American Media Entertainment

09/03/2024

Happy 82nd birthday to the legendary Al Jardine, co-founder of the Beach Boys. Great musician & an even better human being. He just released, today, a gift for his fans-- a new tune called "Wish". Check it out!
https://youtu.be/-WjZ1YHU4XM

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/brian-wilson-beach-boys-tribute-song-al-jardine-1235091183/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFD8KlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHc8H7J33CRuE7MxAkTswOPfycuRHttfhhp8kYnapGc3XUKBDe0nATG4p5Q_aem_CUd40v-jZbSjYjo4h99b3Q

Al Jardine pays tribute to the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson in a new song called 'Wish.'

05/29/2024

A friend was cleaning out his desk & came across this. I'm figuring that this was 1972. He thought I'd like seeing it & I thought you all would do. Check out the ticket prices.

05/22/2024

A giant ship's engine broke down and no one could repair it, so they hired a Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of experience.
He inspected the engine very carefully, from top to bottom. After seeing everything, the engineer unloaded his bag and pulled out a small hammer.
He knocked something gently. Soon, the engine came to life again. The engine has been fixed!
A week later the engineer mentioned to the ship owner that the total cost of repairing the giant ship was $20,000.
"What?!" said the owner.
"You did almost nothing. Give us a detailed bill."
The answer is simple:
Tap with a hammer: $2
Know where to knock and how much to knock: $19,998
The importance of appreciating one's expertise and experience...because those are the results of struggles, experiments, and even tears.
If I do a job in 30 minutes, I spent 20 years learning how to do that in 30 minutes. You owe me for the years, not the minutes.

05/01/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90JFsfj4LRU

California Music™ - “Add Some Music To Your Day” in support of Feeding AmericaFeaturing: Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David MarksWith: Matt Jar...

04/11/2024

You already know that I can get quite verbose (my wife, Julie, says, "You're not doing play-by-play. Don't be so a**l.") Oh, well. Had an amazing time, Saturday night, at the Al Jardine concert (Al was co-founder of the Beach Boys), & I just wanted to share it with you.

Julie & I drove 2-1/2 hours to Anna Maria. We wanted to explore the island so we got there about 1:30 & grabbed a parking spot, at the concert venue. We figured that we could walk around the north end, of the island, and see the rest of it on the free trolley.

I went inside the venuer & spoke with Alex, the front desk guy, when in walked Bobby Figueroa, the drummer for Al's Endless Summer Band. He & I chatted a bit before Julie & I set out for some shops. We stopped back by our car so I could grab my baseball cap when a black SUV pulled up. Out pops Matt Jardine (Al's oldest son who deftly handles the Brian Wilson falsetto parts at these shows). He seemed to be assuring that “the coast was clear” as Al exited the vehicle & entered the building. I said hello to them & Al asked, “Why are you here so early, Dave?” “Just checking out AMI,” I said. We thought about sticking around for the sound check, but Julie wanted to eat, so we told Al that we'd catch him after the show.

We headed to the beach. White sand & clear, Emerald green water. B-E-A-U-tiful! We also visited the historic pier after dining at the Waterfront Restaurant. We love beach towns & Anna Maria did not disappoint. Julie's been having some issues with her right knee, lately, so we thought it best to give it a rest & hop on the trolley.

Upon returning to the venue, we found that “The Center of Anna Maria Island” is a pretty fancy name for a community center gym. Seating was all uncomfortable plastic folding chairs that had us squeezed together like sardines. Many complained. I headed down the hall, for a pre-show ti**le, when the dressing room door opens & out walks Randell Kirsch, bassist for the band, this night. He had the same idea I did. We had met, in Dec. '22, after the Clermont show. Had a nice conversation, then, & this one, in the bathroom, was equally pleasant. BTW, great acoustics!😁

Speaking of Clermont, as I returned to my seat, I saw Jeff Peters, Al's tour manager, on stage. He facilitated our group's visit with Al & the band, for that show. I went up & renewed acquaintance with him.

Taylor & James was the warm-up act. Taylor is a singer/guitarist. James is her percussionist, pounding, with his hands, on nothing but the box he was sitting on. He was great, but Bobby Figueroa had to be thinking, “What the...???”😲

After a short break, Bobby & Randell walked onto the stage & were joined by Matt, multi-talented musician Probyn Gregory (who handled lead guitar duties for this show) & keyboardist Debbie Shair. And, of course, the man we all came to see & hear, Al Jardine. I was stoked! I didn't keep track of the setlist, but it was a great mix of hits with a few deeper cuts.

When I first attended Beach Boys shows, in the '70s, the crowd was on their feet from the opening strains of “California Girls” to the last few woo-woo-woos of “Fun, Fun, Fun”. I guess we've all just gotten older. I was trying to get everyone up, but they weren't budging. In consideration of those seated behind me, I sat back down, but for “Rhonda”, I became a cheerleader. I couldn't sit down & finally got most of the crowd up. A lady, in front of me, said, “I've been watching you. You know every word to every song!” Yep! As always, it was a great show & was over much too soon.

So we headed to the backstage entrance. On the way, a gentleman asked, “Are you Dave Conrad?” He looked familiar, but I couldn't place the face. It was David Beard, editor of “Endless Summer Quarterly”. I was impressed & honored that he would know who I was & felt a bit ashamed that I didn't recognize him. He puts out a great publication. ESQ is like a Beach Boys Bible.

We went into the dressing room (Again, many thanks to Jeff Peters. He is “da man”) & enjoyed hangin' with Al & the band. Took some photos & Al signed my copy of the Beach Boys book that was just released, last week, & a framed reprint of the lyrics to “And I Always Will”, that our youngest daughter had given us. That's very special because that's a song, written by Al, that Julie & I danced to for our first dance, at our vow renewal, several years ago (Al had recorded a personalized congratulations, to us, with the song's backing track underneath). Al was very impressed with this framing & asked me if I could reproduce it & send it to him-- since he originally wrote it as a dedication to his wife, Mary Ann.

We talked a little about “San Simeon” a cut from Al's “Postcard from California” album. I told him how much I love that song. Very mellow. Al said it's a favorite for him, too, & that he'd like to re-record it-- with bells. I told him that sounded very a-PEAL-ing.🤣

This was the first time that Al had seen the new book, in published form, & one thing that upset him, when he looked at the first few pages, was that it didn't list David Marks as a Beach Boy.

Great night! I feel blessed that I've had the Beach Boys music in my life & for knowing Al-- one of the best people I've ever known. I'm blessed that I have Julie with whom I can share great nights like these. On the drive back home, she said, “You're on top of the world, aren't you?” Yeah, it was all pretty cool. Only got about five hours sleep before I had to get up & drive 90 minutes, to Land O' Lakes, to play ball. I went 3-for-3. Maybe, those lovin' Good Vibrations DID keep a-happenin' with me. 🤙

03/27/2024

The Beach Boys
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Wouldn't It Be Nice if there was a documentary about us? Darlin', there is!
“The Beach Boys,” an all-new documentary, streaming exclusively on Disney+ beginning May 24, 2024

03/14/2024

Al Jardine

Well, if Paul McCartney can get reunited with his stolen bass guitar after 51 years (see first comment below), there might be hope for me to find a couple of treasured guitars that have gone missing over the years: my 1990 acoustic Martin D45 (serial # 4-99908) and my 1956 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty (serial # 6-9247) (photo courtesy Gijsbert Hanekroot). If anyone can find (like fans did for Paul!), you'll be generously rewarded!

03/13/2024

Al Jardine is with Mary Ann Jardine and 2 others
etoSdosprn3i1t16hi730i3ti4ig64t140944021u2g468531277g26f9m0u ·
Happy to be playing at the Sunflower Farm Music Festival in Maui's Central Valley on Sat May 4th--go to my website for more info and ticket links 🌻🍍🌺

03/11/2023

Vinyl sales grew for the 16th consecutive year in 2022, with 41 million albums sold — compared to 33 million CDs. Streaming is still the biggest driver of the music industry's growth.

01/23/2023

75 reasons the DJ hates you.
1. The song you are requesting is being played.
2. You ask for a song that nobody will dance to.
3. You tell the DJ he/she sucks just because they won't play your song.
4. The only songs you know are line dances.
5. You want to hear every song by Britney Spears and Lady Gaga.
6. You complain that no one likes the song when the dance floor is full.
7. You think reserving a table turns the DJ into your own jukebox.
8. You ask to sing on the microphone like it's karaoke night.
9. You want to hear your song next or you're leaving.
10. You declare that you just got to the club so the DJ should play all the hits just for you.
11. Your sad face does not move the DJ into feeling sorry for you and playing your request.
12. You have no concept that the DJ accepts tips.
13. You come to the booth and ask the DJ if he is the DJ.
14. You ask the DJ if they play any good music.
15. Your requests aren't any where near the format the DJ plays.
16. You demand to hear your song because you are about to leave.
17. When we say we dont play a genre, you ask for more of that genre.
18. You keep asking what song is next.
19. You want to look at every song we have.
20. You don't dance to your request, then ask for more.
21. You think the dance floor is a portrait studio.
22. You make silly poses at the DJ like you are DJing.
23. You are part of a bachelorette party.
24. You grab or touch equipment while the DJ is playing.
25. You are so drunk you think the DJ booth is the bar.
26. You stay by the DJ booth hoping to pick up women.
27. You keep trying to tell the DJ your life story while we are mixing.
28. You think you know what everyone wants to hear.
29. You ask for a song to be played again 5 minutes after hearing it.
30. You say you know the owner/manager in an attempt to get a song played.
31. You ask for the same song everytime you are there.
32. You take pictures of the DJ without warning them of the flash.
33. You're so drunk you keep falling into the DJ booth.
34. You spill a drink on the DJ equipment.
35. You ask that the volume be turned down.
36. You keep trying to get the DJ to dance with you.
37. You tell the DJ what songs go together that don't go together.
38. You stand by the DJ and stare awkwardly.
39. You think it's cool to just stand on the dancefloor and text.
40. You have to talk louder than the music by the DJ booth.
41. You think the DJ booth is a coat check.
42. You offer to tip but never do.
43. You run ladies off the dance floor.
44. You wear so much cologne/perfume the DJ's eyes water.
45. You ask us to play songs off your phone or download them.
46. You keep asking for a shout out all night long.
47. You want us to play a song you made.
48. You act like the DJ is your boyfriend/girlfriend when they are not.
49. You try to sing or hum the song you want to hear.
50. Instead of asking for a song you stick a phone in our face to show us.
51. You don't know the song just the number on the CD.
52. You get all of your friends to ask for the same song that we won't play.
53. You interrupt the DJ to get them to take your picture.
54. Your idea of good music isn't.
55. You think old school means 5 years ago.
56. You ask when do we start to playing something crunk.
57. When you hear a slow jam you think it's a signal to hump women like a dog.
58. If it isn't hip hop you just call it techno.
59. You keep asking for requests after the club closes.
60. You know the DJ and text them requests to get you in the door.
61. You know the DJ is working and you call over and over expecting an answer.
62. You ask for a song and stay at the booth until the DJ plays it.
63. You fart by the DJ booth.
64. You want something faster but are requesting something slower.
65. You keep trying to fist bump and high five the DJ.
66. You say the other DJ always plays your song when there is no other DJ.
67. You act worse than a 5 year old in the club.
68. You say you are spending a ton of money and we should play your songs regardless.
69. You want an in-depth explanation on how the equipment works.
70. Your requests are more like demands.
71. You vomit in or around the DJ booth.
72. You tell the DJ how bad the song playing is, then request an even worse one.
73. You ask the DJ to play something with a beat.
74. You threaten to get the manager to make you play a song.
75. Your song was played but you want it again because you were in the bathroom.

12/22/2022

In 1980 Eggs cost .78 cents. Today they are $2.94 = + 281 %
Levis cost $14 a pair then. Today they are $69 = + 393 %
A DJ was about $300. If they charge $1500 today = + 400 %
A Ford Mustang was $5,338. Today it's $27,470 = + 415 %
A DJ was about $300. If they charge $2000 today = + 566 %
A House was $64,000. Today's average is $440,000 = + 588 %
College was $3,167 per year. Today it's $29,033 = + 817 %
A DJ was about $300. If they charge $3000 today (& some do) = + 900 %
Medicare was $9.60 in 1980. Today it's $170.10 = + 1672%
A box seat at Yankee Stadium was $7.50. Today it's $265 = +3433%

10/22/2022

Al Jardine & his Endless Summer Band, including Carnie Wilson and Matt Jardine, celebrate the music of The Beach Boys at the Clermont Performing Arts Center in Clermont, FL, Sun Dec 11th. Tickets now on sale: https://bit.ly/3L61BR0

08/25/2022