British guitarist analyses The Beach Boys faultless live gig in 1964! 

I love the sincere respect you show for the oldies legends.

I'm a singer and a guitar player. What Brian, Carl and Al did on stage playing top notch instrumentals WHILE singing complicated harmonies is absolutely astounding. Also, all were very young, but Carl was just 17 and still in high school.

At 70 years old I highly commend you for the due respect that you give for a "not yet troubled" Brian Wilson . In my opinion his vocals and harmonies are pure musical genius. As a fellow guitarist and drummer I love this channel. Keep up the fabulous endeavours and thank you for your hard work.

I met Mike Love in 2018, when I was working in his condominium in montecito Ca He is a genuinely nice man. My jaw dropped when I saw all the gold records hanging on the wall before I knew whose home I was in. He gave me a Beach Boys cap after we had talked for a while. I haven't kept it as a treasure, it is quite well worn as it was intended. Thank you Mr Love

A good friend of mine is friends with Mike Love. During the 50th anniversary tour my buddy invited my wife and I to have dinner with Mike and attend the show. Met everyone in the group except Brian (he secluded himself). Mike was a hoot and made us feel like old friends. He jokingly referred to himself as a ‘Beach Geezer’. Anyway my wife and I are in the video for the 50th anniversary tour and had a great time with some really nice guys.

Dennis’s drumming is really good here also. They all had a surprising lack of ego for how immensely popular they were at the time. I can’t even imagine a band being this humble today

Fil, we saw the Beach Boys here last night...not many original members, and Mike Love is 80. They played for 2 hours and every song sounded like the record. This was the closing number and it brought the house down!

Beach Boys - "Brian what key are we in?" Brian Wilson - "Yes."

FYI, my beloved late brother-in-law Jay Migliori, a charter member of the Wrecking Crew, Grammy Award winner (Supersax Plays Bird) and studio musician on hundreds of hits, played sax, and other woodwinds on multiple Beach Boys albums...

Being a fan of rock and roll and not a musician, it really gives me a much greater appreciation of the Beach Boys and of course many others. Brian's voice was definitely on another level, as well as the group's outstanding harmonies. Thanks Fil.

Brian Wilson. In a class by himself.

To sing this well with no monitors and girls screaming is truly an amazing feat. Beautiful explanation. Thank you!

Finally, someone who recognizes the real talent of the early Beach Boys. Thank you Fil!!! ...By the way, your rendition on guitar is spot on!

Brian Wilson is the greatest genius in American music in the past 60 years. Not that you can necessarily tell from a live performance like this, but he's one of a handful of musicians in an elevated class by itself. Loved your analysis. Thanks SO much for doing this.

Back in the 60s, when I was learning guitar, my instructor also taught me harmonization. We used Beachboy songs to practice and tape multiple tracks to see what we could do. Great appreciation!

Brian looks so cute and innocent here...but they were on point musically. Thank you Fil!

The memory of hearing "Good Vibrations", for the first time still remains, it really blew me out of the room.

Imagine having that kind of talent for arranging the vocals and performing them with precision on stage while, at the same time, being deaf in one ear because your father had punched you when you were a kid.

Before I was born but being born & raised in Los Angeles, The Beach Boys was music my parents, aunts & uncles, older cousins constantly listened to. Southern Californians tend to have a proud fondness for The Beach Boys 🥰👍🏼 They were so young in this video!

I had a chance to see the beach Boys live in 1986 not too long after Dennis Wilson had died, they brought out John Stamos to play with them. It was probably the best concert I have seen in my life, they are just such a fun band, the entire audience was up dancing and singing along. I was 15 and loved the Beach Boys because my parents listened to them all the time. They are legendary musicians and I don't feel like they get enough credit for their contribution to the musical world.

Really nice, Fil. Sophisticated presentation, but easy to understand. Not a lot of people can do that.

What a flashback....I was 15 and played their 45s every day! What fun!

It’s amazing how closely Al’s voice can get to Brian’s . They had a really great dynamic.It’s taken me 40 years to really appreciate just how damn GOOD The Beach Boys actually are!

Unbelievable that that is a live performance. Perfection.

I never appreciated the level of complexity the Beach Boys had until I grew older. What an amazing band!

The most fun thing about your videos is watching you having so much fun doing them. Not only that, but you are well educated on the subject and very talented yourself. Thank you.

Your music analysies is just great and so educational. I HIGHLY recommend the movie about Brian Wilson's struggles "love and Mercy"

I was 14 in 1964, California and the Beach Boys were a massive mystique to us in Michigan. The Beach Boys will remain one of my top favorites forever. Carl Wilsons voice was pure perfection, as was his ability to play guitar. Their music is always on the music stick in my car

I aways enjoy watching and hearing Fil play iconic guitar licks.

I am 69 years old and I was exposed to The Beqch Boys in 1962. By 1963 i was learning guitar. By 1964 when "i Get Around" was released I was floored by the sound and the chord changes. Then The Beatles showed up. It was all very fast.

A lot of people can write lyrics The genius of Brian Wilson is his ability to arrange the songs with all those beautiful harmonies

I'm obsessed with this concert, thank you so much for this analysis. I can't believe how perfectly Brian sings "Surfer Girl," and his falsettos - sorry, "head voice," throughout. Appreciate you explaining the difference! How well the band is orchestrated and sings so well together.

The Beach Boys are one of my favorite bands. Brian Wilson is a musical genius. I loved your analysis and the big smiles on your face while you were watching the video. 🥰

Carl Wilson got that twangy sound by adjusting his action real low. The harmony blend was achieved with no monitors. Fil, how about an analysis on Good Vibrations?

The blend of all the voices , giving an overall sound of one voice is so perfected that simply no one can sing along with it , you’re forced to just listen and enjoy. Really have you ever heard someone trying to sing along , yea , don’t even try. Good job as usual , wings !

Great review and breakdown. I'm a big Beach Boys fan. Brian was so young to be doing all of these things, not just performing but writing masterpieces and creating production techniques that are being used today. If you could review Surfer Girl, esp the introduction with Brian singing lead and Carl's alternative harmony

Brilliant songwriting + Incredible harmonies = The Beach Boys. I had fun fun fun watching your analysis here, and clearly you did too Fil !! 😀

I’ve met Mike Love and Bruce Johnson and heard them all in person twice. Brian is a real musical genius. My personal favorite rock and roll of all time. Unbelievable harmony in person!!!

Saw The Beach Boys several times in the 70s…they were all great fun! In a time of “serious” music, they were a breath of fresh air.

What makes me so amazed is they were playing thier own instruments in concert and studio at age 15!,great job!

Sublime. Their vocals were sublime.

Beach Boy fans and there are millions of us have to appreciate this kind of enthusiasm. Thanks Fil!

FIL : is there anything you can't do ? your playing is Amazing I could listen to it all night .. if the Beach Boys would have known this back in the day they would have been better than they already were .the Beach Boys were a CLASS ACT ! loved by everyone Thank You for the reaction 👍👌❤

I’m late to the party but have a couple of opinions. Brian is extremely well recognized & acknowledged as being a beautiful songwriter & producer. What is often overlooked is that he was an above average bassist as well. Dennis is a very good singer but didn’t get a chance to display it while in the confines of the band. Check out his solo album “Pacific Ocean Blue”. I would categorize his drumming style as “clubbing the kit” which I’m sure Brian tacitly knew, hence his use of Hal Blaine of The Wrecking Crew whilst in the studio. Dennis was obviously a chick magnet on stage & was immensely popular.

Never really took to Mike back then but seems, he was the one whose voice carried that 'surfin sound'.

1964 was my birth year! But I grew up listening to the Beach Boys and all from this era, so I claim it as my music. We had Beach Boys, Dan and Jean, as well as the Monkees, Bread, and Carole King constantly playing on our console stereo and my teenaged aunt's portable record player (that I would always get to have when she got new ones). This so takes me back in time! They were sooo amazing and exciting to listen to.

Ive been a BBs fan since my teenage years ( 60s) and its great to see you young people appreciating the band .

I love your analysis, your smile as you listen, and your keen understanding of music. I've been a big fan since they first emerged on the scene and still love them. And I'm so happy to say, my kids who are about your age, love them too, as well as many of other artists you've reacted to, including Laura Nyro. Thanks for this.

Beautiful strat brother

We saw them do their 50th anniversary tour on May 15, 2012. They were incredible! Vocals were still spot on! It was a wonderful concert and it was my son’s first attendance of a real rock and roll band. He was 13 at the time and loved it!

Love love love The Beach Boys! LA born and raised in the sixties and seventies surfing and racing it was the best!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was fortunate enough to see The Beach Boys in concert. Their harmonies are amazing, and the sound is pure fun.

The Beach Boys, and Mommas and the Pappas could wisk me off to the sunny beaches of Cali and allow me to imagine the smells of salty ocean air, and visions of palm trees just by their music. I adored their sounds. It's heart warming to see a young person such as Phil analyzing the inner workings with such respect to the artists of yester-year. I love music from all genres, so much so that you can't narrow me down on anything. Phil, you have such a handsome smile. Good job!

The audiences from this time always amaze me. Don’t know how they sat still! By the way Fil I absolutely love the Wednesday live analysis. Thanks so much for doing them!!!

HI FIL. WOW OH WOW THAT WAS SO GREAT. LEARN ALOT FROM YOU. YOU DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. LOVE YOU AND YOUR VIDEOES. LOVE TO HEAR YOU PLAY. THE BEACH BOYS ROCKS. THANKS FIL. YOU ARE THE BEST .PEACE AND LOVE

Thank you, kind sir. You're a gem, Fil! Keep up the great work. I love your enthusiasm and appreciation of such a varied spectrum of our modern music.

You are so great at explaining and analyzing. Thank you so much, Fil! I`ve always loved the Beach Boys. After all these years, they are still unique... It`s crazy One more proof that quality knows no time nor space. You mentioned their addictive personalities, and you are so spot on. Certain brains always need feeding. Those who are never hungry, have a hard time understanding such people.

I’m almost 70 & I feel really blessed to have grown up in the 60’s.. I took it a bit for granted as I thought music would stay at this level or better. It inspired me to be a musician, we played BB songs, but no where near this high standard. You enthusiasm shon through Fil, but even now, my foot was tapping & a smile on my face.. great review thanks, love watching your vids.

I saw them in the summer of '66. Fabulous. Also, two opening acts: The Association (just before "Cherish") and The Sir Douglas Quintet (just before "Mendocino").

Now this was my days, and loves the Beach Boys. Makes this old lady want to get up and dance!! 😁

Fil, You do a great job with every artist you choose! A big part of why you can explain so easily is because you play and sing and your very good! I think your appreciation for each artist really comes through when you smile and your audience watches your reactions and you always put out a good happy vibe and its great to see! Your very expressive and its part of your great appeal!!! Great job as usual and I look forward to many more!!! Your a good talented soul:) Thanks for what you do..... Peace ✌ and keep Rockin!!!

The Bee Gees had that blend as well...would love to hear your review on Good Vibrations too...a unique song of its time...

These guys were great. Their daughters formed a band and I loved their music too.

Just pure 60's rock n roll. Great talent, low level production, which they still rose above. All the bands pushed each other to get better and better while inventing runs and vocalization never heard before. Thanks for hi-liting the "oldies" along with the "classics".

Brian's high head voice at end = cop car siren Anyone else pick that up? Always hearing new things in the oldies that were part of the wallpaper of my growing up, thanks to Fil, a truely appreciative music teacher!

One of your best Phil. Your enthusiasm for the talent of the Beach Boys jumps off the screen. What was Carl, like 18 here? All vocalists, all instrumentalists, all songwriters. Still underrated, particularly for the work in the early 70s that caught the ear of masters like Jeff Beck. America’s Beatles? At very least. Brian so singularly a force that he completely changed the Beatles’ approach to music. Mentioned it in an earlier video but Brian Wilson Pet Sounds tour in 2016, the best concert I’ve ever seen. Redemption indeed! Thanks again 😁

This really increased my appreciation of the Beach Boys! The way you explained all the nuances was great. They made everything look so easy and fun!

I love your technical analysis of the bands and musicians, and the respect you show to the various genre of music as well as the era of the music. Keep up the good work!

30 years ago I had a 1964 Jaguar just like Carl. Now I just have his gut.

Fil, your talents and takes on classic rock is rare these days. Where are the guitar players? I'm an aging baby boomer and grew up on this music. I never imagined it wouldn't be around forever, but it's a lost art. You should've been born a few decades earlier you would have been at home 😎😃

I was 14 when this song was released, and I liked it. If I had know all that you have told us here, I would have been more amazed. I play the piano a little, but for me the guitar is impossible, so I really appreciate the talent and ability that you have pointed out on this video and others. Wish we would have had this music appreciation education back then in high school. Thank you so much Fil.

The Beach Boys were the first concert I went to... 1980 at Angels Stadium in California. Have always loved them! Thanks Fil... great breakdown of their sound. You make it so interesting even to someone who knows nothing about playing a instrument. Rock! ❤🎶

I was 7 in '64. Had the single of 409 as a kid (Spiral Capitol single) and the album of Little Deuce Coupe as well as Surfin' USA. ok, these were my sisters. Guitar fave , the solo for Surfin' USA. Less than 20 notes but screamed

I was in highscool in cold Massachusetts but so loved the BB that I subscribed to surfing magazines.

Feeling better with Fil's analysis now. I used to see the BBs as America's sad response to UKs Beatles...no longer just a party band...thanks Fil!

During the mid 60's no other bands would even attempt to cover the Beach Boys. They were just too damn good and we musicians knew it. In the late 60's one of my cover bands had some accomplished vocalists so we did a set of covers, "Surfer Girl" , "In My Room" Wouldn't it be Nice" were a few in the set...The kids loved hearing them but they took long hours of rehearsals and the band was getting burned out. You don't perform a Beach Boys tune unless you can absolutely nail it. We dropped the numbers from the song list after about 6 months. It makes you wonder how the real Beach Boys could got out and tour with this difficult material and make it sound just like their records. We did get to play with them when Brian Johnston joined the band....Dennis was having problems and by this time his voice was shredded. Perfection is a killer.

Great analysis. Those early records were all Beach Boys instrumentally, including Fun, Fun, Fun. Brian started bringing in a few of the Wrecking Crew folks in 1964, and by the time of Pet Sounds they had pretty much taken over, although Carl kept contributing guitar parts throughout. Excellent video.

The brilliant Beach Boys. Thanks for your appreciation for such a great group Fil. You really loved it too. It’s lovely to listen to them and to watch them too.

It's unfathomable what a golden era for music the Sixties was. I can't see it being repeated more than once a century.

Vocal blending is why I loved the beach boys!!!

Really grateful for your informed appreciation of the Beach Boys talent. I still see throwaway comments on the internet from ignorant people saying ' the Beach Boys' couldn't play their instruments'. Very annoying!

Brian never wrote a simple song they all were very complicated. He is a genius.

"To:Mr.Fill,since the mid'1960's, during my early'little girl,in London England childhood,hearing 'Good Vibrations',On BBC' T.V.'s 'Top Of The Pops',was for me a sensation. . .12-3-2022'

I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Portland in the early 60's and again in the 80's with my teen children in Phoenix (they loved it too). Epic shows, fun, fun, fun.

Good night in the Brazil, i like wing of Pegasus. Very good.

They became even better as time went on. Amazing harmony.

A very popular group from my childhood, age 13 a year after the JFK assassination; our favorite BB songs however were from high school years: "Barbara Ann" for fast sock-hop dances, and "In My Room" for slow dancing.

All the recorded music of the Beach Boys and the like was recorded by The Wrecking Crew with Brian Wilson as producer. Great Music!

These guys had the most amazing chemistry and talent!! Unfortunately I only got to see them later in 94. Even with two original members it gave me goose bumps during "California Girls" at a outdoor concert at The Gorge in WA State.. the sun setting on the Columbia river really added to the whole experience too. Thanks again Fil. :)

I've seen the Beach Boys so many times. They would throw a Beach Ball out to the fan's!! I love the Beach Boys. They are a great band.

Heard " God Only Knows"...vocals alone.. way back in the early 90s. Abd realised I was listening to a Mozart for our times. Byrd, Tallis...and Brian Wilson. Just astonishing.

Love your enthusiasm, Fil. I laughed when you said that you couldn't *make* them sound bad. So true.

“And she’ll have fun, fun, fun ‘til her Daddy takes her T-bird away.” Took me about ten years to know what this meant but I loved it!!

Movie about Brian Wilson called “Love and Mercy” is free on Amazon Prime USA for another 5 or 6 days (from today Feb 18).

Brian Wilson holds his bass by the finger tug bar as most bassists did then. Tug bars gave way to thumb rests.Notice he plays scales in upright style. Brian was the Beach Boys. Damn, Fil knows their names.

Fil, you are just brilliant! First off, you are an incredible teacher! I don’t play any instruments, so you could say I’m almost musically illiterate, but I always learn something from you and you increase my appreciation of different genres of music just as a matter of course. I’m sure your explanations are also insightful for real musicians, and your thoughts causes my respect for their ability and skill to rise. On top of all of that your enthusiasm is just wonderful and contagious! You really keep your analyses interesting and engaging. Keep up the great work! Teacher of any kind could learn from your skill and ability. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and appreciation with us.

Really tight band . We only speak about their vocal talents but nobody to date has mentioned their ability on instruments. Carl and al are really tight and to sing over the playing is a real skill that many rock guitarists don’t consider . Can’t hide behind distortion playing clean .

Brian Wilson is my all-time musical hero and to see a video highlighting just how great the Beach Boys were live in wonderful. A lot of people think of them as ‘lesser’ cuz they’re viewed as this rinky dink 60s band playing songs about surfing and cars in this era. But my god they were incredible! And the vocals were insane. Then came California Girls… and then Pet Sounds! I read an interview by Noel Gallagher where he trashed them calling them a barber shop group and that Pet Sounds was crap and they were overrated. Yeah, ok mate. You’ve written a few good tunes but you think ‘Roll with it’ compares to ‘Good Vibrations’? Really? Dennis Wilson always said he was just a ‘clubber’, deriding his own drumming but his little fills and rolls in these songs are superb. And by all accounts I’ve read he just sorta picked up the sticks and started hitting the drums from day one! Whenever I feel down I listen to The Beach Boys (early or later years) and despite all the turmoil and sadness Brian experienced, the melodies and the harmonies are so beautiful, so perfect that they just take you away and make you feel better immediately. I’m gonna sound old and grumpy now but it’s tragic how basic and banal music has become these days. It’s mostly just 4 chords (if you’re lucky) for the verses and chorus. No intros, no pre chorus, no outros, no bridge or middle 8 - just the same old thing. And it’s the same drum sounds, vocal styles and it’s hailed as somehow ‘amazing’. There are always exceptions of course, personally I really rate Billie Eillish as a true talent - obviously she’s not everyone’s taste but she can construct a full song and she’s a true original. But whatever, this was a great video, thanks for going into so much detail

I learn so much about vocalising, bands, pitch, etc, etc, etc. Thank you Fil. ROCK!

I lived in England in 1964, but I'm American. I had friends there who loved the Beach Boys, but I had never heard of them!