Jokermen Podcast — In Conversation: DARIAN SAHANAJA + JIM LASPISA (October 13, 2025)

Episode Overview

This special episode of Jokermen features an in-depth and heartfelt conversation with Darian Sahanaja and Jim Laspisa, two key members of Al Jardine’s touring Pet Sounds Band and long-standing participants in the world of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. The hosts, Ian and Evan, guide a discussion centered on the current tour's focus—bringing deep-cut Beach Boys music (especially "The Beach Boys Love You" era) to new audiences—alongside stories from decades working with Brian Wilson, thoughts on the band’s evolving legacy, and the excitement around forthcoming archival releases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Al Jardine Pet Sounds Band Tour & Its Unique Angle

• Tour Purpose: With Brian Wilson no longer touring, Al Jardine and the band aim to celebrate Brian’s music—especially the more personal and overlooked songs.
  • “We just wanted to get out there and celebrate the legacy of Brian's music. And what better way than to do this music that's just so personal to him…” — Jim Laspisa [03:53]
• Song Selection: Focus on material from “Beach Boys Love You”, “M.I.U. Album”, “15 Big Ones” and select deep cuts. Many of these songs had rarely or never been performed live.
• Al’s Reconnection: Jardine is rediscovering and growing to appreciate this material, some of which he barely remembered or participated in originally.
  • “It was almost like he was being reacquainted with the music... introduced to music that he'd nearly forgotten for five decades.” — Jim Laspisa [06:07]
• Performance Approach: Unlike Pet Sounds, which is often played note-for-note, Love You material is reinterpreted live to add energy and nuance.
  • “When we perform it, it breathes... Now that we've done it a bunch of times, we can really dig in and just rock.” — Evan [10:47]

2. The Enduring Appeal and Reevaluation of ‘Love You’

• Critical Shift: Recent years have birthed a groundswell of appreciation for “Love You” as core Brian Wilson, particularly among younger and online fans.
  • “We are...a small part of the like, growing chorus of people...saying, with full self assurance, that this is as important, as good as any of the other stuff.” — Darian Sahanaja [06:48]
• Song Specifics: The band discusses the powerful response to songs like "Ding Dang," "I Wanna Pick You Up," and others that display Brian's quirky, sincere style.
  • “There's something about Ding Dang...like a totem, like a mantra.” — Darian Sahanaja [11:56]
• Intergenerational Audience: The tour is attracting not just old-school fans but a surprising number of passionate young listeners, thanks to meme culture and a search for authenticity.
  • “…How many young people have come out, and they're like freaking out over… We would never—I expected, you know, maybe people our age.” — Jim Laspisa [19:52]

3. The Joy, Sincerity, and Childlike Magic of the Music

• Brian's Unfiltered Soul: Panelists contend that the straightforward, childlike essence of these songs is uniquely Brian Wilson—less about his struggles, more about his playful soul.
  • “In so many ways…the closest to getting that feeling because it's so sincere...sometimes, you know, obviously the music on Love You...feels childlike. And that's—that is Brian.” — Jim Laspisa [15:47]
• Al Jardine’s Emotional Journey: Jardine has been visibly moved by the love and enthusiasm the band brings to these songs, making the connection even more special.

4. Setlists, Arrangements, and Live Experience

• Show Structure: Sets are split, with familiar hits up front (“I Get Around,” “Surfer Girl,” etc.) and deep cuts forming the heart of the later show.
  • “We tend to break it into two halves, you know—first half…the opening set…we give them, you know, the I Get Arounds…then it goes in a very different direction.” — Jim Laspisa [28:20]
• Obscure Gems: Band enjoys giving rarities like “She’s Got Rhythm,” “Sweet Sunday Kind of Love,” and “I Wanna Pick You Up” space to shine.
• Inside Jokes & Band Chemistry: Stories emerge about band members greeting each other with references to favorite obscure tracks (e.g., "She's Got Rhythm") and anecdotes about rehearsals and song selection.

5. The Revival of Brian Wilson's 'Lost' Eras

• Archival Releases: Hopes and speculation about an upcoming box set—with the first official release of “Adult Child” and rare Brian Wilson solo material.
  • “I think a lot of it is that they're probably wanting to keep it on the low until they get clearance...to get things just sort of signed off by all the parties involved…” — Jim Laspisa [70:37]
• Bootleg Lore: Conversation touches on early fandom—hunting down warped bootlegs, and lore around misattributed tracks (“Honeydew Man”).

6. Community, Generational Transmission & Fan Culture

• Younger Bands & Connections: The Lemon Twigs are highlighted as modern artists who genuinely “get” the Beach Boys spirit and connect through authenticity, not just pastiche.
• Levels of Fan Engagement: The panel relishes in the obsessive, detail-loving new generation—fans requesting deep cuts, wanting signatures in the oddest places (“sign my Norbit DVD”).
• Jokermen Podcast's Role: The hosts reflect on their own mission—serving fellow fanatics and spotlighting nuanced or overlooked dimensions of the Beach Boys story.

7. Anecdotes & Brian Wilson Stories

• Touring & Brian’s Banter: Many tales from years on the road with Brian—his unique stage banter, anxiety with setlists, spontaneous and often hilarious song intros.
  • “He'd just have a teleprompter and the title of the song would come up...Depending on how he felt, in the moment he would have to just kind of work through it… Just this, again, unfiltered stuff would come out.” — Jim Laspisa [57:21]
• "Turning Point" Joke: Andy Paley’s recurring bit about the “turning point” in Beach Boys history becomes a backstage shorthand among band members.
• Music as a Living Joy: The music is not just performed as museum pieces but as a living, breathing entity that generates communal happiness.

8. The Universal Magic of Brian’s Melody

• Songwriting Truths: Regardless of strangeness or simplicity, these songs pass the “good song” test—if it’s good, any arrangement works, and the melody will stick.
  • “The test of good music is if the song is good, you can just play it on anything and sing it. Well, these pass the test in my book…” — Jim Laspisa [85:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Brian’s Authenticity:
  “That music is basically him personified…so Al wanted to…do stuff. Also, he's, you know, he's concerned that he doesn't…he wants to do it while he still can.” — Jim Laspisa [03:53]
• The Love for ‘Ding Dang’:
  “It seems like Ding Dang was like some kind of, like a totem. Like some kind of, like mantra.” — Darian Sahanaja [11:56] “How did the Ding Dang thing happen? People go crazy when we do that song.” — Evan [11:43]
• On Younger Fans:
  “How many young people have come out and they're like freaking out over...We would never...I expected, you know, maybe people our age...” — Jim Laspisa [19:52]
• Al Jardine’s Emotional Journey:
  “The last show he got really emotional…he lost a dear old friend…maybe I think that he's kind of reconnecting with him, hearing this music.” — Jim Laspisa [17:32]
• Reinterpreting “Love You” Live:
  “When we perform it, it breathes and...now that we've done it a bunch of times, we can really dig in and just rock.” — Evan [10:44]
• On ‘I Wanna Pick You Up’:
  “I don't know how many years ago, 30 something years ago, I did a cover of I want to pick you up because…the chords and the melody...are just right up there with anything on Pet Sounds.” — Jim Laspisa [29:50]
• On Bootlegging and Discovery:
  “Like, what, 83. 83, yeah. My dear departed musical soulmate...drove all the way down there because he'd heard that there was a Smile bootleg...when he got home, it was warped.” — Jim Laspisa [74:41]
• On the Role of the Band:
  “All I'd ever want is that we would…capture the essence and the feel of it. That's way more important to me than even nailing the right chords and the harmonies...” — Darian Sahanaja [23:49]
• Testimony from a Fan:
  “One of my best friends…was never a Beach Boys fan...what changed your mind? She says, then I heard the Beach Boys Love You. That is the album that changed her mind.” — Jim Laspisa [86:37]
• Perspective on Brian’s Later Work:
  “I think the early Brian stuff like…Cuckoo Clock and Kelly's…that's very similar to Love You.” — Jim Laspisa [80:41]
• On the Magic of Simple Songs:
  “A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Isn't that a phrase?” — Darian Sahanaja [86:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introductions and overview of guests/background | 00:00–03:09 | | Discussing the tour’s purpose & Al Jardine’s role | 03:09–07:48 | | “Love You” album’s renewed critical standing | 06:48–08:09 | | Rearranging songs for live performance | 10:37–13:05 | | Why “Ding Dang” resonates | 11:40–13:05 | | On the joy and innocence of Brian’s late 70s music | 14:00–17:26 | | Surprising reactions from young audiences | 19:52–22:28 | | Setlist choices: balancing hits and deep cuts | 28:08–31:46 | | The Lemon Twigs, influence & fandom across generations | 43:59–49:02 | | Signing a Norbit DVD and meme culture | 49:02–50:44 | | Brian Wilson’s unique banter & stories from the road | 57:14–61:33 | | Upcoming and archival Beach Boys releases | 69:53–73:34 | | Bootleg collecting, “Honeydew Man” story | 74:23–76:56 | | Early Beach Boys-era appreciation and generational change | 78:14–79:41 | | Moments with Dennis, rare early tracks, and the roots of Brian| | Wilson’s style | 81:01–83:29 | | Closing reflections: gratitude, legacy, and timelessness | 83:36–87:00 |

Final Thoughts — The Spirit of the Episode

Darian, Jim, Ian, and Evan collectively illuminate how much Brian Wilson’s songbook—especially the “weird” and “absurd” corners—continues to inspire profound emotional and communal joy across ages and backgrounds. Their blend of reverence and humor, musical insight, and personal recollection creates a living link between Brian’s legacy and a hungry new audience. The resounding message: these songs, with their combination of innocence, craft, and heart, remain utterly vital, and “Love You” has finally found the loving context and appreciation it always deserved.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Isn't that a phrase?” — Darian Sahanaja [86:50]