Beach Boys Unveil New Single, Set to Headline Jazz Fest Friday

Today, The Beach Boys announced their first new single in ages with “That’s Why God Made The Radio”. In a little over 48 hours Jazz Fest, the legendary California band is set for their first major festival appearance and 2nd stop of their lengthy 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour (The Beach Boys will also appear at Bonnaroo in June). The tour opened last night in Arizona and the band is also slated to perform of a selection of songs on Thursday in Los Angeles as part of SiriusXM’s Artist Confidential private concert series, giving listeners a chance to see what’s in store for this much buzzed-about reunion. The band will headline Acura Stage at the Fairgrounds on Friday from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Continue below to see the lyric video of the single in full, more details about the making of the tune and check out the 42-song (!) set list from the Arizona show below. Never thought I’d see the day that a new Beach Boys song is premiered on YouTube…

From New York Times:

The reunited Beach Boys released their first new single in decades on Wednesday, making it available for purchase on major digital services like iTunes and Amazon. The song, “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” sounds as if it could have been written in the 1960s. It is a slow romantic ode to pop radio, showing off the group’s famous five-part harmonies and syrupy sentiments. The single is the first taste fans are getting of a new studio album by the same name, which is scheduled for release on June 5 by Capitol/EMI records. The album, which has 11 new songs, marks the first time in decades the two original leaders of the seminal band, Brian Wilson and Mike Love, have put aside their acrimony to work together. Three other early members – Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston – are also onboard. The reconstituted band started a 50th Anniversary tour this week in Tucson and plans to play the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this weekend. The Beach Boys also released an online video on Wednesday describing the making of the single.

Tour Announcement Video

Last Week’s Mad Men LSD Scene

SETLIST:
01 “Do It Again”
02 “Catch A Wave”
03 “Don’t Back Down”
04 “Surfin’ Safari”
05 “Surfer Girl”
06 “The Little Girl I Once Knew”
07 “Wendy”
08 “Then He Kissed Me” (Crystals cover)
09 “This Whole World”
10 “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers cover)
11 “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)”
12 “You’re So Good To Me”
13 “In Them Old Cottonfields Back Home”
14 “Be True To Your School”
15 “Disney Girls”
16 “Please Let Me Wonder”
17 “Don’t Worry Baby”
18 “Little Honda”
19 “Little Deuce Coupe”
20 “409″
21 “Shut Down”
22 “I Get Around”
23 “Sloop John B”
24 “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
25 “Forever”
26 “Sail On Sailor”
27 “Heroes and Villains”
28 “In My Room”
29 “All This Is That”
30 “God Only Knows”
31 “That’s Why God Made the Radio”
32 “California Dreaming” (Mamas and the Papas cover)
33 “California Girls” (David Lee Roth cover) (Just kidding)
34 “Dance Dance Dance”
35 “All Summer Long”
36 “Help Me Rhonda”
37 “Rock and Roll Music” (Chuck Berry cover)
38 “Barbara Ann”
39 “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
///
40 “Kokomo”
41 “Good Vibrations”
42 “Fun Fun Fun”

(via Rolling Stone)

About the author

Wesley grew up in coastal Georgia and is a former resident of The Music City and The Big Easy where he helped get LMB NOLA off-the-ground after launching in January 2011. Over the past few years, he has also contributed steadily to JamBase and Relix Magazine. Recently, Hodges moved on to L.A. where Abita Beer is hard to find, costs about $6 if located and impromptu parading in the streets will most likely get you arrested on the spot.

 

Tags: Brian Wilson, Jazz Fest, That's Why God Made The Radio, The Beach Boys