. Tthere is a casino circuit for washed up acts and the Mike/Bruce show playing many of these venues. It's sad, kinda pathetic and  it tarnishes the Beach Boys legacy.

[rab2591]

Apologies if this has been posted already. David Beard interviewed Mike Love about the future of the band, Mike Love responded: "Whatever will be, will be."

http://www.examiner.com/article/mike-love-says-que-sera-sera-to-beach-boys-future

[filledeplage]

The article is interesting in that it states that Mike likes to stick with just the hits.  This is a popular misconception.  In the past 10 years, Mike has done just as much digging into the archives as Brian has.

Here Today
Let Him Run Wild
Til I Die
Don't Back Down
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
All This Is That
Everyone's In Love With You
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Forever
Disney Girls
Salt Lake City
It's OK
Sail On Sailor
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Still Cruisin
Summertime Blues
Summer In Paradise
Cool Head Warm Heart

It could be argued that Mike does a better job at representing all the different phases in the Beach Boys' career.

Oh my. Really? Brian has done Smile and Pet Sounds Live. TLOS. Lots of deep cuts. I wouldn't call Disney Girls a deep cut for the Mike?Bruce show. Bruce always does that. It's his signature song.

Brian was a "solo" artist with a "backing band." That is is the difference.  Brian broke out on his own, which for him was courageous.  But, he was still a Beach Boy.  And, no less than Ringo or Paul, that identity was earned.  Even though he had the freedom to sing what he wanted, he did do a lot of BB material.  It is amazing that all three bands, have used a core set of hits.  Disney Girls is a "deep cut," arguably.  It was on one of those older "sound only" YouTubes. And it is not always performed; maybe 20-25% of the time, and that takes into consideration, time allotment, the venue, and the audience, I think.

Brian took a different approach to Pet Sounds, SMiLE and TLOS (all of which I saw) and mixed the show with hits at the opening, the "theme" in the middle, and hits at the end.  It was a good strategy.  It is not perception, it is reality.  They all do play the core hits.  And, why wouldn't they? 

Almost all the "headliners" play the casinos. Some of the best theaters in the entertainment business are there; best acoustics, seating, parking, restaurants, etc.  And what is wrong with playing Disneyworld or SeaWorld?  Disney has everything to think of, there, as well and gives an enhanced value for your admission ticket.  And young people are not excluded, as they are in some age-driven venues such as casinos. Why shouldn't the Beach Boys be a family event?

This is just thinly-veiled snobbism.

There are casinos and therr are casinos. I've been in several the Mike/Bruce show play and they are dumps. Tthere is a casino circuit for washed up acts and the Mike/Bruce show playing many of these venues. It's sad, kinda pathetic and  it tarnishes the Beach Boys legacy.

C50 - two nights in Mohegan Sun. (one I really don't  care for, but the arena size lends itself to higher capacity) Foxwoods MGM has a fabulous theater, state-of-the-art.  The entertainment business has changed dramatically.  

I've seen The Touring Band there, as well as C50.  They used the same venue. It is an objective fact.  Eric's set list archive might support that.

It is not about the place; it is about the music.  

[The Shift]

It is not about the place; it is about the music. 

And as demonstrated, the three bands each play more or less the same music… to me it's about integrity and soul of the reunited Beach Boys as well as their music.  They can play in a festering barn for all I care – just let 'em play.

[filledeplage]

It is not about the place; it is about the music. 

And as demonstrated, the three bands each play more or less the same music… to me it's about integrity and soul of the reunited Beach Boys as well as their music.  They can play in a festering barn for all I care – just let 'em play.

[Mike's Beard]

bonkers - you can vote as often as you like.

OSD voted 90 times.

[Eric Aniversario]

In response to some of the posts above...I totally love hearing the hits in concert, just as much as I love hearing the album cuts!  I think that all the bands (Brian's, Al's, and Mike's) do both!  Just trying to say that some like to pigeonhole Mike & Bruce as exclusively playing the hits.  In the vast majority of their shows, they include some lesser known songs, without eliminating the hits.  I just wanted to clarify that that was my point, NOT that Brian didn't do the same.  And I am fully aware that Brian played Pet Sounds, TLOS, and BWPS live.  I was at those shows! 

[drbeachboy]

In response to some of the posts above...I totally love hearing the hits in concert, just as much as I love hearing the album cuts!  I think that all the bands (Brian's, Al's, and Mike's) do both!  Just trying to say that some like to pigeonhole Mike & Bruce as exclusively playing the hits.  In the vast majority of their shows, they include some lesser known songs, without eliminating the hits.  I just wanted to clarify that that was my point, NOT that Brian didn't do the same.  And I am fully aware that Brian played Pet Sounds, TLOS, and BWPS live.  I was at those shows!  

Most who post this stuff claim they wouldn't or haven't been to a Mike & Bruce show. They are ignorant responses and we all know that ignorance is bliss.

[lostbeachboy]

Hmm let's see.. If I were to see Mike & Bruce, I would hear Be True To Your School, Barbara Ann, 409 & Hawaii in a casino or fairground. If I were to see Brian with Alan & David, I would prolly hear The Warmth of The Sun, Kiss Me Baby, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times & 'Til I Die in a theater hall or amphitheater.. I think this is a no-brainer!

[drbeachboy]

Hmm let's see.. If I were to see Mike & Bruce, I would hear Be True To Your School, Barbara Ann, 409 & Hawaii in a casino or fairground. If I were to see Brian with Alan & David, I would prolly hear The Warmth of The Sun, Kiss Me Baby, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times & 'Til I Die in a theater hall or amphitheater.. I think this is a no-brainer!

I've seen Brian do Hawaii, and he's done Barbara Ann at every concert. Mike and Brian both do the hits and the deep cuts.

[lostbeachboy]

So are you on team mike or team brian...?

[AndrewHickey]

Hmm let's see.. If I were to see Mike & Bruce, I would hear Be True To Your School, Barbara Ann, 409 & Hawaii in a casino or fairground. If I were to see Brian with Alan & David, I would prolly hear The Warmth of The Sun, Kiss Me Baby, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times & 'Til I Die in a theater hall or amphitheater.. I think this is a no-brainer!

No you wouldn't. Brian hasn't performed Til I Die in eleven years now, and other than the reunion tour shows hadn't done I Just Wasn't Made For These Times since 2006 -- he only does that on Pet Sounds shows. Kiss Me Baby's been out of his set since 2002, and so has The Warmth Of The Sun. He does do Barbara Ann and sometimes Hawaii, though.

On the other hand, Mike & Bruce have had Warmth Of The Sun, Kiss Me Baby and Til I Die in their sets at two of the last three gigs I saw them do -- all of them since the last time Brian performed any of those songs.

Honestly, I don't know how often I have to point this out before people realise it -- if what you want to hear is the artistic back catalogue stuff, you're *infinitely* more likely to hear it at a Mike & Bruce show than at a Brian one. Brian's set has been essentially the same since 2004, with practically no changes, except for special tours where he performs whatever album he's promoting in full.Those performances of full albums are where you have to look for interesting songs in Brian's set now -- the rest of his set is an essentially unchanging meat-and-potatoes set.
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2009/bergen-performing-arts-center-englewood-nj-4bd4ff66.html is a typical example of a non-album show from Brian.

Do It Again, Dance, Dance, Dance, Girl Don't Tell Me,  Then I Kissed Her, In My Room, Salt Lake City, Custom Machine, Soul Searchin', Desert Drive, Please Let Me Wonder.Don't Worry Baby, I Get Around, Sail on, Sailor, Heroes and Villains, California Girls, Monster Mash (thrown in for Hallowe'en), The Little Girl I Once Knew, Your Imagination. All Summer Long, Add Some Music to Your Day, Shut Down, Little Deuce Coupe, Do You Wanna Dance?, Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice. God Only Knows, That Lucky Old Sun, Goin' Home, Southern California, Good Vibrations, Surfer Girl, Johnny B. Goode, Help Me, Rhonda, Barbara Ann. Surfin' U.S.A., Fun, Fun, Fun

Do you see I Just Wasn't Made For These Times or Til I Die in that list? I certainly don't.

I know facts make absolutely no difference to anybody when it comes to this, but the facts are simple. Once the summer 2002 tour finished, Brian stopped playing the artier songs most of the people here prefer. Around the same time, Mike started playing many of them. Brian's sets are still more interesting because he is still creating worthwhile new music, and so you get stuff like Soul Searchin' and Southern California in the set, and Brian's band are far better than Mike's band, but if what you want to hear is Warmth Of The Sun, Til I Die and Kiss Me Baby, it's Mike's band you want to see, not Brian's.

[drbeachboy]

So are you on team mike or team brian...?

I'm team "Authentic Beach Boys". Prior to C50, I've only seen Mike & Bruce's band once, while Brian six times.

[Eric Aniversario]

I don't get why people feel they have to choose Brian OR Mike/Bruce OR Al...I like them all!  They are all great bands!!!