Brian in Atlanta tonight at the FOX!

[Jim V.]

On a different subject, I quite never got the reviews that channel the thoughts or impressions of one's life partner ("my wife thinks...", "my girlfriend doesn't like...", etc.). So here's a token for some of you (sweetdudejim, I'm lookin' at ya):

Honestly Autotune, the reason I threw my wife's opinion into some of my takeaway from the concert was that I thought it was a good representation of someone who is not necessarily a Brian Wilson or Beach Boys freak, like all of us on here are. But...you can take it however you want. I'm unsure what that picture means, but it's all good.

[LeeDempsey]

Brian is bipolar. By definition, he has "up" and "down" periods. The shows that coincide with an "up" period can truly be amazing.

The best tour he gave, after a couple of years of workmanlike shows, were the fall 2009 East Coast dates. Amazing. And not related to anything in particular (although the Gershwin sessions running concurrently may have had something to do with it).

He's on another upswing now, and it's definitely at an apropos time.

One intangible (or maybe tangible) factor is that family friend Jerry Weiss is back traveling with Brian.  Jerry has always done a great job of getting Brian mentally and physically "up" for his shows.

Lee

[LeeDempsey]

On a different subject, I quite never got the reviews that channel the thoughts or impressions of one's life partner ("my wife thinks...", "my girlfriend doesn't like...", etc.). So here's a token for some of you (sweetdudejim, I'm lookin' at ya):

Honestly Autotune, the reason I threw my wife's opinion into some of my takeaway from the concert was that I thought it was a good representation of someone who is not necessarily a Brian Wilson or Beach Boys freak, like all of us on here are. But...you can take it however you want. I'm unsure what that picture means, but it's all good.

Personally I like for people to share reviews from the person sitting next to them, especially if they are casual fans or even non-fans.  We members here are generally biased to the positive, so it's nice to get a different perspective.

Lee

[bossaroo]

Brian is bipolar. By definition, he has "up" and "down" periods. The shows that coincide with an "up" period can truly be amazing.

The best tour he gave, after a couple of years of workmanlike shows, were the fall 2009 East Coast dates. Amazing. And not related to anything in particular (although the Gershwin sessions running concurrently may have had something to do with it).

He's on another upswing now, and it's definitely at an apropos time.

One intangible (or maybe tangible) factor is that family friend Jerry Weiss is back traveling with Brian.  Jerry has always done a great job of getting Brian mentally and physically "up" for his shows.

Lee

that's great to hear. now i wonder if he was the guy who introduced Brian last night in Nashville...?

[Hank Briarstem]

It was the great Fred Vail.

[bossaroo]

ok that's what i initially thought. knew i recognized that voice.

too bad they didn't bust out a few tunes from Fred's country album, being in Nashville and all! 

[bgas]

ok that's what i initially thought. knew i recognized that voice.

too bad they didn't bust out a few tunes from Fred's country album, being in Nashville and all! 

too bad they didn't give out copies of Fred's country album as attendance prizes!

[harrisonjon]

My wife treated me to a seat in the pit area (DD32 IIRC) so I was around 15 feet (or less) from Brian and Al all night. Brian was definitely happier than I have ever seen him, and was leading the band not just accompanying it. There were lots of small moments that touched me - Brian referred to "the great Matt Jardine" and Matt responded with "the great Brian". Scotty got due credit for his writing, and the leads by Al and Blondie were excellent. It was great to see Bob Lizik in the line-up, as I badly missed him when I last saw Brian's band around three years ago.

The sound is different without Jeff and with Al and Mike. It's not better nor worse but I think it creates something new than I experienced in 2002-2004, when the line-up had Taylor and Jeff doing high parts. I wondered if maybe this is why there is no Please Let Me Wonder (and infact an under-representation of the Today album overall).

The highlights for me were Wild Honey and Surf's Up; Brian does the latter far better now than in 2004 IMHO. The new songs were far better than I had feared and seemed well suited to live arrangement. The inclusion of the songs from Friends is obviously long overdue, and might hopefully lead to some Love You tracks in future tours (we can hope).

The biggest takeaway from this night: I had been worrying in the last year or so how long Brian can keep going on the road. I was thinking that maybe, at 73, he would quit within two years. Now, having seen how big a buzz he gets from playing these songs, I think he'll keep going for as long as he is physically able to sit at a piano and sing his leads.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Not for nothing, but from being there live in austin, and YouTube videos, I can safely say I have NEVER seen Brian this confident on stage, and it seems like it is increasing with every show. So very happy for him, and for all those blessed enough to see him this go-round.

[bgas]

Not for nothing, but from being there live in austin, and YouTube videos, I can safely say I have NEVER seen Brian this confident on stage, and it seems like it is increasing with every show. So very happy for him, and for all those blessed enough to see him this go-round.

Perahps then I'll regret not buying Chicago seats, but for me I don't want to drive 300 miles... 
Would be nice if the canceled UK tour turns out to be more USA shows closer to me!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I drove 210 miles, and I feel you. Hope a show is added near you!

[astroray]

http://music.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/27/concert-review-brian-wilson-delivers-pristine-classics-in-atlanta/