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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 3, 2021 14:01:52 GMT
I think Al was onto something with his Family And Friends touring concept, and I wish he could've worked out some arrangement (simply changing the name?) and continued it. In a unique way, Al might be the best-qualified Beach Boy to do something like that. I think I would pay to see Al and some ex-Beach Boys' sidemen AND somebody like a Carnie Wilson perform some 60s/70s assorted California-ish songs. Maybe after Brian retires from the road, Al will re-consider it.
While I have not attended Al's recent "storytellers" shows, I have seen a few YouTube videos. Meh... Frankly, they don't excite me. I guess Al isn't supposed to be exciting, and I'm not a fan of Matt Jardine's voice either. If Al was touring near my city and I was looking for a night out or some concert to see, I might take a chance.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 3, 2021 14:05:05 GMT
I'll say this: the little original material he has released has at least been mostly good. Rarely or never great, but mostly good.
Original: Postcard From California Drivin San Simeon And I Always Will Jenny Clover PT Cruiser
Semi-Original (as Beach Boys projects he helmed that were not released as such): Don't Fight the Sea Lookin' Down the Coast Waves of Love (versions 1.0 through 2,814.0)
In my opinion, I would not go as far as "good". Average is about as high as I can go. Other than the vocals (and I might go "good" on them), the songs are just not anything special, in any way.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 3, 2021 14:05:47 GMT
I saw the storytellers tour on its first stop here--I say first because I believe there was a second--and it was really enjoyable. However, being held in a nice (smallish) club, it was also pretty expensive for what it was. I wouldn't see any reason to go to another one like it. Once was fun, but enough.
If he assembled a band--even a small one--and performed most or all of his solo material and a few Beach Boys hits, I'd actually pay to see that, too. And I'd go see a F&F style bigger production, too, naturally (since that's roughly what I'm doing when I see a Brian Wilson show).
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 3, 2021 14:07:39 GMT
In my opinion, I would not go as far as "good". Average is about as high as I can go. Other than the vocals (and I might go "good" on them), the songs are just not anything special, in any way. I think things like Drivin, And I Always Will, San Simeon, Jenny Clover, and the newest Waves of Love all are pretty good. I don't think they're prime era Beach Boys singles or anything! But none of them would be out of place as album tracks on a post- Smile Beach Boys album. They're solid-to-good in that respect, in my opinion.
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Post by kds on Nov 3, 2021 14:12:37 GMT
I think Al was onto something with his Family And Friends touring concept, and I wish he could've worked out some arrangement (simply changing the name?) and continued it. In a unique way, Al might be the best-qualified Beach Boy to do something like that. I think I would pay to see Al and some ex-Beach Boys' sidemen AND somebody like a Carnie Wilson perform some 60s/70s assorted California-ish songs. Maybe after Brian retires from the road, Al will re-consider it.
While I have not attended Al's recent "storytellers" shows, I have seen a few YouTube videos. Meh... Frankly, they don't excite me. I guess Al isn't supposed to be exciting, and I'm not a fan of Matt Jardine's voice either. If Al was touring near my city and I was looking for a night out or some concert to see, I might take a chance.
The Friends and Family Live album is also a really solid live album.
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Post by lonelysummer on Nov 4, 2021 4:09:41 GMT
At this stage, I would be more interested in an Al Jardine show than a Brian Wilson show. I understand what the Brian Wilson show is - a chance to worship at the feet of a master. Sure, he's got a great band playing those songs he wrote 50/60 years ago, but the star of the show doesn't do very much. Just sits there singing his songs with an expression on his face that says "I'd rather be anywhere than here". Al, on the other hand, still has an excellent voice, so I would assume he's capable of fronting a group for a 90 minute or 2 hour show. I guess the question is, does he have charisma? A lot of people hate Mike Love, but he has proven to be pretty good at being the onstage master of ceremonies. I think that's what Carl missed when he did his solo tours. It gave him a whole new appreciation for Mike's role in the live shows. Al's never been a prolific writer, but he did come up with a few significant originals and/or ideas for covers - Sloop John B, Cottonfields, Lookin' at Tomorrow, Lady Lynda, All This is That (he is a co-writer, correct?), Come Go With Me. I think Al's personality is not that of a pushing person. I think he's more comfortable in a supporting role than as a leader/frontman. I do enjoy Postcard from California - in fact, I'd say it's the best BB related disc of the last 10 plus years. Doubt we'll ever get another one, though, unless he does an album of cover tunes.
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Post by carllove on Nov 7, 2021 2:39:20 GMT
At this stage, I would be more interested in an Al Jardine show than a Brian Wilson show. I understand what the Brian Wilson show is - a chance to worship at the feet of a master. Sure, he's got a great band playing those songs he wrote 50/60 years ago, but the star of the show doesn't do very much. Just sits there singing his songs with an expression on his face that says "I'd rather be anywhere than here". Al, on the other hand, still has an excellent voice, so I would assume he's capable of fronting a group for a 90 minute or 2 hour show. I guess the question is, does he have charisma? A lot of people hate Mike Love, but he has proven to be pretty good at being the onstage master of ceremonies. I think that's what Carl missed when he did his solo tours. It gave him a whole new appreciation for Mike's role in the live shows. Al's never been a prolific writer, but he did come up with a few significant originals and/or ideas for covers - Sloop John B, Cottonfields, Lookin' at Tomorrow, Lady Lynda, All This is That (he is a co-writer, correct?), Come Go With Me. I think Al's personality is not that of a pushing person. I think he's more comfortable in a supporting role than as a leader/frontman. I do enjoy Postcard from California - in fact, I'd say it's the best BB related disc of the last 10 plus years. Doubt we'll ever get another one, though, unless he does an album of cover tunes. I have to agree with you lonelysummer. Al still has great vocals and he can move. Even in the Brian is Back days, Brian didn’t look like he was happy to be there. Al does. I don’t think Brian has ever enjoyed touring. I almost feel like it is sort of sad for him. I have had tickets to the “Beach Boys” performance in Kansas City for almost two years now and am actually excited for it if it does happen in February. I emailed him a couple of months back with requests for songs I would like to hear Mike and Bruce perform and dang they actually added those songs to the sets soon afterwards. I’d definitely go see Al if he came my way. He is actually the only Beach Boy I remember blowing me away with his vocals when I saw them in 1986, when I went to see the Moody Blues perform with The Beach Boys. I wasn’t a fan back then. Not sure why I didn’t notice Carl though. Brian wasn’t with them then.
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