The Brian Wilson Orchestra

[donald]

Listening to the new LP tonight, I am smitten.  It is , in my mind, finally a new band fully realized.  Not the Beach Boys, not Brian wilson, but a musical entity unto itself.  As I listen, I visualize Brian, Taylor, Paul, Scott, Darian, Jeffrey and the entire band performing this material as I once visualized the Beach Boys as an entity.

It feels like I just opened a fresh lp by my favorite band back in the day, relishing each new cut, appreciating each members contribution.

I can't wait to see this live.  Especially after last fall's exceptionaql performance of the "greatest hits".

[Jay]

Ever since I hear the Roxy album I've been saying that they should come up with a group name. They're just to good to be "Brian Wilson's backing band".

[Myk Luhv]

They do have a group name! It's 'Wondermints'!

[donald]

Naah!

(Yeah.  Mints a big part definitely)

But the whole unit has morphed into an entity.....The Brian Wilson Orchestra.

I take my stand.

[summerinparadise.flac]

Brian Wilson's Endless Beach Party Band but also Orchestra Album Recreationists

[absinthe_boy]

The Brian Wilson Orchestra is appropriate....and could continue after Brian decides to retire.

[filledeplage]

The Brian Wilson Orchestra is appropriate....and could continue after Brian decides to retire.

Sweetie - the whole connotation of "orchestra" (even though it might be completely appropriate) where most of the players "sit down" to play, is so contrary to the whole "stand up and groove while you rock" that guitar.  Stuff got "pluggged-in" and electrified as a result of rock and roll. 

It might lose its "edge" because of that "old timer (my grandmother's Lawrence Welk generation) music" connotation.  That said, I would love to see the Boys play with a symphony orchestra, but, only in maintaining their own rocker identity.  It is nice to "crossover" with another style, as long as it is not a permanent "aged out" scenario.   

Brian stood up and rocked that guitar with his brothers and Mike, David, Al and Bruce. 

Brian's band is more of a "sound machine" [not to steal from Gloria Estevan] - especially if you have seen them "stand up"  like Nelson Bragg doing his awesome percussion thing.  We have to find a better term or maybe coin a new one!

As for me; l I still want them to "swing right into" the catalog of the Beach Boys...but not become a "swing band"   

[The Heartical Don]

Brian Wilson Combo?

The Brian Wilson Pistols?

The Brian Wilson Juke Box?

The Brain Wilson Tribute Band?

Brian's Wonderpints?

Sons Of The Beaches?

[Ron]

They need a really cool name... because that's what's important.  Being cool.


The Joe Diffie Strings (country redneck singer)

Merle Haggard and the Strangers (I'd like to introduce my band, these are the strangers)

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors

George Strait and the Ace in the Hole band


All the good names were taken up by the country singers years ago. 

[Jason]

Brian Wilson and the Ironic Hipsters.

[Ron]

I've got it. 



wait for it....





wait for it...


Brian Wilson & the Formula

[Jason]

I've got it. 



wait for it....





wait for it...


Brian Wilson & the Formula

First album will be called "Fuckin' With The Formula".

[The Heartical Don]

I've got it. 



wait for it....





wait for it...


Brian Wilson & the Formula

First album will be called "Fuckin' With The Formula".

  make that: Foda With The Formula...

[Don't Back Down]

Brian Wilson and Rollin' Up To Heaven?
Brian Wilson and the Shortenin' Breads?

[PongHit]

Brian Wilsbone Ash.

[smile-holland]

Brian Wilsbone Ash.

game - set - & - match

[summerinparadise.flac]

Brian Wilson and the Murder Junkies

[kwan_dk]

On another, and more gloomy note, what do people here think will happen with the band in the future? Say, ten years from now?.

I'm just thinking, this group has been together for so long now that it seems they could go on making great, original music in the Beach Boys / Brian Wilson mold should they so desire without Brian, either if he at some point (god forbid) quits recording / touring at his own will or because of health, illness etc. It's been quite some time since the Wondermints and Foskett issued anything new on their own and even though some of the other group members have had more recent projects maybe they would consider staying together in some loose group constellation that could consider recording & performing? In my opion that would be awesome and a great way of carrying on the torch, securing that this kind of music could live on many years from now. Whether or not it's realistic is of course an entirely different thing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

On another, and more gloomy note, what do people here think will happen with the band in the future? Say, ten years from now?.

I'm just thinking, this group has been together for so long now that it seems they could go on making great, original music in the Beach Boys / Brian Wilson mold should they so desire without Brian, either if he at some point (god forbid) quits recording / touring at his own will or because of health, illness etc. It's been quite some time since the Wondermints and Foskett issued anything new on their own and even though some of the other group members have had more recent projects maybe they would consider staying together in some loose group constellation that could consider recording & performing? In my opion that would be awesome and a great way of carrying on the torch, securing that this kind of music could live on many years from now. Whether or not it's realistic is of course an entirely different thing.

The current band are only 'together' when Brian's recording or touring: they all have their own lives and, aside from the former 'Mints, those lives don't seem to intersect much. It's a much looser aggregation than most folk imagine.

And of course the more pertinent question is not if they could carry on making music a la BB/BW (that's a proven) but rather if they would want to.

[PongHit]

Prediction: after BW retires/dies, they will continue to perform as The Brian Wilson Band.

[hypehat]

I don't think so - It would be pretty disrespectful to Brian to carry on. Sure, if they like they can form their own band and write their own tunes, but playing the BB's stuff without BW?

I would expect a Wondermints album soon after, because they must be sitting on what, 8 years worth of material if they've kept busy? But Jeff, Scott, Taylor, and Mertens will probably go their own separate ways, and that's ok with me.

[the captain]

If performing deceased musicians' material is disrespectful, there's a lot of disrespect going on in this world, especially in the classical and jazz realms. And in the latter case, Basie, Mingus, and Ellington in particular, I believe, have officially bands on the road. I don't see it as disrespectful at all. More likely it will be personally and artistically unsatisfying for them, though. It's one thing to study at the feet of the master (if we can stretch our imaginations to pretend that's what's happening); but at a certain point you'd rather put that knowledge to use on your own.

[Runaways]

doesn't matter if they carry on, who would watch that?

[the captain]

I'd go, no question about it. Brian is the least impressive part of his shows--by far--unless the music isn't important to you. His instrumental contributions are nil, his vocal contributions are shaky. It's funny to watch him, and there's a certain car-wreck / feel-good part to the whole thing. But in terms of quality performance? I love his band despite Brian Wilson. Mike Love's recent comments about the Beach Boys possibly carrying on because of the strength of the material are dead on. There will be a market for that music forever.

[Sam_BFC]

I'd go...Darian is one of my heroes for his role in the BW band alone