3 REVIEWS~ Al Jardine Tour in Chicago

3 Reviews of the Al Jardine Concert @ City Winery in Chicago

Originally posted on Kent Kotal's Forgotten Hits site

Al Jardine Concert • April 2, 2018 • City Winery, Chicago

Phil Miglioratti • phil@prayforsurf.net • PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com

THANKS! Kent, for the opportunity to attend the Al Jardine concert and submit a review to you for Forgotten Hits. It was also special in that my daughter (whom I’ve dragged to BB concerts all her life) was visiting and attended with me. MUCH fun.

This life-long (69 last November!) Beach Boys fan got to see/hear the band’s least known and most underrated original member. Mike was tall and pranced. Brian was, well, a genius. Carl had the best voice in rock. Dennis: sex symbol. David is also less known but left the group before they became globally famous. Alan? Not tall, played rhythm (not lead or bass) guitar, and stayed out of trouble.

So, this tour, for many Beach Boys fans, is an introduction to Alan Jardine.

My personal introduction . . .

Alan graciously met me for breakfast (an unknown-to-him fan) after their 1966 Chicago concert ... I’m sure I was so star struck I forgot to pay for his meal as a way of thinking him for his time and their great music. [No recollection of how I knew his contact info?!?]

Our Beach Boys fan club received recognition from WCFL radio, even though the club membership was only me and another fanatic  (we called the station so often the DJs thought we had scores of members, which got us backstage passes) which may have connected us to Beach Boys manager Steve Korthoff, who twice provided us with complimentary tickets to their concerts. Surprisingly a year or two later, he gave me a set of 5 Beach Boys worn-in-concert shirts that I shared with other club members. Mine has the initials A. J. on the label and a laundry imprint (“KORT”) on the inside back collar.

Alan has only recently begun to receive the acclaim due him for his role in the Beach Boys across the decades. He penned several very good songs, gave the Beach Boys several timely singles, and provided his signature vocals (which he maintains to this day) on more singles and deep cuts than most realize.

Undervalued? It is near unbelievable the photo shoot for “Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)” went on while he was sick in bed (can you imagine a Beatles album with John, Paul, George, and no Ringo?). On “Beach Boys Concert” [1964] his guitar lick, as Mike introduced each member of the band one-by-one, was mixed out in the released version; no sound).

No respect. But for many, this tour is helping fans reimagine Al Jardine.

A more formal introduction . . .

Introducing Alan Jardine

Phil Miglioratti • www.PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com

·      •  Instrumental (pun intended) in the rehearsals that led to the recording of the Beach Boys first hit “Surfin’” on Candix Records  [1961]

·      •  First lead vocal was “Christmas Day” on the Beach Boys’ Christmas album  [1964]

·      •  Sang lead on “Help Me Ronda” (Beach Boys’ Today album) and the revved-up #1 hit remake “Help Me Rhonda” (Summer Days (and Summer  Nights!!) album   [1965]

·      •  Stunning lead vocal on “Then I Kissed Her” (also on Summer Days)  [1965]

·      •  Collaborated with Brian Wilson on shimmering “Sloop John B” adaptation of the folk tune “Wreck of the John B”  [1966]

·      Brought us “Cotton Fields,” the better-produced, single-version of the “Cottonfields” album cut on the Beach Boys final Capitol album, 20/20  [1969]

·      Co-wrote with Mike Love “Don’t Go Near The Water,” an early Beach Boys save-our-environment message song  [1971]

·      Co-wrote with Brian Wilson and Mike Love the gospel-style, gospel-message “He Come Down” (on Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” album)  [1972]

·      Wrote two-thirds of the “California Saga” (“The Beaks of Eagles and “California”) for the band’s Holland album  [1973]

·      Wrote “Susie Cincinnati,” a 70’s version of a car song (a grown-up “Little Deuce Coupe”?) [1978]

·      His love of doo-wop resulted in the Beach Boys cover of The Del-Vikings’ “Come Go With Me” on their M.I.U. album  [1978]

·      He toured as ‘Beach Boys Family and Friends’ ... sued by Brother Records ... released Live in Las Vegas with Al Jardine, Family & Friends, a recreation of Beach Boys songs  [2001]

·      A Postcard From California was Jardine’s first solo album  [2010]

·      Alan has toured with Brian Wilson on the Pet Sounds Tour and reunited with the Beach Boys for their 50^th Anniversary Reunion Tour

The songs (set list) . . .

Surfin’, Surfin Safari, Surfer Girl, Don’t Worry Baby, I Get Around/Little Deuce Couple medley, Californai Girls, Sloop John B, God Only Knows, Looking At Tomorrow, Vega Tables, Heroes & Villains, California, Postcard from California, and encores Surfin USA, Barbara Ann, Help Me Rhonda

The slides . . .

Al’s team did an excellent job of showing while he was telling (stories and songs) the story of the Beach Boys. Photos took us from the 60’s through the many phases of their career. Photos; most of which I had seen before. But this time, with Al alone on stage, his face, not surprisingly, leapt out of each group shot. About 2/3 of the way through the concert, a slight revision of the Murry Wison album came to mind: “The Many Face of Alan Jardine.” This two dimensional character sprung to life. Singing hard onstage - Serious concentration in the studio - Silly hats (somehow fashionable at the time) - Smiles and laughter. Never an expendable or replaceable member of “America’s most popular band” (AL told us the Maharishi asked this question to the Beatles; you know their answer).

The stories . . .

Al reminisced, recounted, rambled, but I loved every minute of it. Whether you were hearing these stories for the first time, or, like me had read them dozens of times (with as many versions!), hearing them live from one who lived in those moments was a wonder-filled experience.

·      Audio clip from 1961 home recording (around the time of “Surfin’” rehearsals): “This is the voice of Dennis Wilson... (followed by their home address)”

·      Al’s rambling story of their Labor Day weekend jam that led to the Candix recording session

·      “Surfer Girl:” Brian’s failing grade in music class for songwriting was finally changed to an “A” this year

·      Al lit-up when explaining how Carl plugged his new 12 string guitar directly into the sound board in the studio for the intro of “California Girls”

·      He sang some of the lyrics he wrote for his children’s book, a pirate-make-over of “Sloop John B”

·      Insider stories of how Brian would always run his ideas by brother Carl before presenting them to the group ... which cause Al to learn how to play piano ... which enabled him to introduce Brian to what became the Beach Boys version of Sloop John B

·      The “blue collar / Bessie Smith blues” background on “Looking At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)”

·      Why they had the recording studio floor and walls covered in plastic while recording “Vega Tables”

·      “If anyone has pictures of this, let us know” said Al’s manager/keyboardist after Al recounted the Beatles knocking on his hotel door after they played a UNICEF gig in Paris (“We had to follow a performance by the Red Army Choir ... with the Beatles sitting in the front row ... not too intimidating!”)

·      A tender spotlight on Glen Campbell and how he asked Al to switch guitars (bass/rhythm) so he could concentrate on the replicating Brian’s vocals onstage

·      Al rambled and needed some redirecting from his son Matt. It was wonderful.

·      Somehow we (my daughter, myself AND Kent Kotal!) became the front of the after-show autograph line – My opportunity to say “thank you” to someone who, especially after tonight, feels like a friend.

  Kent Kotal's Review (originally posted on ForgottenHits60s)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again …    

Al Jardine has the best singing voice of all The Beach Boys today … strong and clear without a hint of age.

We’ve seen Mike Love where he could barely muster up a raspy whisper …

And Brian Wilson when it seemed like finding (and sticking to) the melody was the unfulfilled mission of the night …

But Al Jardine has consistently come through with one great vocal triumph after another. 

It was on display on The Beach Boy’s 50^th Anniversary Comeback LP “That’s Why God Made The Radio” …

It was on display during his featured tracks on Brian Wilson’s “No Pier Pressure” LP …

And it was on display Monday Night (April 2^nd) at City Winery Chicago as he worked his way through a very impressive two hour set of Beach Boys favorites, accompanied only by his son Matt and Musical Director Jeff Alan Ross.  (Very special thanks again to Dan Conroe who provided tickets for me and two pair of lucky Forgotten Hits Readers … it was a real pleasure to watch the show with such devoted fans.)

Now I’ll admit, I went into the evening a bit skeptical and apprehensive … what does one expect from an Al Jardine concert?  Sure, he’ll have to do a few Beach Boys songs to please the fans … but will the rest of the night be spent showcasing new, unfamiliar solo material … or will Al use this as an excuse to FINALLY present the folk-roots program he’s always dreamed of doing?

As it turns out, neither could be further than the truth.  (Other than the review of a Massachusetts show posted below, I really hadn’t read anything about what Al would be doing during this special “Postcards From California” tour.)

What he did was take us on a guided musical tour through The Beach Boys’ entire career, pretty much in chronological order, beginning with Al playing a stand-up bass while performing their very first record, “Surfin’,” a local hit that made The Top Ten in California but barely dented The National Charts. (#75, 1962)

From there, the journey continued through their hits “I Get Around,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfer Girl,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “California Girls” (Absolutely INCREDIBLE sounding with just the accompaniment of Al’s guitar and Jeff’s piano … in fact, the sound this trio was able to achieve throughout the entire evening was nothing short of outstanding … it was VERY impressive listening to what they could recreate by using just their three voices and two musical instruments!), “God Only Knows,” “Heroes And Villains,” “Good Vibrations” (Can you believe they even dared?!?!  And yet it sounded fantastic!), “California Saga,” “Vegetables” (!!!) and, for me, the highlight of the evening, “Sloop John B.,” which gave Al the chance to tell the story about how he was FINALLY able to get Brian to record a folk song, four years into the band’s success.

In fact, the storytelling was a good part of the fun, even though Al had to be prompted from time to time to stay on point.  The audience was a mix of all ages, as one would expect from any show having anything at all to do with The Beach Boys … they have already spanned four generations of fans … and the trio received rousing applause throughout the evening as well as several standing ovations.  They completed their set with a three song encore:  “Surfin’ USA,” “Barbara Ann” and “Help Me, Rhonda,” the song most closely associated with Al.  (Throughout the night, he proved he could do their entire catalog justice, singing leads to songs he would otherwise never be given the chance to do.)  In fact, photos of the band at virtually every stage of their career were displayed on both sides of the stage during the entire performance, punctuated by an occasional video clip here and there … including … can you believe it!!! … the opening musical sequence from “The Monkey’s Uncle”!!!  OMG … does this mean another three weeks of earworm hell?!?!?)

All three of us in our Forgotten Hits group were able to take a picture with Al and his son Matt after the show.  And we were even able to snag a couple of great stage shots and share them with our readers, courtesy of City Winery House Photographer Howard Greenblatt.

Here's mine:

All-in-all, a GREAT show … I can honestly say that it exceeded my wildest expectations in every way.  

It sounds like Al’s just filling time doing some solo shows through the end of the month until he teams back up again with Brian Wilson in May for a full-scale tour with The Brian Wilson Band, which includes three shows in Nashville with a full orchestra.  They'll return to the Chicagoland area in November at The Horseshoe Casino in Indiana, where’ll they’ll also perform a complete set of Christmas music.

Great time … if the opportunity presents itself again, do yourself a favor and check these guys out … you will not be disappointed!  (kk)

Stage Concert Photos by Howard Greenblatt

Tickets Courtesy of Dan Conroe and City Winery Chicago

 Art Walicki's review (originally posted on <ForgottenHits60s.blogspot.com>)

Let me start by saying this was my first time at the City Winery in Chicago. What a great place to see a

show. It feels like a throwback to the supper clubs of old. You can have dinner and cocktails (wine being

their specialty) right at your table. The wait staff was very attentive and always courteous. The sound and

acoustics in the club are also excellent. Now on to the performance. 

The group consisted of Al Jardine, his son Matt and the fellow who produced theshow, Jeff Alan Ross.  He did an excellent job with video and photo montages, which I believe even surprised Al. I was expecting a show of Al’s solo cd so I was pleasantly surprised that the show was 99% Beach Boys songs.  

Beach Boys songs are all about harmonies. Well,these three guys did an outstanding job. Al still sounds great. The unsung star for me of this show was his son Matt Matt did an impeccable job of doing Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson’s vocal parts. He is what made this show sound like a Beach Boys show. 

Singing harmonies is one thing, but when you try and do

a complex song like “Good Vibrations,” it is much more difficult. These three guys with two instruments did an outstanding job. There was plenty of great storytelling and banter between the group and the audience. They performed a great selection of Beach Boys hits ... as many as you can in a two-hour show. 

The one song they did from Al’s solo cd was a tribute to Glen Campbell. Again Matt did an excellent job of singing Glen’s part. It was a fun filled two-hour show.

Al and Matt were also very cordial after the show, signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans.

I would definitely go and see this show again and if it was at the City Winery, then all the better.

ART WALICKI

Art (R) and Al (L), after the show

Al is doing a few more shows this month -- if any of these are in your area, you would do yourself well to check them out!

Saturday April 7
Rio Theatre
Santa Cruz, CA
Click here for ticket info

Sunday April 8
The Chapel
San Francisco, CA
Click here for ticket info

Thursday June 7
Egyptian Theatre
Park City, UT
Click here for ticket info

Friday June 8
Egyptian Theatre
Park City, UT
Click here for ticket info

Saturday June 9
Egyptian Theatre
Park City, UT
Click here for ticket info

Sunday June 10
Egyptian Theatre
Park City, UT
Click here for ticket info

Friday June 15
The Cave
Big Bear, CA
Click here for ticket info

Saturday June 16
Coach House
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Click here for ticket info
 

{ Rare Beach Boys videos @ www.YouTube.com/BB45s }