Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour

[svin]

Glad you enjoyed the show, Dennis....
I'm just happy they don't suck, although once I heard Brian's backing band were involved in the new record project and the tour, I wasn't all that worried about that...
as for the recorded output...you really can't go wrong with the period that produced the Pet Sounds/ Sunflower / Holland / So Tough / Surf's Up records...Sunflower is one record some rate as one of their best...
what I've heard from the new record is pretty good, considering what is now missing from the band...

[wheland]

Svin,

I expected it to be a good show when I first heard about it happening. My major concern is for those getting shows late in the tour- hopefully the detente that allowed this tour to happen continues until it's finished.

It wouldn't be the first time that fans got their hopes up and had them dashed by the vagaries of the artist - like all of us who got really bummed when Neil decided to write a book instead of do the shows he promised to do with Buffalo Springfield. Insult to injury- now a new cd and probably a tour with Crazy Horse. Could have waited until they finished the BS tour.

Dennis

[Patm]

you really can't go wrong with the period that produced the Pet Sounds/ Sunflower / Holland / So Tough / Surf's Up records...Sunflower is one record some rate as one of their best.....

"Sunflower" to "Holland" seems to be the consensus for best BB albums, and certainly was their peak as a live band. I'd add the "Love You" album which although it suffered from terrible lyrics, had some great music.

Nice to see the band go out this way, a classy 50th Anniversary reunion tour and a final album with Brian Wilson involvement.

[wheland]

you really can't go wrong with the period that produced the Pet Sounds/ Sunflower / Holland / So Tough / Surf's Up records...Sunflower is one record some rate as one of their best.....

"Sunflower" to "Holland" seems to be the consensus for best BB albums, and certainly was their peak as a live band. I'd add the "Love You" album which although it suffered from terrible lyrics, had some great music.

Nice to see the band go out this way, a classy 50th Anniversary reunion tour and a final album with Brian Wilson involvement.

I quite agree. The Beach Boys and the Beatles had much in common - including two separate and different musical eras.

They both were short song masters with little or no connection from one single to the next early in time. Girls was a common theme- although the BB also hit on cars and surfing.They both had a very solid impact on the music of the time and definitely influenced others to emulate the sound and the content of the music.

They then seemed to go into a completely different realm of music - the Beach Boys starting with Pet Sounds and the Beatles dabbling with Rubber Soul and jumping in with both feet with Revolver. Both groups really only put out collections of singles and b-sides with a bit of filler before that point. Of course 90 % of those albums were killer songs for the day for both. I think the first album I bought by the Beach Boys was Pet Sounds and the first Beatles album was Revolver.

They weren't the only groups this happened with - the Rolling Stones is another fine example- but most of the others did not have such a large demarcation in their music output.

Dennis

[fanzine]

I don't believe anyone has answered this yet. If they did I apologize. Yes, the Cowsill drumming for the Beach Boys is John Cowsill from The Cowsills. Not a son of one of the original members but their original drummer. I think he was 12 when The Cowsills had their first hit.

[hiro]

They will come to Japan with the guest America at the baseball stadium. I'm not a huge fan of the Beach Boys, listening to America under the sun, it'll be fun.

[svin]

went to the Beach Boys show Friday night here in San Diego...
I'm going to dispense with a set list...suffice it to say they played ALL the songs. two hours worth of hits and some surprises.
I'm going to say this right out front...they can still cut it. period. I was afraid they would suck with the new record and tour, but they're pros, and with the help of their backing crew [mostly Brian's], they pulled off a not good, but great show.
for me, the big test was whether or not the absence of Carl Wilson would be keenly felt...it was, from time to time...there were places where the mind would expect Carl to chime in. instead, Jeff Foskett did yeoman work as the high voice throughout the night. I actually forgot Carl wasn't there a few times, and that's saying something for me.
after the first set, which I thought was pretty good, they came out and simply killed it. I have heard they take a little time to warm up, and that's true. not that the first set was bad...they just took it up a notch in the second half....
highlights for me: "Do It Again"...a gorgeous "Surfer Girl"..."Marcella"..."Then I Kissed Her"..."Don't Worry Baby" [with Foskett handling lead vocals]...and a killer "I Get Around" to close out the first set...
coming out for the second set...they convened around Brian's piano for "Add Some Music"....and from there...into a lovely "In My Room"....choir like harmonies [as on many songs]..."I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" [Brian engaged on these two songs, and seemingly pepped up from here in]...
at this point, something special happened...and really, could only happen at a Beach Boys show...Mike Love introduced his daughter Ambha, all of sixteen years old, to sing "Sail On Sailor"...he explained the song has always been special to her..well, she didn't go all Mariah Carey on it, but after some initial nerves, she sang her tuckus off....
the next two songs were simply great : an amazing "All This Is That", again choir like...people around me were asking if it was a real Beach Boys song...they had never heard it before...into "Heroes and Villains", with many of the "Smile" bits incorporated into the song...
then came the most emotional part of the night..Dennis and Carl's tributes...I have to say, even though it was hard to watch the videos on the big screen, and listen to them sing [Dennis "Forever" and Carl "God Only Knows"] backed by the band...it was at this point I really missed Carl being up there...I really miss that guy...and I know he would have loved to have been there...this band was his baby...
from there a stunning "Good Vibrations'...with some stuff thrown in from "Smile" again...
and from there...nothing but surf and car hits...people up and dancing..."California Girls"..."Help Me Rhonda"..."Surfin' USA" the highlights....encore break, and then the horrible "Kokomo" [which some people seemed to be waiting all night for]...and after, what can only be described as piledriving versions of "Barbara Ann' and "Fun Fun Fun"...and they were done...gathering at the front of the stage to thunderous applause...same as it ever was in the two dozen times I've seen them before this show...
a few observations...
whoever came up with their stage design did a hell of a job...looks great, but doesn't overshadow the band...and whoever is doing their swag, an equally good job...they showed samples on the stage big screen during the intermission...pretty damned smart.
Mike Love...well, what can you say?..he may be the devil, but he did a great job..the guy is a pro...his voice was strong all night long...
Al Jardine..big sh!t-eating grin throughout...I think he's having the most fun out of all of them...did very well on his vocals
Bruce Johnston...didn't do much..he's been doing "Disney Girls" on the tour...didn't on this night...
David Marks...a lot of people disagreed with his inclusion...but he's a pretty good guitar player...played all of the leads Carl played...
Brian...sat stone faced through the first set, and then came alive during the second..played some piano, which he doesn't do ordinarily...good vocals on his songs...actually made some hand gestures and smiled toward the end of the show...and DANCED a little while playing bass on the last two songs...
and last but not least...the backing band...without whom...I have to mention the madman drummer John Cowsill...Foskett..and Darian Sahanaja...who is owed a big thank you by Beach Boys fans everywhere. he's the guy who got Brian off his butt, back in the studio, and eventually, on the road, which led to this reunion, the record, and the tour. watching the backing band, I saw many smiles...it has to be a thrill for them to be playing with these guys...
whoa...long winded...sorry...it was that good....pictures below...follow the link.
if you have the chance....see them...worth it...totally worth it...

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40 ... live52512/

[TonyNYC]

Thanks for the review, Svin

[wheland]

Svin- great review. Glad you enjoyed the show so much.

I agree the stage setup was done very well. It made one think of the drive- in - including how they rolled through the swag during the intermission.

I agree about the drummer- and said so before- he made me think of Animal from the Muppets band in his ferocity on the drums. Sounded great as well.

Dennis

[svin]

thanks, Tony and Dennis....
evidently, playing the drums isn't all this guy can do...frankly, the Beach Boys should have him do this song...