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Post by Kapitan on Feb 13, 2023 14:02:28 GMT
I feel the opposite about the Beach Boys' music being well suited to being performed by other musicians! To me, because it is highly composed and arranged (as opposed to reliant on improvisation) and at least for me doesn't rely on the originals' personas or voices, it's ideal. It is more like the jazz big bands I mentioned earlier, at least how I see it all.
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Post by kds on Feb 13, 2023 14:05:31 GMT
I know, personally, I'd probably be more likely to buy a ticket if the band included Scott Totten, Darian, John Cowsill, Paul Mertens, etc. But, I think geeks like me who would be excited to see players from later day BB live acts in the mix are probably in the minority. And, as Kapitan pointed out above, I guess I'm the opposite. Am I shallow? No, seriously, while I love 'em and they're great, I don't know if I'd spring for tickets to see a Totten, Sahanaja, Mertens et al. But then again, I'm not a big tribute band fan. I need more of a connection, an emotional connection, and the kids might provide that.
That being said, a few years ago I did see a Led Zeppelin tribute band, UnLEDded, and they were awesome. I know what I mean but I'm not sure how to word it. There's something about the music of a Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin or The Doors or even The Beatles which makes it more of a fit for a tribute band than The Beach Boys' music. Maybe it's the separation of the instruments or the solos or the type of music. It comes off better live as a rock & roll concert. Do you know what I mean? Does that make any sense?
To me, if Brian, Mike, or Al aren't on the stage, I'd rather pay to see players who I know can play the songs well. And, sure you can include Matt in that list since he's been a part of playing BB music in concert for a few decades now.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 13, 2023 14:07:35 GMT
Matt Jardine and Christian Love are the two family members I'd specifically like seeing out there, and whom I think really do the songs the most justice.
I do feel like I ought to say how it's sad that even if there were such a band in the near future, it couldn't include Nick Walusko or presumably Jeff Foskett. Those two added a lot to the various groups' performances over the past few decades.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 13, 2023 14:14:14 GMT
Don't misunderstand, while I love 'em and they're great, I think there is some overrating of Brian's and Mike's bands. It's not like those guys are the only musicians out there who can perform that music...well. I mean, with practice and rehearsal...and there's several musicians in those bands. I don't think they're overwhelmed. And, for decades, the music was performed by the likes of Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston - not exactly virtuosos. I guess you have to sing well, that would be essential.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 13, 2023 14:18:21 GMT
Don't misunderstand, while I love 'em and they're great, I think there is some overrating of Brian's and Mike's bands. It's not like those guys are the only musicians out there who can perform that music...well. I mean, with practice and rehearsal...and there's several musicians in the band. I don't think they're overwhelmed. And, for decades, the music was performed by the likes of Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston - not exactly virtuosos. I guess you have to sing well, that would be essential. I totally agree with you, there. It isn't essential those people be the musicians. But I do think if such an act were going to be trying to faithfully recreate the recordings--as opposed to the way the '70s band reinterpreted them, for example--it makes sense to have the kinds of musicians like Brian's band in particular. People who are closer to virtuosos than were the original Beach Boys. To perform a lot of those songs accurately, you're going to need people like Probyn Gregory and Scott Bennett who can jump from guitar to piano to vibes to trumpet to marimba to trombone, and who can sing. It's the only way to keep the group a manageable size! Of course you could also just use more synthesizers instead of real woodwinds, horns, marimba, vibes, etc. Or you could do as many Beach Boys bands have done, and change the arrangements. But for me that would become a far less interesting event.
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 15, 2023 2:26:14 GMT
Don't misunderstand, while I love 'em and they're great, I think there is some overrating of Brian's and Mike's bands. It's not like those guys are the only musicians out there who can perform that music...well. I mean, with practice and rehearsal...and there's several musicians in those bands. I don't think they're overwhelmed. And, for decades, the music was performed by the likes of Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston - not exactly virtuosos. I guess you have to sing well, that would be essential. Yeah, those guys weren't anything special. Anyone could play or sing those songs.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 15, 2023 12:24:38 GMT
Don't misunderstand, while I love 'em and they're great, I think there is some overrating of Brian's and Mike's bands. It's not like those guys are the only musicians out there who can perform that music...well. I mean, with practice and rehearsal...and there's several musicians in those bands. I don't think they're overwhelmed. And, for decades, the music was performed by the likes of Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston - not exactly virtuosos. I guess you have to sing well, that would be essential. Yeah, those guys weren't anything special. Anyone could play or sing those songs. Sheriff John Stone made clear "you have to sing well, that would be essential," so obviously he means that not anyone could sing those songs. But as for playing them, finding professional musicians who could play at the level of those guys would not be difficult at all. Instrumentalists in both Brian's band and the M&B Beach Boys are better than the Beach Boys ever were, as were the instrumentalists hired from the late '60s onward. The old myth that the Beach Boys couldn't really play anything is of course wrong ... but they weren't special in their instrumental abilities, and the music requires more ability than most of them had to be performed live as recorded.
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Post by SunnyDownSnuff on Apr 10, 2023 3:15:12 GMT
There isn't any "should" in this. Brian has given so much to the world that he has a free pass to do whatever he wants to do. I would love to see him reunite with the remaining Beach Boys and the Wrecking Crew one last time. I'd travel anywhere in the world to see that.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 10, 2023 4:43:27 GMT
Yeah, those guys weren't anything special. Anyone could play or sing those songs. Sheriff John Stone made clear "you have to sing well, that would be essential," so obviously he means that not anyone could sing those songs. But as for playing them, finding professional musicians who could play at the level of those guys would not be difficult at all. Instrumentalists in both Brian's band and the M&B Beach Boys are better than the Beach Boys ever were, as were the instrumentalists hired from the late '60s onward. The old myth that the Beach Boys couldn't really play anything is of course wrong ... but they weren't special in their instrumental abilities, and the music requires more ability than most of them had to be performed live as recorded. I think Carl was a very, very good instrumentalist. Great on guitar in the early days; and later on, playing keyboards in the studio, sometimes bass, but I'm not judging him against symphony orchestra players. I'm judging him against musicians in other rock and roll bands. I always loved the way Dennis played the drums, and I've been told repeatedly what an exceptional musician Bruce is/was - even though I only know him as the guy clapping his hands and adjusting his mic stand. I mean, where would you rate the individual Beatles instrumentally?
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 10, 2023 13:18:37 GMT
There isn't any "should" in this. Brian has given so much to the world that he has a free pass to do whatever he wants to do. I would love to see him reunite with the remaining Beach Boys and the Wrecking Crew one last time. I'd travel anywhere in the world to see that. Nice to see you again, SunnyDownSnuff. I generally agree with you about that first sentence. But I actually don't even think it matters how much he has given to the world: in my opinion, he could be the worst musician of all time and still I'd say there isn't necessarily any "should" in this. I don't agree about that last couple sentences. Not because it wouldn't have been amazing at almost any time through the decades, but because sadly I think that time is just so far gone that it would be more depressing than celebratory. I really championed Brian's live performances against people who thought he was being forced to perform, etc., over the years. But every single clip from the summer 2022 tour with Chicago made me conclude that it's over in terms of him being even a sympathetic figure on stage. It finally got to the point where I think it would depress me, and that's about it. Had that question come up in the 2008-10 range, I'd have been all over the idea. Probably even up through '15. Though--and now I'm rambling--it would also be interesting to think about "reuniting with the Wrecking Crew," because I don't know how often he actually performed with those musicians in the first place (as opposed to being in the booth while they performed). And of course they were never a single unit, and certainly never focused on this music generally. For a lot of those musicians, many of these hits were just three hours' work on some random Tuesday, the gig they did after lunch but before doing some Mamas and the Papas session before heading out to do a jazz combo gig that night.
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maryusa
Denny's Drums
Posts: 5
Likes: 4
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Post by maryusa on May 29, 2023 22:23:40 GMT
Hi all,
Brian and Mike will decide when it is time to retire. We have all enjoyed their music. When someone asks if it is time for Brian, Mike, or any singer to retire it seems as though that person wants them to retire. I ope that Brian and Mike continue to perform for as long as they are able. More power to them that they are still singing on stage.
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maryusa
Denny's Drums
Posts: 5
Likes: 4
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Post by maryusa on May 29, 2023 22:24:00 GMT
Hi all,
Brian and Mike will decide when it is time to retire. We have all enjoyed their music. When someone asks if it is time for Brian, Mike, or any singer to retire it seems as though that person wants them to retire. I ope that Brian and Mike continue to perform for as long as they are able. More power to them that they are still singing on stage.
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Post by jk on May 30, 2023 9:50:49 GMT
Hi all, Brian and Mike will decide when it is time to retire. We have all enjoyed their music. When someone asks if it is time for Brian, Mike, or any singer to retire it seems as though that person wants them to retire. I hope that Brian and Mike continue to perform for as long as they are able. More power to them that they are still singing on stage. Hi Mary and welcome! Regrettably this is true. (I've been guilty of that myself.) Well, as long as it's their decision to keep performing, long may they continue.
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Post by Kapitan on May 30, 2023 12:09:33 GMT
Hi, Mary, nice to see you.
You might be right that sometimes people want Brian, etc., to retire--but when they do, I think their hearts are in the right place. Those people feel Brian (in particular) is embarrassing himself, and so he'd be better off hanging it up. But I also think as long as it's safe or healthy for Brian (or whoever) to tour, they can make up their own minds as to what is embarrassing, what is good quality, or what they get out of it. It's their decision, and we're all free to go or not go.
By the way, unfortunately it does seem that Brian has retired, at least from touring. I wonder how many people who were adamant all these years that he shouldn't be touring will miss him (or at least his band) touring...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 30, 2023 12:38:54 GMT
This thread is relatively recent, and look at the changes since it started! I think it's safe to say that Brian Wilson is retired. If we do get another single/recording, I'm thinking it was probably recorded a while ago with questionable participation from Brian. And, while they aren't retired professionally, Scott Totten and John Cowsill leaving The Beach Boys' band is huge. Changes, changes, changes...
Regarding Kapitan's point about fans who wished Brian would retire then missing him and his band, I am one of those fans. I think because Brian was touring for so long and we had the opportunity to see him almost annually, because the bulk of his setlist became somewhat repetitive, and because the guy got every last ounce out of his talent, it will be easier to "let go" and NOT feel that we missed an opportunity. Personally, I have sufficient memories.
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