Brian Wilson

Last time I saw him 'live' was on the box for the queen's jubilee concert, he looked rather spaced-out/frail then. That said, Smile was recorded after that and isn't half bad.


regards,

Tam

I'm taking my son to see him in August. I would be very interested in hearing your views on the concert, including any information on what the set list is like. Thanks.

Mike

For a good look at Mr. Wilson you should check out the DVD Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson And The Story Of SMiLE. A very interesting look at the making of Smile.

I've seen him 3 times in the past 3 and a half years and they've been 3 of the best concerts I've ever seen. The first one in particular was spellbinding - almost a religious experience and certainly a life changing one. We're going to see him in Glasgow this Saturday.

Unlike his recent tours he's not playing a whole album this time, but his greatest hits. Not so popular with the fan-boys and girls but more accessible to the rest of the punters. My wife hated Smile, for example. "Too much weird stuff" for her but I know she'll absolutely love this coming one.

The reviews of this tour have more mixed than before as the sound quality has been poor at times due to the new sound man he's using. Hopefully the problems have been sorted out now because at 165 quid for 3 tickets it's not a cheap night out.

.......... was remarkable, brilliant, amazing!

Brian sat behind a keyboard throughout, and he (and his band) made lovely sounds all through the night.

Couldn't give you all a set list (not my way of listening to music), but it was three hours of magic.

G

(and my taxi home cost £20, on top of the £60 ticket and train fare to/from Brighton, but money well spent)

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
.......... was remarkable, brilliant, amazing!

Brian sat behind a keyboard throughout, and he (and his band) made lovely sounds all through the night.

Couldn't give you all a set list (not my way of listening to music), but it was three hours of magic.

G

(and my taxi home cost £20, on top of the £60 ticket and train fare to/from Brighton, but money well spent)

Graham - Thanks for the report - it sounds like a great evening. In terms of the setlist, can you generally describe what type of songs he played? My 10-year-old son loves the popular Beach Boys tunes, so I decided to take him to see Brian Wilson. It will be his first concert and we have great seats. Is the setlist primarily Pet Sounds, Smile and other Beach Boys hits, or does he play a lot of more obsure songs from his earlier solo albums? Just curious. Thanks.

Mike

Mike

Mainly classic Beach Boys songs, lots off Pet Sounds, but older songs such as California Girls mixed in there. I'm far from being a Beach Boys completist, but there was only one song I didn't know which was played towards the end of the evening.

Maybe Tom and family will give a better report after their visit to Glasgow tomorrow!

G

Glad you enjoyed the concert Graham. How was the sound? That was getting severly criticised early in the tour although it looks like they've got the problems solved now.

No problems with the sound last night. I hope that you enjoy it tomorrow as much as I did yesterday.

G

Graham,
I'm just coming back down to earth, pretty drunk, high and hoarse after singing all the way through the concert. I think the only songs he played tonight that may not have been familiar were Sail on Sailor and Marcella. Could it have been either of these? They're both a bit louder and heavier than you'd normally expect a Beach Boys song to be.

And Mike, there was a family with a couple of kids aged 3-5 just behind us and the boys sang along to every song played tonight. Definitely a kid-friendly show. Enjoy!

TomK -

Thanks. I intend to. I'm really looking for to it, as is my son. About one more month to go. Glad he is sounding in fine form.

Regards,

Mike

Just saw Brian Wilson two nights ago with my 10-year-old son (his first concert). It was amazing night. Although I was looking forward to the show, it was better than I thought it would be.

Brian had an 18-piece band with him, and although I'm no musician, they sounded absolutely great to me. Fine musicians and the harmonies were fantastic. The show was divided into two sets. The first set, a little over an hour, focused on Beach Boys songs and a few solo songs. The second set, which including encores was about an hour and 15 minutes. The set started with SMiLE (in its entirety), which was really good live. Honestly, I like but don't love SMiLE (Pet Sounds, on the other hand ...), but in concert SMiLE was really impressive IMO. After SMiLE, Brian did a string of Beach Boys hits, with a Chuck Berry tune thrown in for good measure. A great run of music, concluding with a fantastic version of Love and Mercy, which really capped off a special night.

If you have a chance to see Brian live, I highly recommend it. My son now has seen one concert, but, as I told him on the ride home, it was of a true living legend.

Mike

Mike

You seem to have done a better job of summarising what was played than Tom or I managed. But I don't think that that was quite the setlist as was played in Brighton - although the whole experience has already taken on a slightly unreal, dreamlike quality for me.

Graham

Yes he played quite a different set in the US, very similar to the UK set he played here last year i.e. first half of well known stuff, second half Smile plus the usual encore (plus Johnny B. Goode). Although I enjoyed the Magic Numbers, I'd probably rather have seen another 45 minutes of Brian Wilson instead.

Graham and Tom - Can't tell you what Brian may have played elsewhere, but I had no complaints about the set list. His show, not including the intermission, was close to two and one-half hours, and he played most of the songs any fan could hope to hear. Unlike some other bands and music, the songs are not that long, they were not stretched out in any real way, and Brian did not waste time between songs. Thus, I can't think of too many concerts (if any) where I heard more songs played than I did at Brian's concert.

While I would have preferred to hear Pet Sounds in its entirety, I knew it was the SMiLE tour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the live rendition of the album (which really is more of a rock symphony). The rest of the show? Well for the most part it was one great song after another, each played wonderfully by an excellent band. For his part, although Brian walked on and off the stage awkwardly and leaned on a stool beyond a keyboard that was rarely played for most of the show, he sounded great and seemed very "into" the show. Again, I left the concert thoroughly satisfied and my son loved it (and didn't want it to end and now can't wait to go to another concert). Highly recommended if the show is coming to a town near you!

Mike

Saw Pet Sounds Symphonic Tour and SMILE. I loved it. Yet and although he is getting better, and although I am a complete Beach Boys freak, I think it is a little pathetic, compared to what he used to be and how damaged he is. I have great respect for him getting on stage and all - I just think it's better for him than it is for me. I can't help feeling sorry for him, wanting to fill in the notes he misses, personality he lacks now. OF course his band is amazing. To recreate those harmonies and orchestrations they damn well better be. They are the Wondermints, and if you ever want a incredible blast of Beach Boys meets Casino Royale meets Arthur Lee, check out their album "Bali"

John

I think that I agree with most of what you say. How much would I rather see the Beach Boys tour Pet Sounds and SMiLE in 2005, with Carl, Dennis and Brian included. But, sadly, Carl and Dennis are no longer with us, and Brian (despite his stupefying effort in recording SMiLE from scratch last year) is a shadow of the genius who composed and performed Pet Sounds 30 years ago.

But I had a shot, a few weeks ago, to see one of the all-time great musicians of my lifetime, so I didn't want to pass up the chance. I'm glad that I went, but wouldn't rush back, even if I could. (And Brian looked so fragile that I can't see too many repeats coming on.)

Graham

Seen him 4 times since 2002 and they've been 4 of the best concerts I've ever been at. He is what he is now and I find him frankly an inspiration. To have come through what's happened to him and get back on stage to perform some of the most critically highly rated concerts of all time is nothing short of a miracle. We should be getting down on our knees and giving thanks for having been privileged to have seen one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. If he tours again next I'll certainly be there.

I agree with you, TomK. Yes, he does look somewhat frail on stage, particularly if he is walking. He also appears uncomfortable speaking "ad lib" between songs. Who knows what he is like off the stage? However, I admire him for getting back into the studio and going on tour. Also, I found him to be in very fine voice, and his band truly is exceptional. I also thought his show was great. Given what he's been through, he very easily could have toured with a warm-up band and knocked off at an hour-and-a-half just playing the Beach Boys' greatest hits. The fact that his show was close to two-and-a-half hours (not including the intermission), and included not only many of the Beach Boys' best songs but also some lesser known ones and the full SMiLE album, impressed the heck out of me.

Brian Wilson's music speaks for itself, and I think much of it is timeless. In terms of seeing him in concert, it is a highly personal opinion. Am I glad I saw him? Yes, definitely. Would I see him again? Yes, definitely.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by TomK:
We should be getting down on our knees and giving thanks for having been privileged to have seen one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. If he tours again next I'll certainly be there.

So true! I feel really lucky to have seen him. Sort of the same way I feel about seeing Zeppelin's 77 tour, where Page was obviously compromised. Not comparing the music just the experience. Although I won't be getting on my knees for anyone - I will definitely pay (the ridiculously high prices that are common nowadays)to see Brian again. I just feel a bit distracted by his brain-palsy like state - feeling sorry for him. I know of his stage-fright issues - and understand. I saw the "making of Smile" on tv over here and it was pretty clear that his decision to launch this project was not 100% his and at just about every turn he is tentatively facing his demons. I truly respect that having faced a few of my own. I just hope that he is fair and gentle treatment by those around him - because his history of taking care of himself is not stellar. What a tragedy it would be if he were once again to sacrifice his characteristically loving and peaceful world view for the motives of others.

And graham - did you ever get a chance to see the Beach Boys when Carl and Dennis were still alive? Love to hear about it! I saw them in 1981 after their famous Knebworth shows and, if I remember correctly (college memories a little hazy!!) it was alot of fun, but very little Brian and mostly Mike Love as cheerleader.