Beach Boys in Fort Myers, FL, 12/14/2016

[harrisonjon]

This exceeded my expectations and was excellent in places: Darlin', I'm So Young, When I Grow Up and Good Vibrations were 10/10 performances. Using Carl and Dennis vocal tracks for GOK and DYWD was just the correct side of tasteful, although I can see why it might not be to everyone's liking. I thought the "bottom end" sounded great, augmented by the baritone sax (Randy Leago, an excellent addition) and keyboards. The Four Freshmen tribute is clearly sincere, and authenticated by Brian Eichenberger's presence (who was a latter-day member of that group). Eichenberger also did the I'm So Young vocal. Foskett did the Brian lead vocals to the excellent standard you'd expect. Ballad of Ole' Betsy was a surprise.

Downsides: Xmas segment was far too long: Little Saint Nick would have sufficed. Pisces Brothers exploits George's memory to Mike's benefit (has the painting ever been produced?). The scarves and the water may be for a good cause but seem to be self-promotion, and were undermined by a tasteless joke about sending the water to Flint (yes, really). Kokomo, whilst an understandable inclusion, is sh*t, a disgrace to put it alongside Brian's greats. Summer In Paradise was a better song than Kokomo but still inappropriate.

Setliist was a shortened version of this 5/11 sets (e.g. there was only one set and the Pet Sounds songs were narrowed down to the usual three; there were no Surf City and Rock and Roll Music unless I overlooked them):

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2016/the-capitol-center-for-the-arts-concord-nh-73fad659.html

[KDS]

This exceeded my expectations and was excellent in places: Darlin', I'm So Young, When I Grow Up and Good Vibrations were 10/10 performances. Using Carl and Dennis vocal tracks for GOK and DYWD was just the correct side of tasteful, although I can see why it might not be to everyone's liking. I thought the "bottom end" sounded great, augmented by the baritone sax (Randy Leago, an excellent addition) and keyboards. The Four Freshmen tribute is clearly sincere, and authenticated by Brian Eichenberger's presence (who was a latter-day member of that group). Eichenberger also did the I'm So Young vocal. Foskett did the Brian lead vocals to the excellent standard you'd expect. Ballad of Ole' Betsy was a surprise.

Downsides: Xmas segment was far too long: Little Saint Nick would have sufficed. Pisces Brothers exploits George's memory to Mike's benefit (has the painting ever been produced?). The scarves and the water may be for a good cause but seem to be self-promotion, and were undermined by a tasteless joke about sending the water to Flint (yes, really). Kokomo, whilst an understandable inclusion, is sh*t, a disgrace to put it alongside Brian's greats. Summer In Paradise was a better song than Kokomo but still inappropriate.

Setliist was a shortened version of this 5/11 sets (e.g. there was only one set and the Pet Sounds songs were narrowed down to the usual three; there were no Surf City and Rock and Roll Music unless I overlooked them):

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2016/the-capitol-center-for-the-arts-concord-nh-73fad659.html

I actually keep hoping for a Mike and Bruce December show in my area one year so I can hear all those Christmas songs. 

[harrisonjon]

The audience was stunned during that medley: what the f*** is this sh*t? Back projection showed cartoon penguins pulling sleighs and whatnot.

[KDS]

The audience was stunned during that medley: what the f*** is this sh*t? Back projection showed cartoon penguins pulling sleighs and whatnot.

Sounds like when I saw them in Baltimore in February, and the audience was a little miffed by All This is That. 

The Beach Boys Christmas Album is pretty well known, so I'm surprised the songs would get that kind of reaction at a December concert. 

[HeyJude]

This exceeded my expectations and was excellent in places: Darlin', I'm So Young, When I Grow Up and Good Vibrations were 10/10 performances. Using Carl and Dennis vocal tracks for GOK and DYWD was just the correct side of tasteful, although I can see why it might not be to everyone's liking. I thought the "bottom end" sounded great, augmented by the baritone sax (Randy Leago, an excellent addition) and keyboards. The Four Freshmen tribute is clearly sincere, and authenticated by Brian Eichenberger's presence (who was a latter-day member of that group). Eichenberger also did the I'm So Young vocal. Foskett did the Brian lead vocals to the excellent standard you'd expect. Ballad of Ole' Betsy was a surprise.

Downsides: Xmas segment was far too long: Little Saint Nick would have sufficed. Pisces Brothers exploits George's memory to Mike's benefit (has the painting ever been produced?). The scarves and the water may be for a good cause but seem to be self-promotion, and were undermined by a tasteless joke about sending the water to Flint (yes, really). Kokomo, whilst an understandable inclusion, is sh*t, a disgrace to put it alongside Brian's greats. Summer In Paradise was a better song than Kokomo but still inappropriate.

Setliist was a shortened version of this 5/11 sets (e.g. there was only one set and the Pet Sounds songs were narrowed down to the usual three; there were no Surf City and Rock and Roll Music unless I overlooked them):

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2016/the-capitol-center-for-the-arts-concord-nh-73fad659.html

Which XMas songs did they do?

As for the Flint joke, it's Mike being an asshole, plain and simple. I read a review of a previous show where he did the joke, so now we know he builds tasteless jokes into the setlist. They're planned and scripted

He can give all the interviews he wants and claim he's "misunderstood" or has a "sardonic" sense of humor or whatever. But sorry, it's on Mike at this point that people think he's the biggest asshole of the classic rock era.

[harrisonjon]

White Christmas, Man With All The Toys, I'll Be Home For Christmas. I might have misjudged the atmosphere because I'm a Brit and those songs (except the first) mean nothing to me, but I did feel the audience was waiting for it to end so they could get back to songs they recognized as BB originals. There are plenty of actual Xmas concerts one can attend. OTOH maybe it's a BB tradition to include four of the Christmas Album songs in December concerts?

[KDS]

White Christmas, Man With All The Toys, I'll Be Home For Christmas. I might have misjudged the atmosphere because I'm a Brit and those songs (except the first) mean nothing to me, but I did feel the audience was waiting for it to end so they could get back to songs they recognized as BB originals. There are plenty of actual Xmas concerts one can attend. OTOH maybe it's a BB tradition to include four of the Christmas Album songs in December concerts?

I don't know how far back, but I know that, over the last three or four years, Mike and Bruce have been known to do as many as seven Xmas songs in their sets.

[CenturyDeprived]

This exceeded my expectations and was excellent in places: Darlin', I'm So Young, When I Grow Up and Good Vibrations were 10/10 performances. Using Carl and Dennis vocal tracks for GOK and DYWD was just the correct side of tasteful, although I can see why it might not be to everyone's liking. I thought the "bottom end" sounded great, augmented by the baritone sax (Randy Leago, an excellent addition) and keyboards. The Four Freshmen tribute is clearly sincere, and authenticated by Brian Eichenberger's presence (who was a latter-day member of that group). Eichenberger also did the I'm So Young vocal. Foskett did the Brian lead vocals to the excellent standard you'd expect. Ballad of Ole' Betsy was a surprise.

Downsides: Xmas segment was far too long: Little Saint Nick would have sufficed. Pisces Brothers exploits George's memory to Mike's benefit (has the painting ever been produced?). The scarves and the water may be for a good cause but seem to be self-promotion, and were undermined by a tasteless joke about sending the water to Flint (yes, really). Kokomo, whilst an understandable inclusion, is sh*t, a disgrace to put it alongside Brian's greats. Summer In Paradise was a better song than Kokomo but still inappropriate.

Setliist was a shortened version of this 5/11 sets (e.g. there was only one set and the Pet Sounds songs were narrowed down to the usual three; there were no Surf City and Rock and Roll Music unless I overlooked them):

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2016/the-capitol-center-for-the-arts-concord-nh-73fad659.html

Which XMas songs did they do?

As for the Flint joke, it's Mike being an asshole, plain and simple. I read a review of a previous show where he did the joke, so now we know he builds tasteless jokes into the setlist. They're planned and scripted

He can give all the interviews he wants and claim he's "misunderstood" or has a "sardonic" sense of humor or whatever. But sorry, it's on Mike at this point that people think he's the biggest asshole of the classic rock era.

Maybe Mike can add some Hurricane Katrina jokes while he's at it. You know, in order to mix things up a bit. What a tool.

[SMiLE Brian]

I see Mike is being a great brand ambassador again.

[CenturyDeprived]

I see Mike is being a great brand ambassador again.

Well, the ass part of ambassador is correct at least.

[guitarfool2002]

The audience was stunned during that medley: what the f*** is this sh*t? Back projection showed cartoon penguins pulling sleighs and whatnot.

Maybe Noven Jaisi did that back projection film...

Did the cartoon look like it used anything from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6U2ubpBd28

[guitarfool2002]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

[SMiLE Brian]

 

[rab2591]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

[KDS]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

Kinda like Rock and Roll Music on 15BOs.

[rab2591]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

Kinda like Rock and Roll Music on 15BOs.

R&R Music from 15BOs has a guitar playing a heavy riff (at 1:30 for a specific example and especially around 1:55 - but it plays all through the song), saxophones, real kick ass drums, etc. This 'Jingle Bell Rock' cover has the most artificial backing track I've ever heard (save 'Santa's Goin to Kokomo'). No comparison.

[KDS]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

Kinda like Rock and Roll Music on 15BOs.

R&R Music from 15BOs has a guitar playing a heavy riff (at 1:30 for a specific example and especially around 1:55 - but it plays all through the song), saxophones, real kick ass drums, etc. This 'Jingle Bell Rock' cover has the most artificial backing track I've ever heard (save 'Santa's Goin to Kokomo'). No comparison.

To be fair, I think both songs are just shells compared to the originals. 

[SMiLE Brian]

The single mix of RARM really shows that stuff buried in the mix.

[rab2591]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

Kinda like Rock and Roll Music on 15BOs.

R&R Music from 15BOs has a guitar playing a heavy riff (at 1:30 for a specific example and especially around 1:55 - but it plays all through the song), saxophones, real kick ass drums, etc. This 'Jingle Bell Rock' cover has the most artificial backing track I've ever heard (save 'Santa's Goin to Kokomo'). No comparison.

To be fair, I think both songs are just shells compared to the originals. 

Agreed. R&R Music has always been far from a favorite for me...there are much much better songs on 15 BOs.

[KDS]

I'd say missed opportunity: Bring Dean back, have Bruce fire up the ol' DX-7 and 808, and revisit this classic from the Radio Shack era. Enhanced, of course, by Noven Jaisi editing the original film with the cartoon penguins pulling a sleigh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryIroTqs-k

Pure gold.

That backing track though

For a song called 'Jingle Bell Rock' done for a TV movie called 'Scrooge's Rock and Roll Christmas' this track is laughingly void of anything to do with rock.

Kinda like Rock and Roll Music on 15BOs.

R&R Music from 15BOs has a guitar playing a heavy riff (at 1:30 for a specific example and especially around 1:55 - but it plays all through the song), saxophones, real kick ass drums, etc. This 'Jingle Bell Rock' cover has the most artificial backing track I've ever heard (save 'Santa's Goin to Kokomo'). No comparison.

To be fair, I think both songs are just shells compared to the originals. 

Agreed. R&R Music has always been far from a favorite for me...there are much much better songs on 15 BOs.

I like it as a live number.  But, never been a fan of the studio version. 

[MikestheGreatest!!]

Remember when the water was bad in Mexico and the jobs were in Flint MI?  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.....

[CenturyDeprived]

Remember when the water was bad in Mexico and the jobs were in Flint MI?  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.....

Would a potential Standing Rock joke by Mike told at a BB show bother you? Just curious. I happen to think it's bad taste to make jokey stage banter out of tragedies. Call me crazy.

[KDS]

Remember when the water was bad in Mexico and the jobs were in Flint MI?  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.....

Would a potential Standing Rock joke by Mike told at a BB show bother you? Just curious. I happen to think it's bad taste to make jokey stage banter out of tragedies. Call me crazy.

I remember when I saw The Cult in concert in 2007.  The show was in downtown Baltimore, and Ian Astbury joked that "you got some scary looking neighborhoods here."  Most of the audience laughed. 

While I'm not offended by a joke like that, as long as the joke isn't in really poor taste, in this day and age with smart phones recording everything, I think it's better practice to say away.  It doesn't take much at all for an offbeat remark to be captured on a phone, and turned into something bigger than it really needs to be. 

[CenturyDeprived]

Remember when the water was bad in Mexico and the jobs were in Flint MI?  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.....

Would a potential Standing Rock joke by Mike told at a BB show bother you? Just curious. I happen to think it's bad taste to make jokey stage banter out of tragedies. Call me crazy.

I remember when I saw The Cult in concert in 2007.  The show was in downtown Baltimore, and Ian Astbury joked that "you got some scary looking neighborhoods here."  Most of the audience laughed. 

While I'm not offended by a joke like that, as long as the joke isn't in really poor taste, in this day and age with smart phones recording everything, I think it's better practice to say away.  It doesn't take much at all for an offbeat remark to be captured on a phone, and turned into something bigger than it really needs to be. 

True dat.

[Marty Castillo]

Remember when the water was bad in Mexico and the jobs were in Flint MI?  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.....

Would a potential Standing Rock joke by Mike told at a BB show bother you? Just curious. I happen to think it's bad taste to make jokey stage banter out of tragedies. Call me crazy.

Let me give you some context. I live in Michigan. I work for an institution that is deeply entrenched in Flint and helping the residents to deal with the water crisis. My job brings me to Flint frequently--I know many people directly effected by this disaster.

I attended a concert in Michigan earlier this year where Mike gave his water charity spiel. This is how I described it then:

"One more thing I forgot to mention, Mike had some sort of blue scarf on stage that was apparently made in India. He talked about it for a couple of minutes (made a Steven Tyler joke), mentioned they were for sale at the merch table with 100% of proceeds going to clean water efforts. He made a joke about bringing the initiative to Flint."

The stage banter went on a little longer than necessary, but, unless the "joke" changed a lot since then, he essentially said that the proceeds from the sale of the scarves went for drinking water in Africa, though maybe it should be going to Flint. I didn't find it demeaning or disrespectful, more of a commentary on the fact that clean, safe drinking water shouldn't be in question for citizens in the United States in 2016.

Again, maybe he has changed the "joke" to be offensive. The "joke" received some groans from the audience, but more of a knowing, why is it even a question of clean drinking water, in the USA, in 2016.

There are a lot of things to criticize Mike about, but this seems a little overblown.