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Post by Rick Bartlett on Mar 8, 2022 3:34:53 GMT -5
Why I would love to see this show and I wonder how the one next week with the smaller company is going to go. So funny that the cheering of the crowd through them off. That's so adorable.. What a great idea to pull out the songs like this and I wish all of the Beach Boys together would be doing these intimate shows I'm with you professor, I wish the guys would just get together for their 60th in something similar to this. Just the guys, a handful of backup players, and do an intimate couple of shows together. They can celebrate, but do it 'low key', not so many 'bells and whistles' and it would surely be wonderful. The Beach Boys 'unplugged' if you will or the 'endless summer campfire session'. Ooooh Yeah.
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2022 12:37:47 GMT -5
Thanks Rick and this campfire video is just the definition of pure joy pure Beach Boy joy in every possible respect. Artistic personal communal familial.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Mar 9, 2022 4:02:49 GMT -5
Staff: Here for the show tonight? Have you got your ticket with you? Guy in mask: Ticket? What the hell? Do you know who I am? Al said something about an upcoming 'Sail On Sailor' release in November during one of the shows..... Anybody have any clue what's up with that?
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Post by Mopp on Mar 9, 2022 8:21:52 GMT -5
Staff: Here for the show tonight? Have you got your ticket with you? Guy in mask: Ticket? What the hell? Do you know who I am? Al said something about an upcoming 'Sail On Sailor' release in November during one of the shows..... Anybody have any clue what's up with that? I'd imagine it's whatever box-set release will be covering Holland (and I'd assume So Tough). Exciting prospects.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Mar 9, 2022 9:06:02 GMT -5
Staff: Here for the show tonight? Have you got your ticket with you? Guy in mask: Ticket? What the hell? Do you know who I am? Al said something about an upcoming 'Sail On Sailor' release in November during one of the shows..... Anybody have any clue what's up with that? I'd imagine it's whatever box-set release will be covering Holland (and I'd assume So Tough). Exciting prospects. Or another bonus track for the reissue of 'Postcard from California'...?
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Post by Mopp on Mar 9, 2022 11:03:21 GMT -5
I'd imagine it's whatever box-set release will be covering Holland (and I'd assume So Tough). Exciting prospects. Or another bonus track for the reissue of 'Postcard from California'...? In that case I wouldn't count on it being this November. Or any November this decade for that matter.
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Post by lonesurf on Mar 10, 2022 14:15:45 GMT -5
Do It Again from March 8th:
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Post by AGD on Mar 14, 2022 6:14:13 GMT -5
New date in March, Endless Summer show:
24 - Hawaii Theatre Center, Honolulu HI
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nater
Kahuna
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Post by nater on Mar 14, 2022 11:32:35 GMT -5
I'll be attending Al's show on the 19th in CA. I can't wait!! Anyone else here going?
I think the biggest treat of Al's recent solo shows of the last few years (both EndlessSummer tour with Matt and 'Family' shows) has been the spotlight put on Al's guitar (or bass!) playing. We've grown accustomed to seeing Al in large ensembles (with many guitar/keyboard players) where he only strums about half of time and is buried in the mix. In the 'Family' configuration he's back to his classic role in the band as one of two guitarists, solidly providing the classic surf rhythm guitar, and in the ES configuration he's sole or lead guitarist, or bassist- his instrumental role always absolutely crucial to the sound.
I can only assume that after decades of playing in large ensembles where every crucial instrumental part is covered by the backup the band, Al may have begun to forget some of those changes, and especially lead parts, after not playing them for so long. In his old ES summer band, not to be confused with his ES tour w Matt, and on BW's tours, he would occasionally double the lead parts being played by another guitarist, but rarely, if ever, be the sole one playing them. That is, until these recent tours.
Not only has Al showed that he can play all those surf leads and iconic guitar parts spectacularly, but I think he also gained a newfound instrumental confidence, that may have waned in the past few years. Due to sad circumstances, I think this confidence may have been even more solidified when Nicky passed, and for a brief time, before Randell filled in, and then Rob joined, Al was once again only one of two guitarists on stage in the BW band (w/ Probyn, not counting Blondie's appearances throughout the show)
When I saw Brian & Al in 2021, compared to 2015, 17, and 18, Al's guitar playing was much more present in the mix. Compared to the NPP tour, where I asked myself if Al was even in the mix at all, I could clearly hear his guitar from the last row of the theater in 2021. I think his newfound apparent reassurance of confidence on his instruments had added so much authenticity to the sound of the shows he's played in. When one compares the sometimes limp, lacking, sound of the (much larger) 90's BBs band, to the current sound of Al's bands, so much of that unique BB sound comes from Al's guitar/bass playing. It's a key ingredient in the magic recipe that can make all the difference, from a band instrumentally sounding like the BBs or not.
I've gone on and on about his instrumental abilities, without even mentioning he's (w/ Bruce) no doubt in best vocal form of the band, sounding remarkably like his younger self!!
Can't wait the show on Sat. It'll be my first Al solo show.
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2022 0:45:31 GMT -5
Was anyone at the show per chance tonight in San Juan Capistrano?
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nater
Kahuna
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Post by nater on Mar 21, 2022 17:39:31 GMT -5
I was at the San Juan Capistrano show. Absolutely excellent.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Mar 22, 2022 2:29:29 GMT -5
Almost in an 'unplugged' scenario, which seems to work quite well, considering no bass, no drums or fancy gear. Tackling things like 'California Girls' as a 3 piece outfit? But it sounds good. Matt Jardine has really peaked in my opinion since the mid 90's and has become quite the pro singer and performer. Well done crew!
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Post by AGD on Mar 23, 2022 18:49:31 GMT -5
New date for the Family & Friends show:
May 28th - St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake, Turtle Lake WI
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Post by AGD on Mar 24, 2022 6:42:47 GMT -5
And another !
May 27 - Des Plaines Theatre, Des Plaines IL (Family & Friends).
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nater
Kahuna
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Post by nater on Mar 24, 2022 10:42:05 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing my video of Cal Girls, Rick!!
It was such a treat to be at that show. The band was phenomonal, and Al was in particularly good spirits because he had classmates from Hawthorne High in attendance to support Al and watch the show!
It was my first time hearing Luau, Vegetables, and Santa Ana Winds live. Very special. I adore all of those songs. Al sounded identical on Vegetables to the original recordings. He introduced Santa Ana Winds by delivering the spoken word intro to which I let out a big "WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" and apparently was the most excited to hear it.
Al's singing, guitar playing, and bass playing were all spot on. Debbie and Matt were of course terrific too. It's pretty amazing to watch Matt grow from (as an observer) someone who seems like a singer, playing percussion to keep his hands busy (Like in the BW band where there's another devoted percussionist) into a fully capable percussionist who can bounce around between different instruments all while keeping the energy --- just like Nelson Bragg did in the BW band. Matt kept a solid beat (on any combination of tambourine, shaker, snare drum, tomtom) for the band to play too. He also masterfully played some of the more tricky rhythms, such as the 16th note tambourine fills in the chorus of Cal Girls or the 'clipclop' rhythm on GOK - while singing the lead!
A cool moment came when Matt reminded the audience (and his father) that Al played the Fender Bass part on the recording of DWB, to which Al told Matt "We should start doing it that way. You can play guitar, and I'll play the bass" pointing at the string bass that Al plays for much of the show. So that might be a treat we get to see in the future.
Aside from rehashing the story of Mike & VDP arguing during the SMiLE sessions, Al had nothing but nice things to say about his bandmates. While it can be expected for him to be complimentary of the Wilsons, it was nice to also hear him mention Mike, Bruce, and Glen during his storytelling. I think so much of the animosity we asssume is there, as fans, actually isn't, or isn't as much anymore. At this stage, all of the guys speak positively of each other, and have simply pursued different paths. I, for one, think it's very cool that you can simultaneously have Mike & Bruce touring as the BBs to keep the name alive, Brian promoting his new documentary which celebrates his strength and brilliance, and have Al playing his unique style of shows either in the form of the intimate storytelling shows, or celebratory, wholesome 'Family' act, which is announcing new dates after the positive reception for their shows.
We went through a period from the 90's through mid 2000's where everyone in the group spoke very rudely about the opposing camps, but I think this new management, the success of things like Feel Flows, and the passage of time has healed many wounds. I think many of the loose ends of circa '98 have been tied up. Brian and Al tour together, after being in opposing 'camps' back in the day. Al and Mike have apparently patched things up and speak on the phone. Bruce visited the BW band backstage not too long ago. David is no longer the "Lost Beach Boy" and has enjoyed both critical recognition and has played with both the BB band and BW band. Blondie has been brought back into the fold, and this time not as a sideman, but as a special guest who gets standing ovations every night. Even things as simple as Mike & Al wishing each other happy birthday on Facebook wouldn't have happened years ago. All of this makes me excited for whatever the reunion Al hinted at ends up being. And with Brian, and I hate to say it, but also Mike having slowed down (to different extents albeit) in the past decade, I think Al will be a shining star and key player in this reunion. He and Bruce will have to do much more heavy lifting this time around. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has noticed, but Mike talks much, much less during his concerts now. Certain shtick remains, but long gone are the days of his long winded rants. I hate to say this but just being honest, In the 4 shows I saw in 2022, Mike would sometimes look a bit confused between songs and it would actually be Bruce or Totten who introduced the next number. Then again, I'm looking at things with a microscopic lens, at the end of the day, Mike is now 81, still up there doing his thing, I have just noticed the aging, particularly since the return to the stage after C19.
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Post by AGD on Mar 24, 2022 10:52:10 GMT -5
All of this makes me excited for whatever the reunion Al hinted at ends up being. And with Brian, and I hate to say it, but also Mike having slowed down (to different extents albeit) in the past decade, I think Al will be a shining star and key player in this reunion. He and Bruce will have to do much more heavy lifting this time around. Will there be a tour along thelines of the 50th anniversary ? No, if only because the logistics and the booked dates wouldn't allow. Maybe a very few dates here and there: I'd be very happy with something similar to the 2016 DVD Brian Wilson & Friends, but minus the friends unless they were Blondie, Ricky and of course David.
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Post by Mikie on Apr 2, 2022 23:49:53 GMT -5
Nater, good post!
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Apr 3, 2022 3:27:08 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing my video of Cal Girls, Rick!!
It was such a treat to be at that show. The band was phenomonal, and Al was in particularly good spirits because he had classmates from Hawthorne High in attendance to support Al and watch the show!
It was my first time hearing Luau, Vegetables, and Santa Ana Winds live. Very special. I adore all of those songs. Al sounded identical on Vegetables to the original recordings. He introduced Santa Ana Winds by delivering the spoken word intro to which I let out a big "WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" and apparently was the most excited to hear it.
Al's singing, guitar playing, and bass playing were all spot on. Debbie and Matt were of course terrific too. It's pretty amazing to watch Matt grow from (as an observer) someone who seems like a singer, playing percussion to keep his hands busy (Like in the BW band where there's another devoted percussionist) into a fully capable percussionist who can bounce around between different instruments all while keeping the energy --- just like Nelson Bragg did in the BW band. Matt kept a solid beat (on any combination of tambourine, shaker, snare drum, tomtom) for the band to play too. He also masterfully played some of the more tricky rhythms, such as the 16th note tambourine fills in the chorus of Cal Girls or the 'clipclop' rhythm on GOK - while singing the lead!
A cool moment came when Matt reminded the audience (and his father) that Al played the Fender Bass part on the recording of DWB, to which Al told Matt "We should start doing it that way. You can play guitar, and I'll play the bass" pointing at the string bass that Al plays for much of the show. So that might be a treat we get to see in the future.
Aside from rehashing the story of Mike & VDP arguing during the SMiLE sessions, Al had nothing but nice things to say about his bandmates. While it can be expected for him to be complimentary of the Wilsons, it was nice to also hear him mention Mike, Bruce, and Glen during his storytelling. I think so much of the animosity we asssume is there, as fans, actually isn't, or isn't as much anymore. At this stage, all of the guys speak positively of each other, and have simply pursued different paths. I, for one, think it's very cool that you can simultaneously have Mike & Bruce touring as the BBs to keep the name alive, Brian promoting his new documentary which celebrates his strength and brilliance, and have Al playing his unique style of shows either in the form of the intimate storytelling shows, or celebratory, wholesome 'Family' act, which is announcing new dates after the positive reception for their shows.
We went through a period from the 90's through mid 2000's where everyone in the group spoke very rudely about the opposing camps, but I think this new management, the success of things like Feel Flows, and the passage of time has healed many wounds. I think many of the loose ends of circa '98 have been tied up. Brian and Al tour together, after being in opposing 'camps' back in the day. Al and Mike have apparently patched things up and speak on the phone. Bruce visited the BW band backstage not too long ago. David is no longer the "Lost Beach Boy" and has enjoyed both critical recognition and has played with both the BB band and BW band. Blondie has been brought back into the fold, and this time not as a sideman, but as a special guest who gets standing ovations every night. Even things as simple as Mike & Al wishing each other happy birthday on Facebook wouldn't have happened years ago. All of this makes me excited for whatever the reunion Al hinted at ends up being. And with Brian, and I hate to say it, but also Mike having slowed down (to different extents albeit) in the past decade, I think Al will be a shining star and key player in this reunion. He and Bruce will have to do much more heavy lifting this time around. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has noticed, but Mike talks much, much less during his concerts now. Certain shtick remains, but long gone are the days of his long winded rants. I hate to say this but just being honest, In the 4 shows I saw in 2022, Mike would sometimes look a bit confused between songs and it would actually be Bruce or Totten who introduced the next number. Then again, I'm looking at things with a microscopic lens, at the end of the day, Mike is now 81, still up there doing his thing, I have just noticed the aging, particularly since the return to the stage after C19.
ThankYou! Nater for sharing your great video with all of us to view! Nice Job! Great review too!
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Post by AGD on Apr 27, 2022 0:38:28 GMT -5
New dates, all Family & Friends: July 29 - Paso Robles Event Center, California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles CA August 26 - Ludlow’s Garage, Cincinnati OH 27 - Decatur County Bicentennial, Greensburg IN October 21 - Cerritos Center for the Arts, Cerritos CA
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Post by Matt H on Apr 27, 2022 8:21:33 GMT -5
New dates, all Family & Friends: July 29 - Paso Robles Event Center, California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles CA August 26 - Ludlow’s Garage, Cincinnati OH 27 - Decatur County Bicentennial, Greensburg IN October 21 - Cerritos Center for the Arts, Cerritos CA Awesome, I live in Cincinnati, I will be there.
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Post by lonesurf on May 10, 2022 17:57:06 GMT -5
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Post by lonelysummer on May 15, 2022 15:11:07 GMT -5
Do It Again from March 8th: Anytime I get to see Wendy it's a treat.
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Post by lonelysummer on May 15, 2022 15:13:11 GMT -5
Other than Al, Peter Rivera is the only one on that list I would care to see. The Guess Who with a bunch of replacements and the original drummer? No thanks.
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Post by Matt H on May 20, 2022 14:51:53 GMT -5
New dates, all Family & Friends: July 29 - Paso Robles Event Center, California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles CA August 26 - Ludlow’s Garage, Cincinnati OH 27 - Decatur County Bicentennial, Greensburg IN October 21 - Cerritos Center for the Arts, Cerritos CA Awesome, I live in Cincinnati, I will be there. I think I saw these dates on Al's website, but now they are not there, and Ludlow's Garage never had the show up. Anyone know if they are still happening?
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Post by AGD on May 22, 2022 1:43:25 GMT -5
The California shows are still up on Alan's website, but not the August gigs. Hm.
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