Brian / Al / Blondie Summer 2015 Tour Thread

[catsaregrey]

Having seen Rodriguez at a small Detroit venue right when Cold Fact was reissued (but maybe two years before the Searching for Sugar Man film), I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was opening. He was headlining his own tour not too long ago, and is worth the trip for sure. It almost feels like a double headliner tour to me, because he really brought it and still sounds great. I love the guy, plus he's from the area, so there's a bit of hometown pride there.

But obviously, most of us here are pumped for Brian, Al, and Blondie. Part of me feels that with some of the "this could be my final tour" talk a few months ago, Blondie being there, and Al having mentioned that he'd be interested in doing some Love You tracks, we could be in for some deeper cuts. After all, it's a Brian Wilson tour, not a Beach Boy tour. There's no question that Brian's band is more than capable of doing the stuff, and I'm sure they, being fans as well, would probably dig playing something like "Honkin' Down the Highway" or "Funky Pretty" or even (hopefully) "Rio Grande." Give me a Love You cut, something from either CatP/Holland(besides "Marcella" and "Sail on Sailor"), and everything else is gravy.

On the other hand, Brian's touring not only the new record, but also the film, so I'm aware that there's a cultural resurgence for him and his music, which makes me wonder if they might cater to a more hits-based playlist. After all, it's a Brian Wilson tour, not a Beach Boy tour, so it might see a bit odd or out of place for the newer (or older, "I never knew...") fan for the band to play some of the more obscure, fan favorite stuff.

I'm pumped either way. My friend and I saw him on the Beck tour and dug both acts. My girlfriend is coming with me this time. I know neither guy is going to disappoint.

[HeyJude]

Does anyone know if format will be Rodriguez opens, then BW & Co?  Or is it like Jeff Beck tour where BW will have a set, then JB, then BW + JB?

It very much seems like Rodriguez is the opening act rather than a co-headliner like the Beck tour. So I would hope at the very least that we get a longer set on this tour for Brian than we did during the 2013 Beck dates.

[ontor pertawst]

Yeah, this is gonna be special! I'm guessing heavy on the NPP tracks, what with the recent TV performances and that livestream where BW sang some without the special guests... and of course you have to deploy Blondie more since he's on the whole tour... and what of golden-voiced young Al Jardine? Wouldn't It Sloop John Rhonda B? Then of course, gotta end this tour with "Love and Mercy."

Lots of ground could be covered and I'm ALREADY jealous of the folks later in the tour who will no doubt get some extra songs tossed at them once they pick up steam, as you mentioned! What with curfews, I doubt they could go long.... with a probable 35-45 minute opening Rodriguez set that definitely cuts into Brian time but not as much as on the Beck tour. Well, we'll see tonight what the score is. Maybe i'm wrong and it opens with an extended 20 minute Shortnin' Bread jam.

[HeyJude]

Rodriguez is terrific. Anybody thinking about complaining about his opening set, crack open "Cold Fact" first. Or watch the movie... sure beats a bunch of fusion noodling going on and on and on and on.

It's going to be pretty special. We won't have the luxury of seeing these guys touring for much longer, ya know!

I'm not that familiar with his music, and haven't seen the movie yet, but what I've heard, I've liked a lot. Just hoping Brian doesn't have a shorter set, or that it's like the Beck shows in format.

I'm fine with a Rodriguez set, and if I discover some music I dig, even better. The issue would be whether it shortens the Brian set. I can't imagine how it *wouldn't* shorten Brian's set at least a bit (obviously, though, it's impossible to prove conclusively unless we go back in time and re-live the tour without an opening act), but I would hope we get something longer than Brian's set during the Beck tour.

I just feel like, especially with Al and Blondie there, there's no reason to cut the set short. Brian doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting.

[drbeachboy]

Having seen Rodriguez at a small Detroit venue right when Cold Fact was reissued (but maybe two years before the Searching for Sugar Man film), I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was opening. He was headlining his own tour not too long ago, and is worth the trip for sure. It almost feels like a double headliner tour to me, because he really brought it and still sounds great. I love the guy, plus he's from the area, so there's a bit of hometown pride there.

But obviously, most of us here are pumped for Brian, Al, and Blondie. Part of me feels that with some of the "this could be my final tour" talk a few months ago, Blondie being there, and Al having mentioned that he'd be interested in doing some Love You tracks, we could be in for some deeper cuts. After all, it's a Brian Wilson tour, not a Beach Boy tour. There's no question that Brian's band is more than capable of doing the stuff, and I'm sure they, being fans as well, would probably dig playing something like "Honkin' Down the Highway" or "Funky Pretty" or even (hopefully) "Rio Grande." Give me a Love You cut, something from either CatP/Holland(besides "Marcella" and "Sail on Sailor"), and everything else is gravy.

On the other hand, Brian's touring not only the new record, but also the film, so I'm aware that there's a cultural resurgence for him and his music, which makes me wonder if they might cater to a more hits-based playlist. After all, it's a Brian Wilson tour, not a Beach Boy tour, so it might see a bit odd or out of place for the newer (or older, "I never knew...") fan for the band to play some of the more obscure, fan favorite stuff.

I'm pumped either way. My friend and I saw him on the Beck tour and dug both acts. My girlfriend is coming with me this time. I know neither guy is going to disappoint.

The thing with Brian is, everything is fair game. It's all Brian, whether solo material or Beach Boys music. He da man!

[drbeachboy]

Yeah, this is gonna be special! I'm guessing heavy on the NPP tracks, what with the recent TV performances and that livestream where BW sang some without the special guests... and of course you have to deploy Blondie more since he's on the whole tour! ...and what of golden-voiced young Al Jardine? Wouldn't It Sloop John Rhonda B? Then of course, gotta end this tour with "Love and Mercy."

I'm betting on this being a great tour. They should pull out all the stops this time around.

[HeyJude]

Yeah, this is gonna be special! I'm guessing heavy on the NPP tracks, what with the recent TV performances and that livestream where BW sang some without the special guests... and of course you have to deploy Blondie more since he's on the whole tour! ...and what of golden-voiced young Al Jardine? Wouldn't It Sloop John Rhonda B? Then of course, gotta end this tour with "Love and Mercy."

I wouldn't expect a super NPP-heavy setlist. Brian hasn't typically done a ton of new album tracks (apart from obvious bits like playing albums in full). I would expect "Sail Away", perhaps "Runaway Dancer" (Brian seemed to be into doing that one even without Sebu), and maybe one or two others.

I'd still love to see them dig into the back BB catalog, for some Blondie-centric and Al-centric stuff (they rehearsed "Lookin' at Tomorrow" for the Vegas PBS show last year), and maybe a few left-field choices like "Goin' On" or something like that.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Setting aside his presentations of themed albums in toto, Brian's rarely played more than a handful of tracks from his then current album:

1999 - "Your Imagination", "South American", "Lay Down Burden"

2004 - "City Blues", "Getting In Over My Head", "How Can We Still Be Dancing"

My guess would be "Sail Away", "Saturday Night" and... either "The Right Time" or "Whatever Happened" from NPP.

[ontor pertawst]

Yeah, definitely not pulling off the whole album but I'd guess This Beautiful Day/Runaway Dancer/Sail Away/The Right Time/The Last Song.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Yeah, definitely not pulling off the whole album but I'd guess This Beautiful Day/Runaway Dancer/Sail Away/The Right Time/The Last Song.

I'd take that. Again, I'm open to helping with RD....I work cheap

[HeyJude]

I dig NPP just fine, but I'd rather they go heavy on rare back catalog tracks.

As I said a few weeks ago, however justified or legitimate one feels Mike's current band is in doing the extensive UK setlist, I would hope it would spur Brian and his band to dig deeper and forego "Shut Down" and the like for something rare or never-performed. Especially with Al and Blondie there.

I'd say, given the few comments from those involved, the most likely old track for them to add that Brian's band has never done would be "Funky Pretty." Would be cool to see Brian, Al, and Blondie trade lines on that one (and, sacrilegious as it may be, it's not even a song I'm super into).  

[KDS]

One of the big reasons I regret not going to the 2013 Tour was that the band did Little Bird.  That might be my favorite Dennis song. 

I'd also love to hear the title track from Friends. 

Let the Wind Blow would be a nice album cut. 

Here She Comes from CATP has really grown on me lately. 

A Day in the Life of a Tree would be a total shocker.   

Lonely Sea would be a great early song to bring out. 

Really hoping for the suite of Wonderful / A Song for Children / Child Father of the Man / Surf's Up

[STE]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

[baseball95]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

[drbeachboy]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

[baseball95]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

It it a solid set! Please Let Me Wonder and She Knows Me Too Well might sneak in there also Brian seems to really like those. Lookin' at Tomorrow, Honkin Down the Higway for Al and Funky Pretty and Hold On Dear Brother for Blondie is what i'm hoping for.

[drbeachboy]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

It it a solid set! Please Let Me Wonder and She Knows Me Too Well might sneak in there also Brian seems to really like those. Lookin' at Tomorrow, Honkin Down the Higway for Al and Funky Pretty and Hold On Dear Brother for Blondie is what i'm hoping for.

We can only hope. I think they will pull out a few concert rarities from date to date. It was great hearing Break Away a couple years ago, as it was only the second time that someone performed it since July 1969 in Atlantic City.

[doc smiley]

Love to hear Blondie tackle Saturday Night but thats highly unlikely.... bet you he could do a great job of it.. however it would 
in a different key.

[Wirestone]

My guess (building on the previously posted setlist)

01. This Beautiful Day
02. Runaway Dancer
03. Dance, Dance, Dance
04. California Girls
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Then I Kissed Her
12. Don't Worry Baby
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. The Last Song
21. Your Imagination
22. Wouldn't It Be Nice
23. God Only Knows
24. Good Vibrations

Encore:
25. All Summer Long
26. Help Me, Rhonda
27. I Get Around
28. Barbara Ann
29. Surfin' U.S.A.
30. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
31. Love and Mercy

[baseball95]

This may be more of a dream then a guess but it seems very doable and appropriate.

1. This Beautiful Day
2. Runaway Dancer
3. California Girls
4. Dance, Dance, Dance
5. Girl Don't Tell Me
6. Please Let Me Wonder
7. In My Room
8. Surfer Girl
9. She Knows Me Too Well
10. Don't Worry Baby
11. Then I Kissed Her
12. Our Prayer
13. Heroes and Villains
14. Wild Honey
15. Funky Pretty
16. Sail Away
17. Marcella
18. Do It Again
19. Darlin'
20. Sail On, Sailor
21. Hold On Dear Brother
22. California Saga: California
23. The Right Time
24. Sloop John B
25. Wouldn't Be Nice
26. Pacific Coast Highway
27. Summer's Gone
28. God Only Knows
29. Good Vibrations
30. The Last Song

Encore 1:
31. All Summer Long
32. Help Me, Rhonda
33. I Get Around
34. Barbara Ann
35. Surfin' U.S.A.
36. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
37. Love & Mercy

to me that looks like a solid set with enough hits and deep cuts to make anyone happy, plus you got 5 songs from the new album. Besides i feel like they'll rotate songs throughout the tour anyway. I hope they don't feel the need to do Shut Down, Deuce Coupe, Catch a Wave or Hawaii as they have done previously, as great as Al sound on Deuce Coupe (better than Mike IMOP) that's four songs that really aren't necessary.

That's also 8 leads for Al (including co-leads) and 5 for Blondie (if he's there use him!)

[RubberSoul13]

I would be really surprised if he opened with a track from the new album. As far as new album tracks I think it's safe to expect...

-This Beautiful Day
-Runaway Dancer
-The Right Time
-Sail Away
-One Kind of Love

...just my guesses based on current promo and band dynamics. We shall soon see!

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

It it a solid set! Please Let Me Wonder and She Knows Me Too Well might sneak in there also Brian seems to really like those. Lookin' at Tomorrow, Honkin Down the Higway for Al and Funky Pretty and Hold On Dear Brother for Blondie is what i'm hoping for.

We can only hope. I think they will pull out a few concert rarities from date to date. It was great hearing Break Away a couple years ago, as it was only the second time that someone performed it since July 1969 in Atlantic City.

I was there-do you remember what happened in the beginning of the song between Carl & Dennis??

[HeyJude]

Was able to overhear some soundcheck. Heard:

Runaway Dancer
The Right Time

Bits of I Get Around, Our Prayer, and Heroes and Villains.

Heard "This Whole World" with someone else doing part of the lead. I could swear it was Al, which would be really weird. Could have been Matt or one of the other guys. But it really sounded like Al.

[drbeachboy]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

It it a solid set! Please Let Me Wonder and She Knows Me Too Well might sneak in there also Brian seems to really like those. Lookin' at Tomorrow, Honkin Down the Higway for Al and Funky Pretty and Hold On Dear Brother for Blondie is what i'm hoping for.

We can only hope. I think they will pull out a few concert rarities from date to date. It was great hearing Break Away a couple years ago, as it was only the second time that someone performed it since July 1969 in Atlantic City.

I was there-do you remember what happened in the beginning of the song between Carl & Dennis??

No, I don't remember. I only remember Carl introducing it as their new single. Please tell the story and maybe I'll remember.

[bgas]

Just a wild guess:

01. California Girls
02. Dance, Dance, Dance
03. Little Deuce Coupe
04. Runaway Dancer
05. In My Room
06. Surfer Girl
07. Our Prayer
08. Heroes and Villains
09. Darlin'
10. Do You Wanna Dance
11. Don't Worry Baby
12. The Right Time
13. Sail Away
14. California
15. Do It Again
16. Sail On, Sailor
17. Marcella
18. Wild Honey
19. Sloop John B
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. God Only Knows
22. Good Vibrations

Encore:
23. This Beautiful Day
24. All Summer Long
25. Help Me, Rhonda
26. I Get Around
27. Barbara Ann
28. Surfin' U.S.A.
29. Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2:
30. Love and Mercy

Gotta say that would be a disappointment to be honest

Except for Barbara-fu**ing-Ann, that is a fine set of songs, though.

It it a solid set! Please Let Me Wonder and She Knows Me Too Well might sneak in there also Brian seems to really like those. Lookin' at Tomorrow, Honkin Down the Higway for Al and Funky Pretty and Hold On Dear Brother for Blondie is what i'm hoping for.

We can only hope. I think they will pull out a few concert rarities from date to date. It was great hearing Break Away a couple years ago, as it was only the second time that someone performed it since July 1969 in Atlantic City.

I was there-do you remember what happened in the beginning of the song between Carl & Dennis??

No, I don't remember. I only remember Carl introducing it as their new single. Please tell the story and maybe I'll remember.

a mind is a terrible thing to waste....