Music Directors — Part 2: Billy Hinsche - National Beach Boys

Billy Hinsche

Music Director For Al Jardine

This article is part two in a series of articles on understanding the role of the Music Director in the different bands that are led by Mike Love, Al Jardine and Brian Wilson. We continue the series with a very familiar name in the Beach Boys’ world…Billy Hinsche.

View slideshow: Billy Hinsche

David Beard: How were you approached to take on the position of Music Director for Al Jardine?
Billy Hinsche: Around the time I was preparing for the first Roxy show in 1998 in honor of the recently departed Carl Wilson, Al Jardine’s manager, Richard Duryea, called and asked if I wanted to be in a new group Al was forming – Richard was the Beach Boys’ tour manager in the mid 1960’s. The group would include other veteran Beach Boys band members Ed Carter and Daryl Dragon with the additional element of Carnie & Wendy Wilson and Owen Elliott, along with Al’s sons, Matthew and Adam. I don’t believe I was assigned the Musical Director role at that time, just asked to be in the band tentatively named Beach Boys Family & Friends. I was coordinating and leading the rehearsals of the House Band for the Roxy show that included Al’s new group. An informal, scaled down version debuted with “Help Me Rhonda” at the Roxy on October 18, 1998. I guess it just followed naturally that I would do the same sort of thing for Al’s new band, i.e., choosing and preparing the songs, writing the music charts and leading rehearsals.

DB: What was your first task?
BH: Putting together a setlist that would be new, interesting and a departure from the standard, long-established Beach Boys’ setlist. It included “Wild Honey” with Matt Jardine on lead vocal, “You Still Believe In Me” featuring Carnie & Wendy Wilson on unison lead vocals, “Looking At Tomorrow” sung by its writer Al Jardine, “Break Away” featuring Carnie Wilson on the verses, and a few other choice songs.

DB: How involved are you in determining the setlist?
BH: I am very involved in determining the setlist not only for each tour, but for each night. For instance, if a show is contracted for 90, 75, or 60 minutes, the amount of songs must be modified to fit into that framework. What I do is basically multiply the amount of songs times three [minutes] and it gives me a pretty good idea of how many songs should be in the set, plus an allowance for some stage banter and band introductions. Of course, Al Jardine has the final word on the setlist and the running order of the songs.

DB: What would you like to see in the set list?
BH: I always dug “Susie Cincinnati” and over the years both Ed Carter and I have encouraged Al to include it in the set – it’s an old fashioned rocker with a great signature guitar riff, a terrific “breakdown” in the middle section and lyrics that lend a touch of good humor. The lyrical content reminds me of the Beatles’ “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” – a quirky story within a song describing a woman with an unusual job. If you’re a diehard Beach Boys fan you’ll know that “Susie” was a real life cab drive. Another lyrically unconventional and lighthearted song that would be fun to include is “Take A Load Off Your Feet.” On a more selfish note, I think it would be cool to sing “Wishing You Were Here” as a duet, with Adam Jardine singing the bridge. As I recall, the Beach Boys performed it in concert for a while and I got to sing the verses and Carl sang the bridge.

DB: As a keyboardist/pianist, what is the most challenging song to perform?
BH: To this day, I still concentrate and make sure I pay very close attention to the chords in “God Only Knows” – it’s just too important of a song on many levels for me, to make a mistake. Technically speaking, “Surf's Up” was always the most difficult to play because of the unusual chords, inverted bass notes, changes in “feel,” shifts in tempo, complex bass lines especially in the “tag,” and the overall gravitas of the song; it is not just about playing it, it is about interpreting it.

DB: What do you enjoy most about performing live?
BH: Obviously, the audience is different from show to show, city to city, etc., and it’s always interesting to see what level of appreciation they have and what level of enthusiasm they will achieve. I observe each audience and hope they participate as much as possible because it is inspiring, gives me confidence and I love it when they sing along or especially when they get up and dance. It makes the shows even more fun for me than they already are.

DB: The band?
BH: These guys always bring their best game to a performance. It’s a pleasure to work with professional musicians who have so many years of experience playing these songs, still enjoy the music so much, and have such a good time playing tunes that we have played literally thousands of times, and approach them as if it were the first time. Not only are they great players, they are great friends.

DB: What are your thoughts on the Beach Boys legacy?
BH: There will never be a group quite like the Beach Boys. Their musical legacy is staggering when you think about it; the wealth, depth and breadth of their contributions is incomparable; the quality, purity and integrity of their vocals will never be matched and will go unchallenged forever; the level of production value has always changed, matured and evolved right from the start and has been cutting edge, innovative and a leader in the music industry for decades. Simply put – the Beach Boys are the best.

DB: What do you enjoy the most about working with Al Jardine?
BH: Al is very easy-going, laid back and has a good sense of humor; and I can express my musical ideas to him because he is always open to improving the show.

Today, Hinsche is wrapping up the brand new 2-disc DVD Carl Wilson — Here and Now; a collection that brings together exclusive footage, images and interviews compiled by Hinsche.

Hinsche is also offering personalized guitar lessons from his home in Las Vegas via SKYPE video. All you need is a computer with a camera, a SKYPE account, and a desire to learn. Billy says, “It’s never too late to learn how to play guitar.”