tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post4838918363617152059..comments2023-05-28T10:00:11.115+01:00Comments on On Songs And Songwriting: Mike Love's Beach Boys last night (Manchester Apollo)Andrew Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412263807838661843noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-33473299288108641842008-06-02T19:54:00.000+01:002008-06-02T19:54:00.000+01:00Anonymous - you may well be right about Mike Kowal...Anonymous - you may well be right about Mike Kowalski not having been fired, although I have to say that that was the information I got from people I consider reasonable (non-Anonymous) sources. What you say may well be true. I hope it is in fact - I don't like seeing anyone fired from their job, whatever the reason. <BR/><BR/>However, it doesn't change my central point. I saw the touring 'Beach Boys' three times with Kowalski on drums - the best of the three performances he was merely adequate, the worst he was frankly so incompetent *I* wouldn't play in the same band as him, and I can't afford to be anything like as choosy as Mike Love. I realise he had a long history of playing with extremely good people like Nick Drake, but his playing recently has been very poor.<BR/><BR/>John Cowsill, on the other hand, is so good that I heard several people in the audience talking about how great the drumming was - not something audiences usually pick up on. <BR/><BR/>I have nothing against your friend at all as a person, and wish him only the best, but his drumming seriously impaired the shows I saw him perform at, and *as a drummer* I don't think much of him.<BR/><BR/>I was quite surprised to see Chris Farmer leave, actually - he's actually an extremely talented performer, and he *is* missed in the shows.<BR/><BR/>As for Carl Wilson, I never said anything against him in this post, and it's very unlikely you'll ever read a negative word from me about him. I regret that I never got to see him live, but have only admiration for him as a singer and musician, and by all accounts he was also a thoroughly decent person. You have no need to defend Carl Wilson's reputation here, I assure you.Andrew Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07412263807838661843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-72903618710401525112008-06-02T19:28:00.000+01:002008-06-02T19:28:00.000+01:00Well, lets correct a couple of things...first I kn...Well, lets correct a couple of things...first I know Mike Kowalski and he wasn't fired, he quit. After Carl died the whole band went to crap. Al Jardine would agree with that. Mike had finally had enough of Love's attitude and ways of ruling over everything instead of asking others opinions like Carl did. Thats also why Chris Farmer left. They both had decided it was time to leave this touring "oldies show" , instead of sticking with their songs and doing things the way they had done them. I will not knock John's playing ability..he's good, but Kowalski was and always will be a close friend to Dennis and that frankly pissed Mike Love off. Most true Beach Boy fans know of the problems Dennis and Love had. It was a matter of time after Carl died(yes I knew him too)that Mike and others would leave the group. If anybody doubts Kowalski's talents...google the name Mike Kowalski and look at his history. Sorry, but I felt as if I should correct these false statements made and defend my friends Mike and Carl.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-71587437482818804272008-05-15T20:43:00.000+01:002008-05-15T20:43:00.000+01:00One of the most thorough and enjoyable concert rev...One of the most thorough and enjoyable concert reviews I have ever read. Thank you so much. A US fan!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-61159854293628932092008-04-19T21:01:00.000+01:002008-04-19T21:01:00.000+01:00This show has a massive feelgood factor about it.A...This show has a massive feelgood factor about it.Absolutely sensational and perfect for the more intimate venue that the Apollo provides.Andrews post is brilliant and I feel privileged to be part of that audience that was up on its feet <BR/>P.S Still believe in me must be one of the most haunting songs ever<BR/>DavybuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-16756136519679157082008-04-14T16:25:00.000+01:002008-04-14T16:25:00.000+01:00DANG! Sounds like a great show! I agree Cowsill is...DANG! Sounds like a great show! I agree Cowsill is fantastic. I have not seen a show yet with him on drums but his singing is spectacular.<BR/><BR/>I would love to hear them do All This Is That and Til I Die. Nice setlist.<BR/><BR/>Here's hoping they bring Marks and that setlist to the US!david b mclaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283484533908383151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-46348918017197257602008-04-13T23:28:00.000+01:002008-04-13T23:28:00.000+01:00I was at the concert last night and thoroughly enj...I was at the concert last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, this was *real* music, the a capella parts spine tingling, the atmosphere fantastic. Sat just behind a group of men, decked out in the whole beach wear, danciong along, who had seen them already in Hawaii... just proves that there are still the hardcore fans everywhere. Not of great knowledge as 'my parents hadn't even met when they wrote most of their songs' I had their music revived and was touched by the honest performances given. My mom fell in love with Cowsill's drumming, I fell in love with Mike Love's charisma, and overall think this was a splendid show, and good on them all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-10101020684350386732008-04-13T19:18:00.000+01:002008-04-13T19:18:00.000+01:00Tilt, exactly - while I'm not too big a fan of tha...Tilt, exactly - while I'm not too big a fan of that group of songs, I think it's obvious that that's what Mike wants to do - he's sincere and that sells the songs.<BR/><BR/>(BTW did I ever get back to you with my address and stuff? I've been horrible about answering emails recently - either completely forgetting or writing huge long screeds about something tangential and completely missing the point of the original email - Susan had the misfortune of emailing me about this gig a few weeks back and got a huge thing about Richard Thompson in reply...)Andrew Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07412263807838661843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-90092009116288614462008-04-13T19:04:00.000+01:002008-04-13T19:04:00.000+01:00I'd love to see this show, too. Thanks for the gr...I'd love to see this show, too. Thanks for the great blow-by-blow. I'm impressed that Mike and Bruce have worked hard to improve the show.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743825684303825072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-19715009635462479812008-04-13T19:02:00.000+01:002008-04-13T19:02:00.000+01:00In Sheffield, I found the first half pleasant, but...In Sheffield, I found the first half pleasant, but a little bit more efficient than astounding, but the second half really got to me, not just because of the fannish choices, but also because Mike really seemed to believe in what he was doing. I don't mean to imply that he was sleepwalking through the first half, he's a damn good showman and he knows it; but, doing his TM stuff, he gave the impression of a man who was doing something that was important to him.<BR/><BR/>I've been pondering that part of the reason for the extra long sets is that somebody, somewhere is aware that in the UK there are enough people in both the "gimme nostalgia" *and* "gimme art" camps that it's bad business not to cater to both. Plus, since 2002 a certain someone has been proving there's rich pickings over here for some of the more leftfield stuff. Hell, I once heard some London hipster complaining that Brian did too many hits in the first half on the night Smile premiered.Tilt Araizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17210525564258147584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-6376565449152487552008-04-13T15:10:00.000+01:002008-04-13T15:10:00.000+01:00Wonderful post. Thanks, Andrew!Wonderful post. Thanks, Andrew!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519424318790701729.post-65230045568644995832008-04-13T14:28:00.000+01:002008-04-13T14:28:00.000+01:00Great review, Andrew - thanks. Here's hoping that...Great review, Andrew - thanks. Here's hoping that we in the US WILL be able to see Dave with the band - it's certainly where he belongs!!see DavAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com