This is another recording along The Beach Boys 2012 tour, and, although the majority of the touring members wanted to continue, it turned out to be the last show of the reunited surviving Beach Boys members. As such, it could turn out to be the last show they EVER play as a whole group. What do I think about this? I am amazed the wheels did not come off earlier in the tour. As a payday, the tour was very lucrative. Sadly, it was apparently not as lucrative as the Mike Love/Bruce Johnston contingent without Brian, Alan, and David Marks. This motivated Mike Love to choose to go back to his mode of touring prior to 2012.
This show is the same length roughly as the Red Rocks Concert which was filmed for PBS. The crowds at both shows were full of energy and joy. The British crowd here, 12,500 strong, was stoked to hear the reunited group, an event I am sure they did not anticipate happening. Having been in the UK for Brian's Pet Sounds and Smile concerts in 2002 and 2004 respectively, I can tell you that the Brits are nuts about The Beach Boys.
The recording here captures the entire 2+ hour sold out show, with the group being incredibly tight, having played 71 shows prior to this finale. The rarity here is Summer's Gone, which was only performed once prior to this show. The harmonies are live, and they are precise. The concert begins here with the trademark Do It Again band introductions and the crowd just gets louder and louder.
A surf song series follows, with the group reeling off 5 tunes with drums connecting them. Little Honda, Catch a Wave, Hawaii, Don't Back Down, Surfin' Safari, and Surfer Girl are all performed flawlessly. Brian's lead on Surfer Girl is wonderful, as is his lead on Please Let Me Wonder, which is gorgeous. This Whole World follows, also performed well by Brian on lead vocal. The tag to This Whole World is awesome. Wendy follows, with it's wall of harmony vocals. Again, it is flawless. What's cool is that Paul chimes in with a mouth harp on the bridge. Bruce is prominent vocally. Getcha Back follows Wendy, with Alan doing high harmony. David Marks sings well, and any doubts about his singing capability are put to rest.
Then I Kissed Her, a favorite of the UK crowd, is next. As always, it is a highlight of the evening with Alan sounding like it's 1965 all over again. The drumming and percussion is wonderful here. The crowd can be heard to chuckle and then sings along with Alan when he forgets a line. Mike teases Alan about the blown line and he sings it after the song ends. Brian does lead on You're So Good To Me next. It is obvious this is a favorite of his, and and also the crowd, as several thousand Brits sing along on the verses. Truly, it is a rush to hear the crowd sing along so avidly. Kiss Me Baby follows, after a brief introduction to Operation Smile. Leads are shared by Brian and Jeff. This is a lovely version, with an a capella tag.
Isn't It Time follows, with the same leads as the album. The song is well done, but the crowd is quiet for a change, not knowing the tune quite as well. Mike Love does a nice job on this tune, with a full voice well within his range. Alan follows with an introduction to Come Go With Me as being a doo wop tune. The intro is sung sans instruments, as is the tag. Alan's lead is spirited. A stunning Why Do Fools Fall In Love is next. It is hard to believe that this is live, as the vocals are nearly flawless.....but it is. The drumming here is a star of the tune. Paul Mertens chimes in on sax. Frankie Lymon's vocal is done by Jeff. When I Grow Up is next. Mike's lead here is very faithful to the record. Dance Dance Dance with it's Nelson Bragg sleighbells follows. The keyboards are percussive in the manner in which they are played...rhythm piano.
Darian Sahanaja does a great lead vocal on Darlin'. He captures the soulful feel of the original Carl Wilson lead vocal wonderfully. Again the drumming here is a big highlight. John Cowsill is a real asset. The tag is again without instruments. Bruce's Disney Girls is next. He is a true professional, and does the song perfectly. This is another tune that has been a highlight of every recording from this tour. It's Ok follows, with a cool instrumental lead in. Mike's lead is not as nasal as in other versions from this tour. Brian does Dennis's part on the tag.
Cottonfields is next with a nice steel guitar overlay, faithful to the original single. Alan's lead is on the mark. Someone plays a killer piano part near the end. Be True To Your School kicks off the car tunes, with it's "On Wisconsin" bridge, which is the fight song of Hawthorne High School. Ballad of Old Betsy follows with Scott Totten singing lead on this song with great harmonies behind him. Mike Love makes a reference to the late KFWB disc jockey Roger Christian in his introduction. Don't Worry Baby is next with Jeff on lead vocal. He sings well, and the harmonies behind him are well done. Again, Jeff's lead is mixed a little loud. The next four tunes leading up to the midway point and show break are all car tunes, beginning with Little Deuce Coupe, then 409, Shut Down, and I Get Around. The crowd sings along with every tune. Mike Love is made for these songs. They are his, and always will be. 409 and Surfin' Safari on this tour are pure garage "punk" rock. I adore these performances, as they show why fans in the early Sixties responded so enthusiastically to them. John Cowsill is heavy on the toms on these tunes, and sounds great. His bass drum also has a great "Levon Helm sound" to it.
The second segment of the show begins with David Marks showing again why he is a guitar master. His playing on the instrumental Pet Sounds begins the next set. Nelson is also great here....on fire, actually. Add Some Music to Your Day is next. with Brian starting it out. Bruce is also prominent. This is the best version from the 2012 Tour. Brian dedicates the second half of the show to Melinda and Ray Lawlor, both of whom are in the audience, and follows it with a fiery version of Sail On Sailor. He has reclaimed the song as his own. The backing vocals are simply soulful. Heroes and Villains is also a Brian lead, and he has reclaimed this tune as his own. It rocks! The bass drum is heard driving the tune forward....again, a "Levon Helm sounding" drum style. The complex vocal parts are executed flawlessly.
It is apparent that very few tunes are "off limits" on this tour, as Brian does I Just Wasn't Made For These Times next. Brian's vocal is strong, on key, and moving. Nelson Bragg executes percussion beautifully here. The mallets heard on the Pet Sounds album are present here. The theremin or perhaps Tannerin is also heard. Excellent versions of California Dreamin' and California Saga follow, as well executed as the studio versions, with Alan again singing, along with Mike on California Saga.
A gentle version of In My Room is next, performed flawlessly. All This Is That is the next tune, and it is sung beautifully, with Carl's ethereal voice floating on the last 45 seconds of the song. That's Why God Made The Radio is next and is done beautifully. Brian's vocals on both these songs are crucial and well done. Summer's Gone follows. It is a perfect record, and this version is as close to perfect as can be. Brian's vocal is excellent. In someways, it is reminiscent of the way Caroline No would take the audience away into a beautiful, reflective place. Perfection....it sets the mood.
Memorials to Dennis and Carl are next. The fallen members of the group are briefly remembered through taped lead vocals of Forever and God Only Knows respectively. For a brief moment, through the magic of technology, The Beach Boys are reunited. The Pet Sounds album is highlighted with two more songs, beginning with Sloop John B. Brian's lead is on the money. The vocals on the a capella break are clear and pretty. The last stanza is a duet between Brian and Mike and sounds great. Wouldn't It Be Nice is next, and the audience is singing along so loudly that it is hard to hear Alan's lead vocal. Brian is prominent also.
The ending sequence begins with Good Vibrations. Brian sings Carl's part on this song. The vocals are mixed well here, with everyone audible. Drums and percussion are well done. The theremin part leading up to the song's stop appears to be done on harmonica. The vocal sequence on the tag is great. There is a dubbed cello doing triplets. California Girls is placed next, and the intro brings a hush to the audience. The audience then sings from the heart. I wonder if they knew they were perhaps hearing the whole band doing it for the last time together....A killer version of All Summer Long is next, bringing the point home. We've been having fun all summer long...Help Me Rhonda segues from All Summer Long, and Alan slays it. The audience by this time is completely over the moon, and the power of Brian's music again is demonstrated.
Rock and Roll Music is next. Mike's lead vocal is good, but the song is poorly placed in the ending sequence. It should probably have been done next to It's Ok. The sequence's pace is restored with Brian singing lead on Do You Wanna Dance. Again, Brian's lead is solid, but hard to hear above the crowd singing along. David Marks' solo is cool. The segue into Surfin' USA kills. The bass drum is excellent, as is the bass guitar. Mike Love owns this song as well.
Kokomo is done on the encore, with the staff being publicly thanked, which is gracious. Whoever does the slack key guitar here, perhaps Scott Totten, does a superb job. Paul Mertens does a great sax solo on the bridge. I have to admit, this version is great, and I don't like the song. Barbara Ann is next, with band introductions. Brian plays bass here. David's guitar licks here are very tasty, as is his intro to Fun Fun Fun. By this time, the audience is up and singing along heartily, not realizing they are witnessing probably the last time the surviving Beach Boys will play together, it all beginning so hopefully.
Conclusions are hard. No one wanted this to end, but it's time. The band strolled offstage, and into history. The Mike and Bruce contingent went out after a few weeks, but it is not the same. You cannot replace a Brian, a Carl, a Dennis, an Alan, or a David without sounding not quite right, not the same. The tour's end was a marvel, and it is fitting that it concluded in the country which has unreservedly adored The Beach Boys since 1964. This concert hopefully was filmed for history's sake. If it wasn't, it is very sad. At least we have a similar length concert from Red Rocks, whenever it is broadcast. Am I sorry I missed this tour? Yes. There is no replacement for live music, for BEING THERE. I guess there are disadvantages to living in Montana, but other than being far from the concert circuit, I can't think of any. After all, it's Big Sky country!
This show is the same length roughly as the Red Rocks Concert which was filmed for PBS. The crowds at both shows were full of energy and joy. The British crowd here, 12,500 strong, was stoked to hear the reunited group, an event I am sure they did not anticipate happening. Having been in the UK for Brian's Pet Sounds and Smile concerts in 2002 and 2004 respectively, I can tell you that the Brits are nuts about The Beach Boys.
Wembley Arena-London
A surf song series follows, with the group reeling off 5 tunes with drums connecting them. Little Honda, Catch a Wave, Hawaii, Don't Back Down, Surfin' Safari, and Surfer Girl are all performed flawlessly. Brian's lead on Surfer Girl is wonderful, as is his lead on Please Let Me Wonder, which is gorgeous. This Whole World follows, also performed well by Brian on lead vocal. The tag to This Whole World is awesome. Wendy follows, with it's wall of harmony vocals. Again, it is flawless. What's cool is that Paul chimes in with a mouth harp on the bridge. Bruce is prominent vocally. Getcha Back follows Wendy, with Alan doing high harmony. David Marks sings well, and any doubts about his singing capability are put to rest.
Then I Kissed Her, a favorite of the UK crowd, is next. As always, it is a highlight of the evening with Alan sounding like it's 1965 all over again. The drumming and percussion is wonderful here. The crowd can be heard to chuckle and then sings along with Alan when he forgets a line. Mike teases Alan about the blown line and he sings it after the song ends. Brian does lead on You're So Good To Me next. It is obvious this is a favorite of his, and and also the crowd, as several thousand Brits sing along on the verses. Truly, it is a rush to hear the crowd sing along so avidly. Kiss Me Baby follows, after a brief introduction to Operation Smile. Leads are shared by Brian and Jeff. This is a lovely version, with an a capella tag.
Isn't It Time follows, with the same leads as the album. The song is well done, but the crowd is quiet for a change, not knowing the tune quite as well. Mike Love does a nice job on this tune, with a full voice well within his range. Alan follows with an introduction to Come Go With Me as being a doo wop tune. The intro is sung sans instruments, as is the tag. Alan's lead is spirited. A stunning Why Do Fools Fall In Love is next. It is hard to believe that this is live, as the vocals are nearly flawless.....but it is. The drumming here is a star of the tune. Paul Mertens chimes in on sax. Frankie Lymon's vocal is done by Jeff. When I Grow Up is next. Mike's lead here is very faithful to the record. Dance Dance Dance with it's Nelson Bragg sleighbells follows. The keyboards are percussive in the manner in which they are played...rhythm piano.
Darian Sahanaja does a great lead vocal on Darlin'. He captures the soulful feel of the original Carl Wilson lead vocal wonderfully. Again the drumming here is a big highlight. John Cowsill is a real asset. The tag is again without instruments. Bruce's Disney Girls is next. He is a true professional, and does the song perfectly. This is another tune that has been a highlight of every recording from this tour. It's Ok follows, with a cool instrumental lead in. Mike's lead is not as nasal as in other versions from this tour. Brian does Dennis's part on the tag.
A nice view of the 5 surviving Beach Boys
Cottonfields is next with a nice steel guitar overlay, faithful to the original single. Alan's lead is on the mark. Someone plays a killer piano part near the end. Be True To Your School kicks off the car tunes, with it's "On Wisconsin" bridge, which is the fight song of Hawthorne High School. Ballad of Old Betsy follows with Scott Totten singing lead on this song with great harmonies behind him. Mike Love makes a reference to the late KFWB disc jockey Roger Christian in his introduction. Don't Worry Baby is next with Jeff on lead vocal. He sings well, and the harmonies behind him are well done. Again, Jeff's lead is mixed a little loud. The next four tunes leading up to the midway point and show break are all car tunes, beginning with Little Deuce Coupe, then 409, Shut Down, and I Get Around. The crowd sings along with every tune. Mike Love is made for these songs. They are his, and always will be. 409 and Surfin' Safari on this tour are pure garage "punk" rock. I adore these performances, as they show why fans in the early Sixties responded so enthusiastically to them. John Cowsill is heavy on the toms on these tunes, and sounds great. His bass drum also has a great "Levon Helm sound" to it.
The second segment of the show begins with David Marks showing again why he is a guitar master. His playing on the instrumental Pet Sounds begins the next set. Nelson is also great here....on fire, actually. Add Some Music to Your Day is next. with Brian starting it out. Bruce is also prominent. This is the best version from the 2012 Tour. Brian dedicates the second half of the show to Melinda and Ray Lawlor, both of whom are in the audience, and follows it with a fiery version of Sail On Sailor. He has reclaimed the song as his own. The backing vocals are simply soulful. Heroes and Villains is also a Brian lead, and he has reclaimed this tune as his own. It rocks! The bass drum is heard driving the tune forward....again, a "Levon Helm sounding" drum style. The complex vocal parts are executed flawlessly.
It is apparent that very few tunes are "off limits" on this tour, as Brian does I Just Wasn't Made For These Times next. Brian's vocal is strong, on key, and moving. Nelson Bragg executes percussion beautifully here. The mallets heard on the Pet Sounds album are present here. The theremin or perhaps Tannerin is also heard. Excellent versions of California Dreamin' and California Saga follow, as well executed as the studio versions, with Alan again singing, along with Mike on California Saga.
A gentle version of In My Room is next, performed flawlessly. All This Is That is the next tune, and it is sung beautifully, with Carl's ethereal voice floating on the last 45 seconds of the song. That's Why God Made The Radio is next and is done beautifully. Brian's vocals on both these songs are crucial and well done. Summer's Gone follows. It is a perfect record, and this version is as close to perfect as can be. Brian's vocal is excellent. In someways, it is reminiscent of the way Caroline No would take the audience away into a beautiful, reflective place. Perfection....it sets the mood.
Memorials to Dennis and Carl are next. The fallen members of the group are briefly remembered through taped lead vocals of Forever and God Only Knows respectively. For a brief moment, through the magic of technology, The Beach Boys are reunited. The Pet Sounds album is highlighted with two more songs, beginning with Sloop John B. Brian's lead is on the money. The vocals on the a capella break are clear and pretty. The last stanza is a duet between Brian and Mike and sounds great. Wouldn't It Be Nice is next, and the audience is singing along so loudly that it is hard to hear Alan's lead vocal. Brian is prominent also.
The ending sequence begins with Good Vibrations. Brian sings Carl's part on this song. The vocals are mixed well here, with everyone audible. Drums and percussion are well done. The theremin part leading up to the song's stop appears to be done on harmonica. The vocal sequence on the tag is great. There is a dubbed cello doing triplets. California Girls is placed next, and the intro brings a hush to the audience. The audience then sings from the heart. I wonder if they knew they were perhaps hearing the whole band doing it for the last time together....A killer version of All Summer Long is next, bringing the point home. We've been having fun all summer long...Help Me Rhonda segues from All Summer Long, and Alan slays it. The audience by this time is completely over the moon, and the power of Brian's music again is demonstrated.
Rock and Roll Music is next. Mike's lead vocal is good, but the song is poorly placed in the ending sequence. It should probably have been done next to It's Ok. The sequence's pace is restored with Brian singing lead on Do You Wanna Dance. Again, Brian's lead is solid, but hard to hear above the crowd singing along. David Marks' solo is cool. The segue into Surfin' USA kills. The bass drum is excellent, as is the bass guitar. Mike Love owns this song as well.
Kokomo is done on the encore, with the staff being publicly thanked, which is gracious. Whoever does the slack key guitar here, perhaps Scott Totten, does a superb job. Paul Mertens does a great sax solo on the bridge. I have to admit, this version is great, and I don't like the song. Barbara Ann is next, with band introductions. Brian plays bass here. David's guitar licks here are very tasty, as is his intro to Fun Fun Fun. By this time, the audience is up and singing along heartily, not realizing they are witnessing probably the last time the surviving Beach Boys will play together, it all beginning so hopefully.
The Beach Boys-Dodger Stadium 2012 home opener
Conclusions are hard. No one wanted this to end, but it's time. The band strolled offstage, and into history. The Mike and Bruce contingent went out after a few weeks, but it is not the same. You cannot replace a Brian, a Carl, a Dennis, an Alan, or a David without sounding not quite right, not the same. The tour's end was a marvel, and it is fitting that it concluded in the country which has unreservedly adored The Beach Boys since 1964. This concert hopefully was filmed for history's sake. If it wasn't, it is very sad. At least we have a similar length concert from Red Rocks, whenever it is broadcast. Am I sorry I missed this tour? Yes. There is no replacement for live music, for BEING THERE. I guess there are disadvantages to living in Montana, but other than being far from the concert circuit, I can't think of any. After all, it's Big Sky country!
The Beach Boys 1962-Their First Photo Session
Happy Anniversary !
Text copyright 2013 by Peter Reum-All Rights Reserved
Text copyright 2013 by Peter Reum-All Rights Reserved
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