M & B Tour 2013

[Nicko1234]

Gotta love the fact that another thread has degenerated to this.

Just to say that Brian has said far more insulting things about Mike than the other way around. He also, of course, insulted all of the group members including Carl and Dennis by claiming that his band are better singers than The Beach Boys (BS). Plus his comments about Dennis having sex with Lynda, Marilyn and one of Mike`s wives weren`t exactly classy.

Didn`t Al say that he wished Dennis were still alive to beat Mike up?

Mike has said his fair share of things too.

The music is the important thing. They aren`t exactly angels as human beings.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

Seconded. BW88 is not a good album.

Of course it's a good album. One of his best if not THE best solo.

Mike was just jealous 'cause he wasn't involved!

Yeah, his argument doesn't seem valid.  "First of all the lyrics."  Yes?  What about them?  "Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough."  The hell does that even mean?  "Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like."  What standards is Mike putting Brian up against?  Because in my opinion, it had been eleven years since Brian wrote so much good new material for a single album.  Mike was clearly jealous that he was doing something without him.

[drbeachboy]

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

Seconded. BW88 is not a good album.

Of course it's a good album. One of his best if not THE best solo.

Mike was just jealous 'cause he wasn't involved!

Yeah, his argument doesn't seem valid.  "First of all the lyrics."  Yes?  What about them?  "Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough."  The hell does that even mean?  "Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like."  What standards is Mike putting Brian up against?  Because in my opinion, it had been eleven years since Brian wrote so much good new material for a single album.  Mike was clearly jealous that he was doing something without him.

1. He thinks had it been a Beach Boys album he would have written better lyrics.
2. Had it been a Beach Boys album something would have been arranged around the voices. Something on it that maybe had hit potential.
3. Had it been a Beach Boys album Brian would have had help to make the album sound better. It is not a great sounding album.

Short story, Mike thought Brian deserted The Beach Boys. They basically lost their recording contract because of Brian. None of the Caribou albums had much input from Brian, and the contract was most likely given figuring on Brian to write the majority of the music.

Now, the band had lost their recording contract and did not have anything in the works in 1987-1988. He probably was not happy that Brian got a deal and he knew that without Brian there would not be a new deal for The Beach Boys in the near future. Probably more of a Landy issue than Brian, but until Kokomo hit big, their prospects were not looking too good. Mostly due to Brian's lack of participation.

[Jim V.]

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

Seconded. BW88 is not a good album.

Of course it's a good album. One of his best if not THE best solo.

Mike was just jealous 'cause he wasn't involved!

Yeah, his argument doesn't seem valid.  "First of all the lyrics."  Yes?  What about them?  "Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough."  The hell does that even mean?  "Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like."  What standards is Mike putting Brian up against?  Because in my opinion, it had been eleven years since Brian wrote so much good new material for a single album.  Mike was clearly jealous that he was doing something without him.

1. He thinks had it been a Beach Boys album he would have written better lyrics.
2. Had it been a Beach Boys album something would have been arranged around the voices. Something on it that maybe had hit potential.
3. Had it been a Beach Boys album Brian would have had help to make the album sound better. It is not a great sounding album.

Short story, Mike thought Brian deserted The Beach Boys. They basically lost their recording contract because of Brian. None of the Caribou albums had much input from Brian, and the contract was most likely given figuring on Brian to write the majority of the music.

Now, the band had lost their recording contract and did not have anything in the works in 1987-1988. He probably was not happy that Brian got a deal and he knew that without Brian there would not be a new deal for The Beach Boys in the near future. Probably more of a Landy issue than Brian, but until Kokomo hit big, their prospects were not looking too good. Mostly due to Brian's lack of participation.

Not saying this is gospel, but I do remember reading that Brian actually offered to produce a new Beach Boys album a few times in the late '80s, only to be rebuffed. However, this may have just come from his "autobiography" so that might render the point moot. But I feel like I read it elsewhere.

[Doo Dah]

Guys I wouldn't bother with Cam. He has defended absolutely disgusting behavior by Mike. Sometimes however, he has provided a different view. Occasionally people here get too Brian-centric. But Cam is either fully a put-on, or he's just so blinded that he will defend anything out of Mike.

Late at night...when the world is sleeping...I bet Cam quietly slips on the headphones and digs on some "Lookin' Back With Love"

Lookin' back...ooooo, lookin' back with LOVE, lookin' back...oooo, lookin' back with LOVE...

[Nicko1234]

Yeah, his argument doesn't seem valid.  "First of all the lyrics."  Yes?  What about them?  "Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough."  The hell does that even mean?  "Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like."  What standards is Mike putting Brian up against?  Because in my opinion, it had been eleven years since Brian wrote so much good new material for a single album.  Mike was clearly jealous that he was doing something without him.

Nah, the word `jealous` doesn`t fit in this situation. BW88 was not a big hit and Still Cruisin outsold it (not to mention the fact that Kokomo`s sales urinated all over it). Then Brian`s second album which Mike also talked about in that interview was deemed unreleasable. There`s no way that Mike was jealous of Brian`s solo career at that time because Brian`s solo career was dead in the water.

I absolutely think Mike was bitter towards Landy and the fact that he said he`d like to kill Landy at the time is all the evidence you need for that. It must have been galling for The Beach Boys to have hired a doctor to save Brian at no considerable expense and then have Brian not working with them and being actively brainwashed against them (RE: the song Brian on Sweet Insanity).

[Heywood]

When you talk of threads degenerating, I really hope you realise who one of, if not the, main culprit is.

[Micha]

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

If that is Mike's opinion, why should he lie? And while I'm sad that Mike did go back to the M&B show instead of staying with the BB5, I share Mike's opinion about BW88. I'd avoid the term "f***" though.

And before any of those (few) b/w minded people come over me, "Summer Of Love" is Mike's worst lyrics and one of the worst songs in BB history. Me not liking BW88 doesn't equal with liking everything Mike ever did.

[Cam Mott]

Guys I wouldn't bother with Cam. He has defended absolutely disgusting behavior by Mike. Sometimes however, he has provided a different view. Occasionally people here get too Brian-centric. But Cam is either fully a put-on, or he's just so blinded that he will defend anything out of Mike.

Late at night...when the world is sleeping...I bet Cam quietly slips on the headphones and digs on some "Lookin' Back With Love"

Lookin' back...ooooo, lookin' back with LOVE, lookin' back...oooo, lookin' back with LOVE...

Oh yeah. With my turban headphones, levitating in my Kokomo robe, "waxin' down" the ol' "surfboard" to Stamos' pix. Good Vibrations!

[Nicko1234]

When you talk of threads degenerating, I really hope you realise who one of, if not the, main culprit is.

Really? How so?

This thread is about the touring this year isn`t it? Or was...

[HeyJude]

Mike was a but more feisty about Brian's '88 album in a 1992 Goldmine interview:

Did you like his first solo album?

No.

You didn't like it?

f*** no.

What didn't you like about it?

First of all the lyrics. Second of all the arrangements weren't commercial enough. Third of all it sounded like sh*t compared to what he could sound like.

If that is Mike's opinion, why should he lie? And while I'm sad that Mike did go back to the M&B show instead of staying with the BB5, I share Mike's opinion about BW88. I'd avoid the term "f***" though.

And before any of those (few) b/w minded people come over me, "Summer Of Love" is Mike's worst lyrics and one of the worst songs in BB history. Me not liking BW88 doesn't equal with liking everything Mike ever did.

Sure, but when it comes to Mike's comments, we perhaps should weigh accordingly the musical criticism of the person who, in the same year the interview was given, spearheaded the "Summer in Paradise" album.

[SMiLE Brian]

Good point....

[Mikie]

When you talk of threads degenerating, I really hope you realise who one of, if not the, main culprit is.

Who's the main culprit?   Sourdudejim?

[schiaffino]

On my way to the M&B show tonight near Montreal...will take pics and post set list & comments later.

A bien tot

[schiaffino]

Show was really good, Mike is amazing!

[schiaffino]

Wanna share with you all my impressions from last night's M&B's show 

First thing I gotta say is that it was my first time going to see them. I saw Brian solo twice before (Smile & Gershwin) and the full band  last year during the C50 tour in Montreal. My knowledge of their show comes from people's opinions here in the Board and some review's I've read in magazines and stuff. So when I found out they were going to play this small restaurant called 'Maddie's Place' in Kahnawke, an Indian reserve, I didn't hesitate and got myself (and my girlfriend) tickets.


For those of you curious about the venue, here's their website (check Maddie's Place Rocks upper-left menu):
http://www.maddiesplacerestaurant.com/

So this place had shuttles from downtown Montreal to the venue throughout the day. School buses, actually  but they were free and you had one leaving every hour until 7pm. The show started at 8pm.


The place itself was ok, big cabin like restaurant with a huge tent where they hold concerts. There was also an 'antique cars' exhibit, quite small in reality, gave me the impression it was a last min thingy put together to emphasize the 'hot-rods' feeling of the BBs music. Or sth like that. Lots of food, kids running around, families, old people,...your regular 'meat & potatos' crowd I guess.






Inside the tent the seats were organized in 2 main areas: general admission and VIP. All were seated, but obviously VIP was closer to the stage. We got GA tickets (not paying almost $500 to see these 2 guys  ) and they were actually ok, not too far and pretty much center view of the stage


There was first an awful, awful warm-up act called 'The Jersey Kid' or sth like that (it felt more like the Jersey devil to me). They were a tribute band to old 50s doo-wop songs, but the singer (stupid kid) sang in such a really loud, out of tune, annoying falsetto... that we actually had to swap our beers for Jack Daniels to wash down the pain. It was bad, really bad, and it lasted for almost 40 mins. No photos of that crap.

Why do some people think they can sing? And sing in falsetto? You know, that's tough, not just because you do falsetto it means that it comes out good. Oh, the humanity.

The stage was exactly as I read in this board: full of fake palm trees and cheap-looking surf boards. The drum kit was isolated by some glass panels, with two keyboards on each side, guitars in front.


Show started at 9:15sh with 'Do it again' and right away I noticed the following (which held true for the rest of the night):

• Mike's voice was stronger/louder/better than what I heard in the C50 concert
• The band rocks! Sound was really good, Totten's an amazing guitar player
• Backing vocals are not as strong as Brian's backing band; but Mike compensates with really strong leads
• Show is simple, straight-forward. No videos, no gimmicks, just fake palm trees & an amazing setlist

About the setlist, it was very, very similar to what I remember from the C50 show last year. First part all surf & car songs, very energetic, with Mike in top form. Second part was about the post-surfing hits, with some cool surprises; for me the highlights of the evening were:

• Surf City! First time I hear this song live, it sounded really good and now I understand why they were so mad at Brian back then when he gave to Jean & Dean. The song rocks!
• I Get Around. Its my girlfriend's favorite, and we both agree that the song needs Mike doing the verses. I believe the bass player did Brian's falsetto part, and IMO he did a better job than Foskett
• California Dreamin' !!!! One of the songs I love the most from the 60s. It was a pleasant surprise, think Bruce sang it but Al does it better in the original recording. Still it was tight and felt good.
• Wild Honey. This has been said before in other threads, Coswill did a great job. The song was amazing, very cool, although didnt get a great reaction from the audience - I was dancing & screaming like crazy 
• Barbara Ann...they got some girls on the stage, one of them took Totten's guitar, he followed her and continued playing from her back until she broke free from him and started running around the stage. It was funny his reaction, throwing away his pick and doing a 'whatever' kind of face

On the other hand, the not-so-cool moments were:

• God Only Knows. Bruce didnt sing it with the same fluidity and strength as Brian. To be honest, Bruce didnt sound good, sounded tired and his voice was not strong. Most of the time he was just clapping, adjusting his mic stand but not singing. It was sad, 'cause I really liked 'Disney Girls live last year...
• Good Vibrations. Not sure who sang it (Christian?) but it came out flat...aside from Mike's verses, what an amazing bass voice. But that song needs Brian! Missed his weird hand movements, even his harmonizing with Foskett.
• Wouldnt it be nice. After seeing/hearing Al sing this last year, no one else can do this song. And its my fav BB song, so not a cool moment 
• Kokomo. I really, really hate that song. Mike extended it for a singalong that was utterly annoying. But the crowd responded loudly to it, so I guess I understand why they play it. But doesnt mean I have to like it.
• Going to the beach. Had higher hopes for this song. Nothing special, actually very boring. Wished they played Getcha back instead.

The show ended with Surfing USA and fireworks show. Tried to sneak to the back of the tent, to see the band, but I think they got into the bus right away.

Overall it was a good show, they did the old surf & cars songs very competently. Mike sang very well and he was a strong frontman. Bruce was completely irrelevant. The band was good instrumentally but vocally not nearly as good as Brian's. Dont regret going, actually had a good time, but dont think I will see M&B again.

But will be seeing Brian in Toronto in October  yeah!

Hope you enjoy this quick review.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Thanks for the review, schiaffino. Sounds a lot like the show I saw earlier in the summer. Good setlist, good performances, good time. It appeared from your description to be a smaller gig so I'm glad they didn't "dial it in" or shorten the setlist. I'll bet there were a lot of smiling faces after the show.

[gfac22]

On the other hand, the not-so-cool moments were:

• God Only Knows. Bruce didnt sing it with the same fluidity and strength as Brian. To be honest, Bruce didnt sound good, sounded tired and his voice was not strong. Most of the time he was just clapping, adjusting his mic stand but not singing. It was sad, 'cause I really liked 'Disney Girls live last year...

Thanks for the review.  Bruce was sick at the show I saw on friday.  The few leads he sang were pretty weak and they shuffled the set list around midway through the show since they had to drop Disney Girls at the last minute (it was in the set, and Mike made a comment to Bruce about doing Disney Girls at another show, unfortunately.  Always a highlight of the show.)  Bruce usually sounds good on God Only Knows, so I'm guessing his voice wasn't back yet for your show.

[Pretty Funky]

What a dump!

...so I said it. Lock me up.

[Shady]

That really is a dump

[Mikie]

Central Park > Washington Monument > Baseball stadiums > concert halls/auditoriums > ampitheatres > county fairs > wineries > casinos > restaurants.

When are they going to play supermarket and car dealership grand openings?

[Mikie]

On the other hand, the not-so-cool moments were:

God Only Knows. Bruce didnt sing it with the same fluidity and strength as Brian. To be honest, Bruce didnt sound good, sounded tired and his voice was not strong. Most of the time he was just clapping, adjusting his mic stand but not singing. It was sad, 'cause I really liked 'Disney Girls live last year...

He was just like that during the C50 last year. Nothing has changed. Disney Girls sounded good on the CD, Wendy did not. His voice is pretty much shot, except for doing a few nice background vocals here and there.

Good Vibrations. Not sure who sang it (Christian?) but it came out flat...aside from Mike's verses, what an amazing bass voice. But that song needs Brian! Missed his weird hand movements, even his harmonizing with Foskett.

Christian Love sometimes does sound flat. And easygoing blase. Not much expression. He's not a belter. Can't project. Sounds like Carl sometimes but without feeling. He's boring, really.  

Overall it was a good show, they did the old surf & cars songs very competently. Mike sang very well and he was a strong frontman. Bruce was completely irrelevant.

Bruce Johnston is irrelevant. He's a figurehead. He's there because Mike needs him there as an "original" Beach Boy to complete "The Beach Boys" requirement on paper. Going through the motions. Walking across the stage smiling, clapping, waving, and constantly adjusting his mic. Bruce should throw in the towel and retire to Montecito to knock back Pacifico's, contribute articles to Right Wing political web sites, give surf reports, and keep track of who comes over to Opera's house across the steet.

[Lowbacca]

Central Park > Washington Monument > Baseball stadiums > concert halls/auditoriums > ampitheatres > county fairs > wineries > casinos > restaurants.

When are they going to play supermarket and car dealership grand openings?

They won't. But they will play at your funeral.

[RubberSoul13]

That really is a dump

...were you there?

[schiaffino]

Thanks for the review, schiaffino. Sounds a lot like the show I saw earlier in the summer. Good setlist, good performances, good time. It appeared from your description to be a smaller gig so I'm glad they didn't "dial it in" or shorten the setlist. I'll bet there were a lot of smiling faces after the show.

Thanks for the comments, Sheriff. It was a small venue, maybe 500 capacity. It felt very intimate and indeed lots of smiling faces at the end   (moi included)